basic spar construction

No. It is a really crude interface by today's standards. It is a very
sequential menu driven interface. By sequential, I mean that if you choose
the wrong base menu item, you have to answer the rest of the sequential
prompts until you get back to the main menu. It gets the job done, and
that's it. I grew up on DOS so it doesn't bother me too much, but I'd
certainly prefer a better interface!

I should also say that the license agreement allows you to use the program
for something like 5 years after which time you'll have to buy the program
again in order to continue to use it. I'm not sure if there is any time
bomb in the program that actually prevents you from using it. I suppose I
could move my clock ahead and see what happens.


wrote in message
oups.com...

Fitzair4 wrote:
Bates Engineering has a DOS computer program for designing a wing
spar.

www.aeroOptimizer.com

I have met him and listen to his forums at Oshkosh many times.

Larry Fitzgerald


About the Bates Engineering DOS programs....I have never used DOS and
didn't start "computin" until Windows became the "standard?" Are the
programs such that they can have the required info input into standard
Excel worksheets? If they can, the spar program would be a great tool
to play with in designing an I-beam spar similar to what the Vans
aircraft use.

Neal

Anybody know of any other programs available for designing spars that
will use the more friendly Excel format?
Thanks in advance

Neal

http://www.continuo.com/marske/perfo...lculations.htm

I would suggest you grab a college-level structures textbook and make
sure you understand all the inputs that are used...

BTW: I already mentioned this, but Bates Engineering requests that they
verify that your spar design by sending them output from the spar optimizer.
My application isn't a life or death situation, but the intended use of this
program IS. If I was thinking about building something that actually flew,
I think I'd opt for a proven design and construction method over something
designed by my inept engineering expertise. :-)

"tffy" wrote in message
ups.com...

http://www.continuo.com/marske/perfo...lculations.htm

I would suggest you grab a college-level structures textbook and make
sure you understand all the inputs that are used...