In Brief: Datcom is the United States Air Force Data Compendium, a 3100-page collection of the equations used in design of airplanes. This manual dates back to the 1930's-1950's, before computer, when designs and calculations were done by hand and with slide rules.
Digital Datcom is the computer program written in the 1960's-1970's to incorporate many of these techniques into a computer program, to speed the process of analyzing a new or existing aircraft design. The original Digital Datcom program is a batch program, and is very user-abusive, especailly for the new user. Datcom+ was an extension of the Digital Datcom program, which incorporated some tools to make it easier to use the Digital Datcom program.
This is a report that I wrote comparing the aerodynamic coefficients
generated by Datcom for 6 different aircraft. The results showed that Datcom
did a respectable job, but I will leave it up to you to decide if it is good
enough for your task
Datcom+ Pro is the next generation of this program, which has been made much more user-friendly. Visualization tools allow you to see your aircraft immediately, and coefficient data generated by the Digital Datcom program is plotted on X-Y graphs for ease of interpretation and inclusion into reports. Additionally, your Datcom+ model can now be run in JSBSim, a full 6 degree-of-freedom equations of motion model, and sample flight test scripts are provided to execute standard flight test maneuvers.
Windows XP
Windows Vista and 7 (32 and 64 bit versions)
Linux - NO ! (There is free version still available)
AC3D models are produced, including control surfaces. This model can be rotated via the mouse or keyboard.
Twin vertical Stabilizers are now supported.
Airfoil cross-sections are produced for the wing, horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer, and vertical fin:
Fuselage cross-sections are produced for every fuselage station:
Powerful new plotting techniques allow you to quickly see the effects on coefficients by changing any parameter in your model
Execute flight test maneuvers on your model using JSBSim and plot the results. Plot JSBSim results against criteria data or baselined versions of your model, to see the effects of changing a parameter in your model:
Newly created documentation with over 90 pages, to supplement the Digitial Datcom Users Guide. See this document for the Table of Contents and opening chapters:
AC3D models are produced, including control surfaces. This model can be rotated via the mouse or keyboard.
Twin vertical Stabilizers are now supported.
Airfoil cross-sections are produced for the wing, horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer, and vertical fin:
Fuselage cross-sections are produced for every fuselage station:
Powerful new plotting techniques allow you to quickly see the effects on coefficients by changing any parameter in your model
Execute flight test maneuvers on your model using JSBSim and plot the results. Plot JSBSim results against criteria data or baselined versions of your model, to see the effects of changing a parameter in your model:
