This thesis is intended to be a reference for solid modeling and Computer Aided Design (CAD) tailored specifically for the Naval Postgraduate School's capstone helicopter design course, AA 4306. The goal is to present the use of AutoCAD R13 software as a central design tool throughout the conceptual design phase of the American Helicopter Society (AHS) Graduate Design Competition project. The specifics of AutoCAD that are essential to performing the design project are explored through examples of model construction and lessons learned from the 1997 VIPER design effort. The usage of solid modeling as a design tool for design team integration is investigated. It is intended for this work to allow future classes to acquire sufficient proficiency with Computer Aided Design and solid modeling. Maximizing the practical usage of CAD techniques in a single quarter will provide an improved learning experience in a more realistic design environment.