Characteristics of Design Affecting Production, Operation, and Maintenance of Aircraft

Extract

The advent of the use of aircraft for purposes other than warfare will involve the appearance of several additional aspects into the already numerous considerations which have to be applied during the evolution of the design of an aircraft.

During the recent war, designers were called upon to produce designs in which performance and manœuvrability were the foremost considerations, and sacrifices of other factors, including safety and stability, had to be made in order to attain supremacy in these directions. It is true that during the latter stages of the war matters concerning ease of production, the use of alternative materials and accessories, and facilities for maintenance did receive a certain amount of attention; but in view of the speed at which designs and production had necessarily to mature, the amount of thought which could be given towards such considerations was very limited.