The document provides an overview of aerospace engineering. It discusses that aerospace engineering involves designing and building aircraft and spacecraft. It covers the different specializations within aerospace engineering like structural design, navigation/control, guidance, and instrumentation. It also discusses the education and career paths for aerospace engineers.

1. Aerospace Engineering
By: Rich Farrell

2. Thesis
Aerospace Engineering is a discrete branch of
engineering that has a huge effect on everyday life.
The process of designing aircraft is a very complex
and intricate art that involves a wealth of knowledge
and skills.

3. Personal Relevance
I really wanted to learn more about Aerospace
Engineering because I plan on majoring in Aerospace
Engineering at college. I have always had a love of
airplanes and a love for building things from scratch.
Aerospace engineering allows me to combine my
passions, so I can have a career doing what I love to
do.

4. What is Aerospace
Engineering?
A branch of engineering
that involves the design,
manufacturing, and
science of aircraft and
spacecraft. HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/28634332@N05/4053615832/
Aerospace Engineering
encompasses the testing
of aircraft, spacecraft,
missiles, and rockets.
DAVIES, MARK. THE STANDARD BOOK FOR
AERONAUTICAL AND ASTRONAUTICAL ENGINEERS. ED.
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/LESEC/60950480/
MARK DAVIES. NEW YORK: MCGRAW HILL, 2003. PRINT.

5. Continued
The focus of Aerospace
Engineering today 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
HTTP://GRIN.HQ.NASA.GOV/IMAGES/
SMALL/GPN-2000-000650.JPG instrumentation.
DAVIES, MARK. THE STANDARD BOOK FOR
AERONAUTICAL AND ASTRONAUTICAL ENGINEERS. ED.
MARK DAVIES. NEW YORK: MCGRAW HILL, 2003. PRINT.

6. Structural Design
Structural Design -
Engineers focus on the
overall layout of the
airplane.
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/MSC_PICS/3945450173/
DAVIES, MARK. THE STANDARD BOOK FOR
AERONAUTICAL AND ASTRONAUTICAL
ENGINEERS. ED. MARK DAVIES. NEW
YORK: MCGRAW HILL, 2003. PRINT.

7. Navigation and Control
The engineers that focus
on navigation and
control design
everything that makes
the aircraft
maneuverable.
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/BUSABOYS/3062765729/
DAVIES, MARK. THE STANDARD BOOK
FOR AERONAUTICAL AND
ASTRONAUTICAL ENGINEERS. ED. MARK
DAVIES. NEW YORK: MCGRAW HILL, 2003.
PRINT.

8. Guidance
These engineers focus
on electronic guidance
systems for aircraft.
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/MATTHEWPHX/2325660754/
DAVIES, MARK. THE STANDARD BOOK FOR
AERONAUTICAL AND ASTRONAUTICAL
ENGINEERS. ED. MARK DAVIES. NEW YORK:
MCGRAW HILL, 2003. PRINT.

9. Instrumentation
These engineers design
instruments that will
help keep an aircraft on
course if it’s electronic
systems fail.
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/NOGWATER/57324173/SIZES/L/
DAVIES, MARK. THE STANDARD BOOK FOR AERONAUTICAL AND
ASTRONAUTICAL ENGINEERS. ED. MARK DAVIES. NEW YORK:
MCGRAW HILL, 2003. PRINT.

10. Branches of Aerospace
There are two main branches of Aerospace
engineering, Aeronautical and Astronautical
engineering.
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/
28634332@N05/4053615832/
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/
28634332@N05/4053615832/ PATTILLO, DONALD M. DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN HISTORY. ED. STANLEY I. KUTLER. 3RD ED. VOL. 1. NEW YORK:
CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS, 2003. GALE VIRTUAL REFERENCE LIBRARY. WEB. 2 DEC. 2009. <HTTP://
FIND.GALEGROUP.COM//INFOMARK.DO?
&CONTENTSET=EBKS&TYPE=RETRIEVE&TABID=T001&PRODID=GVRL&DOCID=CX3401800082&SOURCE=GALE&USERGRO
UPNAME=KING46652&VERSION=1.0>

