On this page I will document the reference material used throughout the project. As appropriate, I will also post descriptions and commentary as to the usefulness / productivity of the material.



FAA References   (With links as available)





          

 AC 43.13 Acceptable Methods of Aircraft Repair  
 These are the "official" U.S. standards of airframe construction.
 Adherence to these standards assures compliance with the 
 FAA inspection standards. 


           






AC-65.9A  A&P General Handbook
Part 1 of a 3 part series designed to set the federal standards for A&P instruction around which all certificated coursework is based and to prepare a student for A&P certification and testing. Here is a link to the FAA online version.

AC-65.15A Airframe Handbook
Part 2 of a 3 part series designed to set the federal standards for A&P instruction around which all certificated coursework is based and to prepare a student for A&P certification and testing.










AC-65.12A Powerplant Handbook
Part 3 of a 3 part series designed to set the federal standards for A&P instruction around which all certificated coursework is based and to prepare a student for A&P certification and testing.








 
 FAA-H-8083-1A  Aircraft Weight and Balance Handbook
 FAA publication H-8083-1A: This publication explains in detail the process to  
 determine the weight and balance of any aircraft.








Modern Technical Reference Texts

Aircraft Detail Design Manual by Stanley J Dzik  1988
Well illustrated details of aircraft design with emphasis on steel tube/wood aircraft.

Comprehensive Reference Guide to Airfoil Sections by Aviation Publications 1995
Aviation Publications has assembled most of the published data on older airfoils into this one comprehensive reference. An invaluable aid to the amateur designer.

G.A. Airfoils by Harry Riblet  1996
Harry Riblett is an EAA member & designer whose air foils have been used on aircraft. Over 12 examples of different types have flown and all have shown improvement. Harry takes the basic older air foils and modifies them for better stall and other characteristics. His booklet should be invaluable to the amateur designer and will also provide a guide to improvement of existing designs - which has worked on current aircraft. A unique and very practical book that comes highly recommended.

Light Airplane Design by Ladislao Pazmany  1963
This is the book to get the layman designer started on his way. No other book has covered the basic math with the guidance "Paz" has. If you can afford only one book on design - This is it. It explains the aerodynamics layout of aircraft but not structures.

Comments: Light pamphlet style, valuable insight from respected designer.

All but 11 pages have illustrations or photos. The shear number of illustrations defines the book - 206 illustrations in a 123 page document. This book is an excellent compilation of 44 articles that have appeared on aircraft design. The author, O. Thompson Rhodes, Tom to his friends, is an EAA member of long standing and was also involved with Chance Vaught Cutlass aircraft design and the Republic RF 84. His book is an excellent reference for the amateur designer. If you are designing spars, aircraft fuselages, landing gears, etc., this book should be in your library. His calculations do not require advanced mathematics. Tom Rhodes has made a serious attempt to make it easy for the amateur to design safe and sound structures.

Monoplanes And Biplanes: Their Design, Construction And Operation
by Grover Cleveland Loening  1911