2. Thesis Aerospace Engineering is a discrete branch of engineering that has a huge affect on everyday life. Designing aircraft is a very complex and intricate art that involves a wealth of knowledge and skills.
3. What is Aerospace Engineering? A branch of engineering that involves the design, manufacturing, and science of aircraft and spacecraft.
4. Branches of Aerospace There are two main branches of Aerospace engineering, Aeronautical and Astronautical engineering. Aeronautical engineering involves craft that stay inside Earth’s atmosphere. Astronautical Engineering involves craft that operate in outer space.
5. Continued Aerospace Engineering encompasses the design, manufacturing, and testing of aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and rockets. The focus of Aerospace Engineering revolves around the advancement of space exploration, aviation, and defense systems. Aerospace Engineers specialize in areas that include: structural design, navigation and control, guidance, and instrumentation.
6. History The first planning for “flying machines” began in the 19th and 20th centuries. Sire George Cayley is know as the first real pioneer of aeronautics engineering. The Wright brothers first flight on December 17, 1903 sparked interest in aerospace engineering on a whole different level.
7. History continued The official definition of aerospace engineering was not written until February of 1958. Also in 1958 the USA founded NASA because of the cold war. The majority of the advancements in aerospace engineering have come from wartime technology.
8. Careers within Aerospace Engineering A major in Aerospace Engineering can provide may different career opportunities including careers in: Software development Marketing and sales Management Research Design and development Field service Teaching
9. Career Outlook The number Aerospace Engineers is expected to increase by 2013. The cuts in military spending may cut back on aerospace engineers in the military, but the number of engineers in the private sector is expected to increase. The troubled economy is expected increase the number of aerospace engineers because airlines want new aircraft that are cheaper to run.
10. Salaries The average aerospace engineer makes around $61,180 to $94,340 annually. The lower end of the spectrum makes less than $49,920 annually. The upper end of the spectrum makes upwards of $120,760 annually.
11. Schooling The career choice for an Aerospace Engineer starts with schooling. There are many courses an engineer can take to determine what their career path will be including: Fluid mechanics Astrodynamics Mathematics Propulsion Aircraft Structures Avionics Materials Science, etc.
12. Schooling Continued Even though there are many courses within the Aerospace Engineering major, most of the courses are based around design.
13. Design Courses The design courses include: Thermodynamics Celestial mechanics Aerodynamics Propulsion Acoustics Guidance and Control systems
17. Computer Aided Design (CAD) With today’s technology engineers can use CAD to design all parts of an aircraft. CAD allows engineers to make 2D and 3D designs of aircraft. Engineers can make scale drawings with design programs that manufacturers then use to build the aircraft.
18. Popular CAD Programs AutoCAD TurboCAD AutoDesk Inventor Pro/Engineer MicroStation (used in our school)
19. Production of Aircraft First Aerospace Engineers design the airframe, avionics (controls), the power plant, and the interior. Next, the designs are given to other engineers that then use the designs to actually build the aircraft. Then, test pilots or licensed engineers than test the aircraft. Finally, if the airplane is successful the manufacturer can then sell the aircraft
20. Application To apply what I learned in my research to everyday life, I built a model airplane and rocket. I also transferred the aircraft design to a CAD drawing.
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22. There are several types of engines that can be used to launch the rocket.
23. Engines are sized by letters, A being the weakest and the higher the letter in the alphabet, the stronger the engine.
