PASS

PASS is our conceptual design tool that is capable of evaluating all aspects of mission performance. Rapid analyses are coupled with optimization tools to quickly achieve realistic aircraft designs. Configuration design is not limited to meeting a singular performance goal. PASS ensures that designs satisfy a wide range of appropriate, real-world constraints such as FAA field length, climb gradient, and community noise requirements.

PASS was developed for general applicability to conventional aircraft, but has been customized to do analysis of non-conventional aircraft such as supersonic business jets, oblique flying wings and blended wing bodies. It has evolved into a full-featured aircraft conceptual design tool. Examples of incorporated analyses include: 1) linear aerodynamic models for lift and inviscid drag, 2) prediction of ground signatures (sonic boom) for supersonic cases, 3) weight buildup and CG estimation with CG travel in-flight due to fuel burn, and 4) full mission analysis. All analyses are compatible with gradient and non-gradient based optimizers.

The program is built on a modular, extensible framework that allows for the implementation of higher-fidelity analysis codes into the conceptual design process. An example of this is the extension of the low-speed aerodynamics routines to include vortex-lattice analyses. Please note that PASS is not available for general purchase, but can sometimes be obtained as part of a consulting agreement with Desktop Aeronautics, Inc.