Aviation System Design I, II (3 Credits for each)

In this course, you will learn how to apply your knowledge and skill in Aerospace Engineering integratively by partaking a group project to carry out in two major initial design phases of aircraft design:

Preliminary Sizing (DRO, Comparative/Market/Benchmarking Study, Configuration, Propulsion Selection, and Sizing);
Conceptual Design (Structure, Aerodynamics, Stability and Control, Performance, Avionics, and Cost Analysis).

This course offers great opportunity for students to participate in a simulated real-world problem, allowing students to gain experience by determining a solution to a Request for Proposal (RFP) in aircraft design.

To achieve a high learning outcome, we align this course with AIAA Aircraft Design Competition and compete annually with students from world-class universities.

2021-2022: Firefighting Aircraft Design

Design objective: Develop a responsive firefighting aircraft to combat increasing global wildfires
Competition result: Ranked 24th among 34 teams
Final design report: View Report.

2023-2024: Heavy-Lift Transport Aircraft Design

Design objective: Create a next-generation heavy-lift platform to succeed the C-17 and C-5M
Competition result: Achieved 4th place among 38 teams
Final design report: View Report

Main References

Gudmundsson, S. (2022). General aviation aircraft design: Applied methods and procedures. Butterworth-Heinemann.

Raymer, D. P. (2018). Aircraft design: A conceptual approach. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.

Carichner, G. E., & Nicolai, L. M. (2013). Fundamentals of Aircraft and Airship Design: Volume 2—Airship Design and Case Studies. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. https://doi.org/10.2514/4.868986

Sadraey, M. H. (2012). Aircraft design: A systems engineering approach. John Wiley & Sons.

Nicolai, L. M., & Carichner, G. E. (2010). Fundamentals of Aircraft and Airship Design: Volume I–Aircraft Design. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. https://doi.org/10.2514/4.867538

Roskam, J. (2002). Airplane design. DARcorporation.

Torenbeek, E. (1982). Synthesis of subsonic airplane design: An introduction to the preliminary design, of subsonic general aviation and transport aircraft, with emphasis on layout, aerodynamic design, propulsion, and performance. Delft University Press ; Nijhoff ; Sold and distributed in the U.S. and Canada by Kluwer Boston.