CAD & Design Software
The Software That Designs Aircraft
Every aircraft, spacecraft, engine, and satellite starts as a 3D model in CAD software. The industry uses specific tools — and students who arrive at internships already proficient have an immediate advantage. The good news: every tool listed here is free for students.
Six tools across two tiers: industry-standard professional CAD (CATIA, SolidWorks, Siemens NX, Autodesk Fusion) and aerospace-specific open-source tools (OpenVSP, XFLR5). You don't need to learn all six. Match the tool to your career path and target employer.
Tool Directory
| Tool | Made By | Student Cost | Platform | Best For | Who Uses It |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CATIA | Dassault Systèmes | Free (3DEXPERIENCE Education) | Windows | Large aircraft structural design. 100,000+ part assemblies. Industry gold standard for airframes. | Boeing (787), Airbus (A350, A380), NASA, Lockheed Martin |
| SolidWorks | Dassault Systèmes | Free through most universities | Windows | General mechanical design. Most widely taught CAD in engineering programs. Good to ~10K parts. | Aerospace suppliers, SpaceX, Rocket Lab, competition teams |
| Siemens NX | Siemens | Free (full-featured student download) | Windows | Professional CAD with integrated CAM. Synchronous modeling (edit without feature history). Unrestricted student version. | Lockheed Martin, Rolls-Royce, GE Aviation |
| Autodesk Fusion | Autodesk | Free (1-year renewable) | Windows, Mac, Browser | Easiest to learn. Cloud-based. CAD + simulation + CAM + PCB design. Generative design (AI). Runs on Mac. | Makers, drone/robotics teams, FIRST Robotics, startups |
| OpenVSP | NASA | Free (open source) | Windows, Mac, Linux | Parametric aircraft design. Smart components (wings, fuselages, tails). Built-in aerodynamic analysis (VSPAERO). AIAA competition standard. | NASA Langley/Glenn/Ames, AIAA competition teams |
| XFLR5 | Open source (based on MIT XFOIL) | Free | Windows, Mac, Linux | Airfoil and wing analysis. Lift/drag polars, stability, control surfaces. Competition standard for all student aircraft teams. | AIAA DBF, SAE Aero Design, all student aircraft/drone teams |
Which Tool to Learn
Match the tool to your target:
- Targeting Boeing or Airbus? Learn CATIA. Boeing designed the 787 in CATIA. It handles 100,000+ part assemblies. Harder to learn, but "proficient in CATIA" on a resume stands out because fewer students learn it.
- Targeting Lockheed Martin, Rolls-Royce, or GE? Learn Siemens NX. The student version is the actual professional software with no restrictions — the best free deal in CAD.
- General engineering / suppliers / startups? SolidWorks is the safest bet. Most widely taught, most university availability, skills transfer to every other parametric CAD tool.
- Total beginner / Mac user? Start with Autodesk Fusion. Easiest learning curve, runs on everything, includes simulation and PCB design.
- Designing aircraft for competitions? OpenVSP for overall aircraft geometry + XFLR5 for airfoil and wing optimization. This pair is the standard for AIAA DBF, SAE Aero Design, and every student aircraft design team.
Recommended learning path for aircraft design:
- Learn basic 3D CAD in Autodesk Fusion or SolidWorks (whichever your school uses)
- Learn OpenVSP for aircraft-specific parametric design (NASA Ground School is free, graduate-level content)
- Learn XFLR5 for airfoil selection and wing analysis (essential for any competition team)
- When comfortable, move to CATIA or Siemens NX based on your target employer
OpenVSP + XFLR5 is the secret weapon. These two free tools can do in minutes what SolidWorks takes hours to set up — because they understand aircraft geometry natively. OpenVSP builds a complete aircraft in minutes with parametric components. XFLR5 analyzes airfoil performance across your flight envelope in seconds. Learn these alongside your university CAD tool, and you'll have a skillset most students don't.