11. Aeronautical Engineering
Aeronautical engineering
involves craft that stay
inside Earth’s
atmosphere.
Craft such as missiles,
airplanes, gliders, and
some rockets.
HTTP://WWW.VTAIDE.COM/PNG/ATMOSPHERE.HTM
PATTILLO, DONALD M. DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN HISTORY. ED. STANLEY I. KUTLER. 3RD
ED. VOL. 1. NEW YORK: CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS, 2003. GALE VIRTUAL REFERENCE
LIBRARY. WEB. 2 DEC. 2009. <HTTP://FIND.GALEGROUP.COM//INFOMARK.DO?
&CONTENTSET=EBKS&TYPE=RETRIEVE&TABID=T001&PRODID=GVRL&DOCID=CX3401800082
&SOURCE=GALE&USERGROUPNAME=KING46652&VERSION=1.0>

12. Astronautical
Engineering
Astronautical
Engineering involves
craft that operate in
outer space.
Craft such as satellites,
spaceships, and some
rockets.
HTTP://WWW.VTAIDE.COM/PNG/ATMOSPHERE.HTM
PATTILLO, DONALD M. DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN HISTORY. ED. STANLEY I. KUTLER. 3RD ED.
VOL. 1. NEW YORK: CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS, 2003. GALE VIRTUAL REFERENCE LIBRARY.
WEB. 2 DEC. 2009. <HTTP://FIND.GALEGROUP.COM//INFOMARK.DO?
&CONTENTSET=EBKS&TYPE=RETRIEVE&TABID=T001&PRODID=GVRL&DOCID=CX3401800082
&SOURCE=GALE&USERGROUPNAME=KING46652&VERSION=1.0>

13. History
The very first flight was
performed by the
Montgolfier brothers in
1783 in a hot air balloon.
The first planning for “flying
machines” began in the
19th and 20th centuries.
Sir George Cayley is know
as the first real pioneer of
aeronautics engineering. HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/PMURF/124396690/
WILKINSON, RONALD S., AND JOHN F. BUYDOS. AERONAUTICAL AND
ASTRONAUTICAL RESOURCES OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS: A
COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE. WASHINGTON DC: THE LIBRARY OF
CONGRESS, 2007. PRINT.

14. Continued
The Wright brothers first
flight on December 17,
1903 sparked interest in
aerospace engineering
on a whole different
level.
Aeronautical technology
advanced rapidly during
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/
both World Wars.
35437908@N04/3441455285/
WILKINSON, RONALD S., AND JOHN F. BUYDOS. AERONAUTICAL AND
ASTRONAUTICAL RESOURCES OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS: A COMPREHENSIVE
GUIDE. WASHINGTON DC: THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, 2007. PRINT.

15. Continued
In 1958 the USA founded
NASA because of the cold
war, an organization that
would go on to make huge
advancements in
Aerospace Engineering.
The majority of the
advancements in
aerospace engineering
have come from wartime
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/ technology.
8490341@N04/4388535872/
WILKINSON, RONALD S., AND JOHN F. BUYDOS. AERONAUTICAL AND
ASTRONAUTICAL RESOURCES OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS: A
COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE. WASHINGTON DC: THE LIBRARY OF
CONGRESS, 2007. PRINT.

16. Schooling
The career path for an
Aerospace Engineer starts with
schooling.
There are a variety of courses an
engineer will take depending on
what their career path is,
including:
Fluid Mechanics,
Astrodynamics, Mathematics,
Propulsion, Aircraft
Structures, Avionics, Material
Sciences, and many others. HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/MZWP/312439334/
COHN, JESSICA. “REACH FOR THE STARS.” CAREER WORLD NOV.-DEC. 2007, 3RD ED.:
22+. SIRS DISCOVERER. WEB. 30 NOV.2009. <HTTP://
DISCOVERER.PROD.SIRS.COM.WF2DNVR11.WEBFEAT.ORG////?URN=URN%3ASIRS
%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000269745>.
WWW.ERAU.EDU

17. 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
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/
GSFC/2915118017/
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////?
URN=URN%3ASIRS%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000136252>.

18. Aerospace Engineering
Design Disciplines
Thermodynamics
Celestial mechanics
Aerodynamics
Propulsion
Acoustics
HTTP://WWW.GRC.NASA.GOV/WWW/K-12/
Guidance and Control AIRPLANE/THERMO1.HTML
Systems
NASA. "GUIDED TOURS OF THE BGA." NASA. N.P., N.D. WEB. 15 MAY 2010.
<HTTP://WWW.GRC.NASA.GOV/WWW/K-12/AIRPLANE/GUIDED.HTM>.

