The Aircraft Properties window is used to define the settings and performance models of the aircraft. The starting settings and performance models are set by the aircraft you have selected from the catalog. Any changes you make in this window will be applied to the aircraft's definition in the catalog.
When you are done editing performance models, click Save to save any changes you have made and click Close to close the window; you will be prompted to save any changes before closing the window.
You cannot make changes to any of the STK default aircraft models denoted with a red dot (
). All of the property fields for these locked aircraft are grayed out. You can duplicate the basic models to edit the properties.
Performance Models
Performance models are used to define the behavior of the aircraft in flight. Different performance models can be used each phase of the mission allowing changes in aircraft performance during a mission. Performance models can be accessed via the properties function in the aircraft catalog or aircraft properties in the mission window. There are nine different performance models: Acceleration, Climb, Cruise, Descent, Landing, Takeoff. Terrain Follow, Thermal, and VTOL may be added by right clicking and selecting add model type in the performance model list. At a minimum each aircraft is defined by acceleration, climb, cruise, descent models. These models are applied by default unless other performance models are selected in the Phase Properties window.
Each model can be instantiated as several different types. Right-clicking allows users to add a new model, rename, delete, or copy model types. The model types are organized in a tree hierarchy under their parent model. The right click menu also allows users to set or unset a default. Current default is denoted by a green aircraft icon ().
Users can define any number of performance model types, including multiple variations of the same type. In general, basic models allow users to define performance based on operational data, such as found in an aircraft operating manual, while advanced models are based on defining aircraft geometry and physics entered in the advanced fixed wing tool. For detailed descriptions of the performance models available in STK's Aviator capability, refer to the Performance Models section of the Help.
Default Configuration
Click the Default Configuration... button to open the Configuration window and define the default configuration of the aircraft such as weight, fuel, payload, and inertia matrix. Changes that you make in the window when accessing it using this button will be saved to the catalog copy of the aircraft model.
Advanced Fixed Wing Tool
Click the Adv Fixed Wing Tool... button to open the Advanced Fixed Wing Tool, which allows you to define performance models for the aircraft using geometric, aerodynamic, power, structural, and human factors limits parameters.
3D Model File
The 3D Model for the aircraft can be specified by clicking 
. The name of the currently selected 3D model is displayed in the field to the left of the ellipsis button.