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Notas del editor
Aerospace engineering was not the original term for this branch of engineering, it was originally called aeronautical engineering. The name was changed due to the advent of space travel, so it accommodates both facets of engineering. Even though astronautical and aeronautical engineering are paired together, they are very different and require different schooling. Astronautical Engineering is commonly know as rocket science because the crafts that reach outer space need rockets to propel themselves out of the atmosphere.Rudy, Carol Ann. “Careers in Aviation: Part 6.” Miami Herald [Miami] 15 May 2001: n. pg. SIRS Discoverer. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. <http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com.wf2dnvr11.webfeat.org/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000136252>
Engineers usually specialize in a certain craft, for instance, helicopters, jets, rotary aircraft, or missiles. There are so many different aspects of engineering, it is hard for an engineer to be able to design more than one type of craft.Rudy, Carol Ann. “Careers in Aviation: Part 6.” Miami Herald [Miami] 15 May 2001: n. pg. SIRS Discoverer. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. <http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com.wf2dnvr11.webfeat.org/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000136252>
Leonardoda Vinci was the first person to design flying machines, but he never built a working model. Alberto Santos-Dumont was the first person to build a successful flying machine. Cayley was the first person to really look into the science of forces that act on aircraft. He basically discovered how lift and drag affect an aircraft. After the Wright brothers’ flight, militaries around the world began investing in aerospace engineering because of the many opportunities it would provide them.www.britannica.com
Even though people could make flying machines or aircraft, in was more trial and error in the beginning instead of using science to build aircraft.www.britannica.com
These career choices come within all of the different branches an aerospace engineer can take, so even though he/she is working in Design and development, the job can be very different depending on the engineer’s focus. All of the career choices provide a wide array of areas that a engineer can work in, so they have a career where they feel comfortable.Rudy, Carol Ann. “Careers in Aviation: Part 6.” Miami Herald [Miami] 15 May 2001: n. pg. SIRS Discoverer. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. <http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com.wf2dnvr11.webfeat.org/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000136252>
www.engineersalary.com/aerospace.asp
www.engineersalary.com/aerospace.asp
The courses that an aspiring aerospace engineer take depend on what kind of engineer that want to be. Some people my be more comfortable in the marketing aspect of aerospace engineering, so they my minor in marketing. There are very few colleges that accommodate the courses required to become an aerospace engineer, but there are some specialty schools that focus on aviation related majors. Embry Riddle is a world renowned aviation based college that provides many different courses and career choices for aerospace engineers.Rudy, Carol Ann. “Careers in Aviation: Part 6.” Miami Herald [Miami] 15 May 2001: n. pag. SIRS Discoverer. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. <http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com.wf2dnvr11.webfeat.org/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000136252>
The tree of careers for an aerospace engineer can be very confusing, but most engineers take many of the design courses and they are able to design more than one system involved in an aircraft. Although once an engineer finds a career, they may choose to focus on only on design aspect.Rudy, Carol Ann. “Careers in Aviation: Part 6.” Miami Herald [Miami] 15 May 2001: n. pg. SIRS Discoverer. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. <http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com.wf2dnvr11.webfeat.org/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000136252>
Thermodynamics is involved in both astronautical and aeronautical engineer because it is primarily used in the design of rockets and jet engines. Engineers use thermodynamics to help determine how powerful the engines need to be to power the spacecraft or aircraft. Celestial mechanics involves the study of all of the forces that will act on spacecraft outside earth’s atmosphere. Engineers use celestial mechanics to make sure spacecraft can survive the harsh elements of space.www.nasa.gov
Aerodynamics is very important in aerospace engineering because it is the science behind why aircraft fly. The most important principles in aircraft aerodynamics are lift and drag. Engineers use wind tunnels to help perfect their design and ensure maximum efficiency. Propulsion mechanics are used by astronuatical engineers to help determine how to power spacecraft. Since spacecraft are powered only by rockets engineers use propulsion mechanics to make sure the spacecraft will perform properly.www.nasa.gov
Acoustic design involves all of the aircraft systems that respond to sound. In airplanes the primary acoustic system is the VOR receiver which picks up radio frequencies from airports to determine the aircraft’s location. The last main design principle of aircraft is the control systems, which involve everything needed to control the aircraft. Engineers need to design the control systems within the aircraft’s structural design and ensure that the systems will not fail.www.nasa.gov
The 2D and 3D design functions of CAD not only help manufacturers build the aircraft, it also allows them to see what the finished product will look like before it is built.
If you go to college for any type of engineering, you will most likely take a class in AutoCAD during your freshman or sophomore year.
The engineers also design all of the electrical, hydraulic, and air systems within the airplane. Once the designs are made into the complete product the aircraft is called a prototype until it has passed all of the flight tests.Rudy, Carol Ann. “Careers in Aviation: Part 6.” Miami Herald [Miami] 15 May 2001: n. pg. SIRS Discoverer. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. <http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com.wf2dnvr11.webfeat.org/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000136252>