19. Thermodynamics and
Celestial Mechanics
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/
TOPTECHWRITER/338573258/
HTTP://WWW.GRC.NASA.GOV/WWW/K-12/
AIRPLANE/THERMO.HTML
NASA. "GUIDED TOURS OF THE BGA." NASA. N.P., N.D. WEB. 15 MAY 2010.
<HTTP://WWW.GRC.NASA.GOV/WWW/K-12/AIRPLANE/GUIDED.HTM>.

20. Aerodynamics and
Propulsion
HTTP://WWW.NASA.GOV/AUDIENCE/
HTTP://WWW.GRC.NASA.GOV/WWW/K-12/
FORSTUDENTS/K-4/DICTIONARY/
ROCKET/ROCKET.HTML
AERODYNAMICS.HTML
NASA. "GUIDED TOURS OF THE BGA." NASA. N.P., N.D. WEB. 15 MAY
2010.
<HTTP://WWW.GRC.NASA.GOV/WWW/K-12/AIRPLANE/GUIDED.HTM>.

21. Acoustics, Guidance
and Control Systems
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/ HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/BETH-
21582132@N02/3325879849/ HARPER/3883504562/
DAVIES, MARK. THE STANDARD BOOK FOR AERONAUTICAL AND ASTRONAUTICAL
ENGINEERS. ED. MARK DAVIES. NEW YORK: MCGRAW HILL, 2003. PRINT.

22. Forces that act on
Aircraft
NASA. "GUIDED TOURS OF THE BGA."
NASA. N.P., N.D. WEB. 15 MAY 2010.
HTTP://WWW.GRC.NASA.GOV/WWW/K-12/AIRPLANE/FORCES.HTML <HTTP://WWW.GRC.NASA.GOV/WWW/
K-12/AIRPLANE/GUIDED.HTM>.

23. Forces acting on a
Rocket
HTTP://WWW.GRC.NASA.GOV/WWW/K-12/
ROCKET/RKTFOR.HTML NASA. "GUIDED TOURS OF THE BGA."
NASA. N.P., N.D. WEB. 15 MAY 2010.
<HTTP://WWW.GRC.NASA.GOV/WWW/
K-12/AIRPLANE/GUIDED.HTM>.

24. Major Parts of an
Airplane
HTTP://WWW.GRC.NASA.GOV/WWW/K-12/
AIRPLANE/AIRPLANE.HTML
NASA. "GUIDED TOURS OF THE BGA."
NASA. N.P., N.D. WEB. 15 MAY 2010.
<HTTP://WWW.GRC.NASA.GOV/
WWW/K-12/AIRPLANE/GUIDED.HTM>.

25. Major Parts of a Rocket
HTTP://WWW.GRC.NASA.GOV/WWW/K-12/ROCKET/
RKTPARTS.HTML NASA. "GUIDED TOURS OF THE BGA." NASA.
N.P., N.D. WEB. 15 MAY 2010.
<HTTP://WWW.GRC.NASA.GOV/WWW/K-12/
AIRPLANE/GUIDED.HTM>.

26. Types of Propulsion
Systems
HTTP://WWW.GRC.NASA.GOV/WWW/K-12/ HTTP://WWW.GRC.NASA.GOV/WWW/K-12/
AIRPLANE/PROPELLER.HTML AIRPLANE/TURBINE.HTML
NASA. "GUIDED TOURS OF THE BGA." NASA. N.P., N.D. WEB. 15 MAY 2010.
<HTTP://WWW.GRC.NASA.GOV/WWW/K-12/AIRPLANE/GUIDED.HTM>.

27. Career Outlook
The number Aerospace Engineers is expected to increase by
2012.
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.
"AEROSPACE ENGINEERS CAREER INFORMATION." COLLEGEGRAD. N.P., N.D. WEB. 15 MAY
2010. <HTTP://WWW.COLLEGEGRAD.COM/CAREERS/PROFT07.SHTML>.

28. 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.
"AEROSPACE ENGINEERS CAREER INFORMATION." COLLEGEGRAD. N.P., N.D. WEB. 15 MAY
2010. <HTTP://WWW.COLLEGEGRAD.COM/CAREERS/PROFT07.SHTML>.

