Structural mass of innovative concept aircraft

The prediction of mass for aircraft of innovative design when the aircraft is in the conceptual phase is an important part of the analysis of future designs. In the early design stages current methods of structural mass prediction are frequently based on parametric algorithms derived from statistical analysis of previous aircraft. However due to reliance on historic data, such methods prove to be inadequate in predicting mass for aircraft using new technologies and configurations. The shortcomings of such methods present a fundamental weakness in the development of new aircraft designs. [Continues]