Aircraft Design Course Computing Systems:
Experience and Software Review
William H. Mason* and Paul Crisafulli
Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering and
Multidisciplinary Analysis and Design
Center for Advanced Vehicles
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA 24061 *email: mason@aoe.vt.edu
given at the ASEE Annual Conference, Sunday, June 25, 1995,
Anaheim, CA (Gary Slater, session chairman: Software
and Multimedia). Updated for design class use.
Abstract
The role of software in a design course is increasingly complicated.
The capability of low-cost computing systems has allowed many programs
useful in aircraft design to be written. It is becoming increasingly
difficult to stay abreast of developments. This paper provides comments
based on my experience, describes the computing setup currently in
place at Virginia Tech for the senior design program, and identifies
and reviews software that can be useful in the design program.