29. Drafting
Drafting is also known as
Technical Drawing.
All technical drawings have
a standards and
conventions that Drafters
follow.
Everything from lines to
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/
angles to text must MATTHEWPIPER/2947273251/
measurable in some way.
There is little to no freehand
drawing in Drafting.
DYM, CLIVE L; AGOGINO, ALICE M; ERIS, OZGUR; FREY, DANIEL D; LEIFER,.
"ENGINEERING DESIGN THINKING, TEACHING, AND LEARNING." JOURNAL OF
ENGINEERING EDUCATION 1(2005):103. ELIBRARY. WEB. 23 MAY. 2010.

30. Drafting Conventions
Line Thickness.
Text Size
Dimensioning
Layout
View Projections
Descriptive Geometry
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/
CHRISTOPHERSCORTEZ/4268069348/
DYM, CLIVE L; AGOGINO, ALICE M; ERIS, OZGUR; FREY, DANIEL D; LEIFER,. "ENGINEERING
DESIGN THINKING, TEACHING, AND LEARNING." JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION
1(2005):103. ELIBRARY. WEB. 23 MAY. 2010.

31. Steps of Drafting
1. Sketch overall drawing.
2. Begin to figure out overall
dimensions for drawing.
3. Begin technical drawings by
using overall dimensions as a
guide.
4. After first drawing is complete,
draw different perspectives of the
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/
MSK13/4108482239/ object (Front, Side, Top Views).
5. Drafted drawings can then be
put into computer programs by
using CAD.
DYM, CLIVE L; AGOGINO, ALICE M; ERIS, OZGUR; FREY, DANIEL D; LEIFER,.
"ENGINEERING DESIGN THINKING, TEACHING, AND LEARNING." JOURNAL OF
ENGINEERING EDUCATION 1(2005):103. ELIBRARY. WEB. 23 MAY. 2010.

32. Drafting Tools
Drafting Table.
T-Square.
Compass.
30-60-90 triangle and
45-45-90 triangle.
An array of different
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/ numbered pencils with eraser.
SHENGHAN/3388012454/
Straight Edge
DYM, CLIVE L; AGOGINO, ALICE M; ERIS, OZGUR; FREY, DANIEL D; LEIFER,.
"ENGINEERING DESIGN THINKING, TEACHING, AND LEARNING." JOURNAL OF
ENGINEERING EDUCATION 1(2005):103. ELIBRARY. WEB. 23 MAY. 2010.

33. Change from Drafting to
CAD
With advancing
technology drafting has
become obsolete and
CAD has become the
new way to make
technical drawings.
REESE, SUSAN. "CAD/CAM: A NEW DIMENSION IN DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING."
TECHNIQUES. 01 JAN. 2005: 37. ELIBRARY. WEB. 23 MAY. 2010.

34. CAD-Computer Aided
Design
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.
REESE, SUSAN. "CAD/CAM: A NEW DIMENSION IN DESIGN AND
MANUFACTURING." TECHNIQUES. 01 JAN. 2005: 37. ELIBRARY. WEB. 23 MAY. 2010.

35. Popular CAD Programs
AutoCAD
TurboCAD
AutoDesk Inventor
Pro/Engineer
MicroStation (used in HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/
our school) 38569128@N05/3861494801/
REESE, SUSAN. "CAD/CAM: A NEW DIMENSION IN DESIGN AND
MANUFACTURING." TECHNIQUES. 01 JAN. 2005: 37. ELIBRARY. WEB. 23 MAY. 2010.

36. So what can CAD be
used for?
CAD can be used to design the layout of the
structure, control systems, electrical systems, fuel
systems, and the power plant.
REESE, SUSAN. "CAD/CAM: A NEW DIMENSION IN DESIGN AND
MANUFACTURING." TECHNIQUES. 01 JAN. 2005: 37. ELIBRARY. WEB. 23 MAY. 2010.

