The Aircraft Constructor (also referred to as the HiTech Aircraft Designer Shop or Aircraft Design Shop) is a place where airlines can design their own planes and purchase them. It is only available in Airline Tycoon Evolution and Airline Tycoon Deluxe. The aircraft design shop run by Mr. Balderdash and is located on the upper level of the airport terminal, just above the conveyor belt to the left of the gate area. Its shortcut key is: X, and is always open.
To design a new plane, click on the computer next to Mr. Balderdash. You will, then, be shown a drawing board and various options for aircraft parts including:
- A Fuselage
- Wings
- A Tail Unit (i.e. empennage)
- A Nose
- Engines
The goal is to find a balance between the following characteristics:
- Weight - which dictates the number and thrust of engines required
- Passengers - the maximum number of passengers the aircraft can fly per flight
- Noise/Insulation - which, presumably, affects customer satisfaction
- Fuel Consumption - a higher fuel consumption leads to higher flight costs
- Reliability - determines the maintenance and repair costs of the aircraft
- Velocity - how fast it will fly
- Costs - the price tag of the aircraft when you go to buy it
What good would designing an airplane do if you cannot fly them? To buy a plane, speak to Mr. Balderdash. He will present you with a list of designed planes and their characteristics. Select a plane to buy it.
Parts[]
Some stats are approximate. All part names are not official, it's just for reference.
Fuselages[]
| Part | Seats (Cargo) | Traits | Pilots | Attendants | Cost | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short | 95 (9t) | 3 | 4 | $10,000,000 | 30,000t | |
| Medium (glass) | 190 (19t) | 3 | 6 | $15,000,000 | 45,000 | |
| Long | 280 (28t) | Fuel consumption
+500 l/h |
3 | 8 | $20,000,000 | 60,000 |
| Long-wide | 355 (35t) | 3 | 10 | $25,000,000 | 70,000 | |
| Double-deck | 600 (60t) | Reliability– | 3 | 12 | $40,000,000 | 90,000t |
Noses[]
| Part | Velocity
loss above* |
Noise | Reliability | Fuel
Consumption |
Pilots | Cost | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dome | 300 km/h | – – | $200,000 | 500t | |||
| Snub | 400 km/h | – | $100,000 | 2,000t | |||
| Regular | 550 km/h | $1,100,000 | 2,500t | ||||
| Conic | 800 km/h | –150 l/h | +1 | $1,200,000 | 4,000t | ||
| Cyclops with canards | nil. | – – | –250 l/h | +4 | $4,000,000 | 5,000t |
* Increasing velocity loss at higher speeds, using a nose within it's velocity bracket provides a tiny velocity boost.
Tails[]
| Part | Noise | Reliability | Velocity
loss |
Fuel
Consumption |
Small jet
mounts |
Cost | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | +300 l/h | Yes | $800,000 | 4,500t | |||
| Regular with mohawk | ++ | ++ | –22 km/h | Yes | $2,000,000 | 4,000t | |
| T-tail | – – | Above
800 km/h* |
Yes | $5,000,000 | 3,500t | ||
| T-tail with fins | + | $1,500,000 | 6,500t | ||||
| Short Sharkfin | Above
500 km/h* |
–200 l/h | $4,500,000 | 3,000t | |||
| Long Sharkfin | $1,200,000 | 2,500t | |||||
| Tri-sharkfin** | – – | – | –400 l/h | $6,000,000 | 8,000t |
* Increasing velocity loss at higher speeds
** Velocity requirement of 560 km/h
Wings[]
| Part | Fuel capacity | Noise | Reliability | Velocity
loss |
Fuel
Consumption |
Fuselage
Compatibility |
Cost | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short rectangle | 21,000l | – | Short
Medium Long Long-wide |
$1,000,000 | 3,000t | |||
| Long rectangle | 35,000l | – | All | $2,400,000 | 5,000t | |||
| Swept | 64,400l | – – | – – | Medium
Long Long-wide Double-deck |
$6,000,000 | 9,200t | ||
| Delta with winglet | 72,800l | – – | – – | -400 l/h | Medium
Long Double-deck |
$12,000,000 | 10,400t | |
| Delta | 53,200l | Long
Double-deck |
$3,400,00 | 5,000t | ||||
| Large delta | 122,500l | +1,000 l/h | Double-deck | $4,000,000 | 17,500t |
Engines[]
| Part | Relative
thrust |
Relative
noise |
Reliability | Fuel
consumption |
Cost | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small propeller | 1 | Loud | – | 400 l/h | $200,000 | 600t |
| Large propeller | 1.12 | Loud | – | 900 l/h | $500,000 | 1,000t |
| Small jet (tip) | 1.06 | Silent | 2500 l/h, +1 pilot* | $4.800,000 | 1,600t | |
| Small jet (wing) | 1.28 | Quiet | 2200 l/h | $4.600,000 | 2,000t | |
| Large jet | 1.43 | Quiet | 3000 l/h | $8.600,000 | 2,800t | |
| Dual exhaust turbojet | 2 | Loud | – – – | 6800 l/h | $6,000,000 | 6,200t |
| Single turbojet | 1.86 | Noisy | – | 5800 l/h | $9,000,000 | 3,600t |
| Double turbojet | 2.42 | Loud | – – | 5300 l/h, +1 pilot | $14,000,000 | 4,600t |
* If placed at the tail