Design List

This screen is accessed by selecting the File Design List Menu item or by clicking on the

Design List toolbar button.

The Wing List screen which was available in version 2.1 has been replaced by the Design List screen. This screen is an explorer style screen. On the left is a pane containing a tree directory list of all designs stored in the Winfoil database. This screen is resizeable and the left pane may be resized individually by clicking and dragging on the black vertical border just like Explorer in Windows 95. You can now create specifications and fuselage components. Specifications, fuselage components, wings and tail planes are grouped together by name (design items).

Wing Design Steps

1. Determine airfoil sections to be used based on Lift , Drag & Pitching moment data if available or base on other successful aircraft designs. If the airfoil is not in Winfoil then obtain and enter Airfoil coordinates.

2. Determine required wing area. Base on other designs. Also determine the required Aspect Ratio. This can be calculated as follows;

Aspect Ratio = ( Wing Span)2 / Wing Area

High Aspect Ratio (long narrow wings) reduces Induced drag but lowers Reynolds Number (low airfoil performance) and increases structural loading (good for gliding). Reduces roll rate (high inertia).

Low Aspect Ratio (short wide wings) increases Induced drag but increases Reynolds Number (good airfoil performance) and reduces structural loading ( good for aerobatics). Improves roll rate.

Typical values;

Tail Aspect ratios are typically 3-4

Notes on Wing / tail shapes

Elliptical shape is the optimum for minimum induced drag but is hard to build.

Tapered wing approximates elliptical shape without the structural complexity. Gliders typically use a multi tapered/section wing

Swept back wings increase dihedral effect ( increase roll stability) but also increase roll rate. Also prone to tip stall and require washout. Tips tend to twist downwards.

Swept forward wings reduce dihedral effect and can be known to eliminate tip stalling. Require additional torsional stiffness as tips will twist upwards increasing the angle of attack resulting in wing failure.

Straight non tapered wing will in most cases stall at the root first. This shape is used on most trainer aircraft.

Creating a New Design (General)

1. Open the Design List screen by selecting the Design List menu item from the File Menu or

click on the Design List toolbar button.

2. Click on the Details tab.

3. Click on the New button.

4. You will then be asked if you wish to use the Wing Wizard to create either a wing or tail. Items belonging to a design may be created in any order. You do not have to create a specification first. After an item is created a design group will automatically be created with the same name as the created item.

For example;

To create a new design called Spitfire, create all items with the name Spitfire and the appropriate type.

The following types of Design Items are supported;

Specification

Wing

Vertical Tail

Horizontal Tail

Fuselage Former

Fuselage Top

Fuselage Bottom

Fuselage Side

Registered users are provided with a screen to define new Design Items. The unregistered version of Winfoil has a limited number of design items. For more information see How to Create New Design Components

5. If you did not select the Wing Wizard then you will be presented with the Add Design Item screen for entering preliminary details about your design item.

All items are grouped by name so if you wish to group items for a design you must name each item with the same name.

6. Fill in each tab window as required to complete the design item.

Design List Tabs