37. From Design to
Production
Once engineers finish
design all the
fundamentals of the
aircraft they can give the
design to a manufacturer
to build a test aircraft.
When the test aircraft is
completed test pilots then
HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/
UNIT2345/4540861953/ test the aircraft rigorously
to make sure it operates at
full potential.
DAVIES, MARK. THE STANDARD BOOK FOR
AERONAUTICAL AND ASTRONAUTICAL ENGINEERS. ED.
MARK DAVIES. NEW YORK: MCGRAW HILL, 2003. PRINT

38. Continued
If the aircraft passes the
test will go into
production and the
manufacturer can than
sell the aircraft.
Each aircraft will still go
through testing after it is
built to make sure it
preforms at maximum HTTP://WWW.FLICKR.COM/PHOTOS/
25616404@N05/4033280989/
potential.
DAVIES, MARK. THE STANDARD BOOK FOR
AERONAUTICAL AND ASTRONAUTICAL ENGINEERS. ED.
MARK DAVIES. NEW YORK: MCGRAW HILL, 2003. PRINT

39. 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 multiple CAD
drawings.

40. Rocket
The rocket I built is a
standard rocket that can
be bought at a hobby
store.
The complete assembly
took around two hours
and is fairly simple.

41. Airplane
The model airplane I
built was of a WWII
aircraft called the
Birddog.
The model took around
25-30 hours to build
because it is very
complex.

42. CAD
I made three
perspectives of the
airplane included Front,
Side, and Top views.
There is only one
perspective of the
rocket because it is
symmetric from every
view.

45. Class Activity
We are going to go onto
NASA’s website to use a
virtual model that
demonstrates the
factors involved with lift.
HTTP://WWW.GRC.NASA.GOV/WWW/K-12/AIRPLANE/FOILSIME.HTML

46. Works Cited
Cohn, Jessica. “Reach for the Stars.” Career World Nov.-Dec. 2007, 3rd ed.: 22+. SIRS Discoverer.
Web. 30 Nov.2009. <http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com.wf2dnvr11.webfeat.org////?urn=urn%3Asirs
%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000269745>.
Colditz, Graham. “Aerospace Industry.” Encylopedia of Cancer and Society. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag.
Excerpt from Encylopedia of Cancer and Sociey. Ed. Graham Colditz. Vol. 1. Los Angeles: Sage
Publications Inc., 2007. 3 vols. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 2 Dec. 2009. <http://
find.galegroup.com//infomark.do?
&contentSet=EBKS&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=GVRL&docId=CX2660500018&source=gal
e&userGroupName=king46652&version=1.0>.
Davies, Mark. The Standard Book for Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineers. Ed. Mark Davies.
New York: McGraw Hill, 2003. Print
“Doing Business with NASA.” SIRS Government Reporter Dec. 1996: 6-19. SIRS Government
Reporter. Web. 2 Dec. 2009. <http://sks.sirs.com.wf2dnvr6.webfeat.org/bin/hst-article-display?
id=SPL2957-0-8&artno=0000086177&type=ART&shfilter=U&key=&title=This%20Is
%20NASA&res=Y&ren=Y&gov=Y&lnk=N&ic=N>.
Wilkinson, Ronald S., and John F. Buydos. Aeronautical and Astronautical Resources of the Library
of Congress: A Comprehensive Guide. Washington DC: The Library of Congress, 2007. Print.

47. Continued
Pattillo, Donald M. Dictionary of American History. Ed. Stanley I. Kutler. 3rd ed. Vol. 1. New York: Charles
Scribner’s Sons, 2003. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 2 Dec. 2009. <http://find.galegroup.com//
infomark.do?
&contentSet=EBKS&type=retrieve&tabID=T001&prodId=GVRL&docId=CX3401800082&source=gale&userG
roupName=king46652&version=1.0>.
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////?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS
%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000136252>
Reese, Susan. "CAD/CAM: A New Dimension in Design and Manufacturing." Techniques. 01 Jan. 2005: 37.
eLibrary. Web. 23 May. 2010.
"Aerospace Engineers Career Information." CollegeGrad. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2010. <http://
www.collegegrad.com/careers/proft07.shtml>.
NASA. "Guided Tours of the BGA." NASA. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2010. <http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/
K-12/airplane/guided.htm>.
Dym, Clive L; Agogino, Alice M; Eris, Ozgur; Frey, Daniel D; Leifer,. "Engineering Design Thinking, Teaching,
and Learning." Journal of Engineering Education 1(2005):103. eLibrary. Web. 23 May. 2010.
www.erau.edu

48. Conclusion
In conclusion, Aerospace Engineers affect everyday
life by making advancements in flight technology.
Almost everyone will fly on an airplane at some point
in their life and some people even fly everyday. These
engineers help make the world run smoother by
designing new and safe technology for everyday
people to use.