Since the education of aeronautical engineers at Delft University of
Technology started in 1940 under the inspiring leadership of Professor
H.J. van der Maas, much emphasis has been placed on the design of
aircraft as part of the student's curriculum. Not only is aircraft
design an optional subject for thesis work, but every aeronautical
student has to carry out a preliminary airplane design in the course of
his study. The main purpose of this preliminary design work is to enable
the student to synthesize the knowledge ob- tained separately in courses
on aerodynamics, aircraft performances, stability and con- trol,
aircraft structures, etc. The student's exercises in preliminary design
have been directed through the years by a number of staff members of the
Department of Aerospace Engineering in Delft. The author of this book,
Mr. E. Torenbeek, has made a large contribution to this part of the
study programme for many years. Not only has he acquired vast experience
in teaching airplane design at university level, but he has also been
deeply involved in design-oriented re- search, e.g. developing rational
design methods and systematizing design information. I am very pleased
that this wealth of experience, methods and data is now presented in
this book.