The previous chapters have shown the complexity of aircraft, and their constituent parts. Their design is a daunting, but potentially satisfying task. Designers need all the help which they can get to achieve successful results.

The usual starting point is a sound aeronautical education. Design is learnt by a combination of theoretical education and design experience at University and/or in Industry. It must be stressed that design is much more than analysis. It is a creative process involving the synthesis of knowledge from many disciplines, monitored by qualitative and quantitative checks. These should assess the value of the necessary design compromises and lead to optimum designs. Advice from, and work alongside, experienced designers is an invaluable part of the education process. People learn how to design by actually doing it! Less experienced design organizations can be helped by specialist consultants. Such help is, however, not always available, but much design knowledge and experience has been encapsulated in the publications and programs described later in this chapter.

Many individuals and organizations publish reports, papers and memoranda, many of which contain relevant data. Modern libraries use on-line computerized data bases which sort and codify these date sources on the basis of key-words. A description of such reports is beyond the scope of this book. The most exciting new development has been the advent of the internet.