from the introduction: The analyses described in this book can be used by the first time designer to calculate the complete perfromance of the airplane from seven parameters; gross weight, drag area, wing span, wing area, maximum lift coefficient, horsepower, and propeller diameter. All design variables are mathematically related to these parameters by equations derived through the design nomograms in this book. This book is for the engineer/designer who wants to understand how physical charateristics of an airplane contribute to its performance (speed, climb, stall, glide, etc...), and then implement those design choices to obtain that desired performance. With this book, calculated data can then be deciphered by the use of mathematics or with an enclosed plastic template and nomograms. This book is written for the experienced engineer who feels comfortable with his skills and with complex mathematics.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Descriptive Design Procedures            5
Worked Example -- Thorp T-18 Tiger       9
Relationships for performance & design   13
lift, airspeed, wing loading, stall      15
wing area, wing loading, gross weight    19
wing area, span, aspect ratio, chord     21
span, span loading, gross weight         25
drag, max speed, power                   27
zero lift drag, drag area, wing area     31
span loading, minimum required power     33
sink rate, weight, minimum required power39
drag area, span, lift:drag               43
drag area lift at minimum sink, chord    45
weight, power, rate of climb             49
thrust, power, prop speed for 74% efficiency 51
prop diameter, rotational speed, tip mach number 57
sink rate, airspeed, max lift-drag       61
lift/drag coefficient, aspect ratio      65
lift/drag, minimum drag, gross weight    69
Summary of calculations for T-18         71
How to use the templates                 75
Parametric study of the baseline design  82
Other sample calculations                99
(Gossamer Condor, powered hang glider, Cessna 172)
Theoretical Background
Low speed aerodynamics                  120
Idealized propeller theory              131
Summary of performance relations        138
Fortran computer program for analysis   159
Drag analysis                           169
Airfoil selection                       177
Calculating drag area                   182
Reynolds numbers                        183
Solving a cubic equation                187