RC Airplane Design Software for Model Aircraft
Powerful, easy to learn software available for RC airplane design
A model airplane is built directly on plans
All model airplane designs start with a set of detailed construction plans. These plans are typically printed out full size on paper, and provide all the information a builder requires to construct a flying model aircraft. As these plans are full size, there is no need for dimensions. Rather, a large amount of descriptive comments are included on the plan to provide all the detail and information needed for the prospective model builder to complete the project. The mark of a well drafted RC model aircraft plan is that the design can be easily replicated many years after the original lines are drawn for the plan.
Early plans drawn by hand
From the earliest days of antique model aircraft flight in the 1900s, model aircraft plans were drawn by hand. Model aircraft designers were essentially graphical artists, using their drafting and design skills to create a drawing that could be followed by a competent model airplane builder. As many drafting tasks are repetitive and require large amounts of tedious calculations to complete, it was always a goal of computer developers to produce some version of practical RC airplane design software. Software engineers realized intuitively that a computer was ideally suited to such tasks as preparation of one wing half and then copy the other half, or quickly finding the mid-point of a given line or the center of a circle. By mechanizing such routine drafting tasks, the proponents of RC airplane design software realized they could provide a significant impact on the quality and speed of all model airplane plan preparation.
CAD sketch of the Chickadee RC airplane
Video instruction makes learning TurboCAD much easier
The reach of these early computer aided design (CAD) programs mostly exceeded the grasp of software authors. Developers knew what they wanted to accomplish in an RC airplane design software suite. But they were completely dependent on the host computer platform to perform these complex graphical tasks. Early personal computers just did not have the technical capability for a practical CAD program. Thus, early development of CAD programs lent themselves to expensive mainframe computer systems, and required a great deal of training for proper data entry and usage. The time had not yet arrived for daily use by the consumer RC airplane design software customer.
CAD programs become practical for the home user
As home computers gained in computational power, an attractive graphical user interface and a steady drop in price, the stage was set for the development and introduction of useful consumer RC airplane design software. Many early CAD programs populated the scene, and there even exists free CAD programs that you can obtain from the internet. However, the tasks that RC airplane design software must meet are fairly high. You will be using this software on some important model airplane designs of your own, and you will devote a significant amount of study time unlocking the power of these amazing programs. Thus, I highly recommend that you invest in RC airplane design software that is easy to use, and will allow you to grow over the entire time you will be using the product.
The Blackburn RC airplane plan is easily drawn with TurboCAD
The CAD software used by professionals today is indeed incredible. Perhaps AutoCAD and its derivatives lead the way here. But the price of these extremely powerful CAD programs is just as impressive, and hardly makes for an attractive candidate CAD program for the home user. I have been using TurboCAD since 2000 for preparing my RC model airplane plans. I am completely satisfied with the product and its applicability for RC model aircraft design. TurboCAD version 1 was first introduced in the mid-1980s, and has evolved ever since. I purchased TurboCAD version 8 in 2000, and I just updated to version 16 in early 2010. The later versions of TurboCAD include powerful 3D design tools, something not even envisioned in the early days of RC airplane design software.
The Sig Demoiselle has a complete set of CAD airplane plans
You can learn CAD
If you have prepared a model airplane plan or two drawn by hand, you may be reluctant to take the plunge and learn CAD aircraft design software. There is a learning curve to any CAD program. But once you have achieved an understanding of how your particular selection of RC airplane design software functions, there is no turning back to the old days of paper, pencil and eraser.
Today’s modern CAD programs perform their drafting tasks exceptionally well. And you will find that the more you use them, the more you will appreciate their ability to quickly and accurately take a model aircraft concept and translate it to a precise construction plan that can be followed by anyone. If you do decide to use TurboCAD for your RC airplane design software, consider using my video training to quickly unlock insights, tips and useful procedures for your model design efforts. And of course aim someday to get your RC model airplane plan published in one of the modeling magazines - see my experiences here. You can do it!