The Measure and Design modules of Plane Geometry perform many calculations and deliver lots of useful information.

Characteristics Data

Both Measure and Design generate a classic characteristics data block as seen to the right. This block provides much of the basic geometric information about the airplane, as well as a key measure of pitch stability, static margin. Unfamiliar terms are explained in the instructions.

This block is for the conventionally tailed Pilatus PC-9 trainer, shown below.

Quick Reference Values

Design provides key reference values right next to the input block so that the designer may adjust the inputs to achieve the desired characteristics. This block is simply a condensed report of the key values desired by the designer. Because the program is in Microsoft Excel, it is easy for the user to modify the spreadsheet and report additional or other information.

Geometry Output

The geometry output box reports a wide range of more detailed geometric data. The box to the right is from Measure. The more detailed box below is from Design.

Stability Data

Measure and Design provide key pitch stability values that permit fine-tuning handling. Some yaw information is provided as well.

Spiral stability information is also generated so that the designer may adjust this characteristic.

Measure provides data in a separate block as shown to the right. Design provides the stability data within the Geometry Output block as shown in the lower right hand corner of the green block above. Design also reports key stability information in the "Quick Reference Values" block.

Full Scale Dimensions

Measure reports the true (full scale) dimensions of the measurements are reported. This can be handy when the dimensions have been read from a scaled drawing.

Module Linkage

Measure and Design provide other outputs that link modules.

Measure has an output block that matches the input block of Design so that a measured airplane may be transferred into Design where modification are more easily made and a greater depth of analysis is performed.

Design has an output block that matches the input block of Measure in case the designer prefers to work with dimensions instead of proportions.

Both Measure and Design provide an output block of key airplane characteristics that can be pasted into the Planes database spreadsheet. A compilation of these characteristics is the basis for a series of useful plots and serves as a foundation for successful new designs. Take a look at the Planes database for more information on this subject.