Airplane PDQ is a conceptual/preliminary design tool for homebuilt and general aviation aircraft. It is designed to be intuitive and is easy for amateur airplane designers to use. Airplane PDQ integrates aircraft sizing and analysis tools with a full-featured computer aided design package (CAD) so that the designer can focus on the look and layout of the aircraft while the software performs the analysis calculations.

The software also assists to achieve specified performance goals, to understand the expected flight envelope of the design, and with weight and balance at various expected loading conditions. The analysis tools also guide the designer in sizing and adjusting the configuration of the aircraft to help ensure that the design is safe and practical. Airplane PDQ supports a wide variety of aircraft configurations and supports both piston and turbine engine designs.

Aircraft drawings are prepared in both three-view format and true three-dimensional format with surface shading. Drawings can be imported and exported in DXF and DWG format for use with other CAD or drawing packages.