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Job Title:

Aeronautical Engineer

Related Job Title:

aerospace engineer, mechanical engineer, aviation systems engineer, fluid dynamics researcher, computational fluid dynamicist

Job Description:

Aeronautical engineers design, develop, test and oversee the building of aircraft, aircraft propulsion systems, airframes and control surfaces. When designing a new aircraft, engineers first define what the purpose of such a vehicle is to be. Based upon research that has already been done and the design parameters, aeronautical engineers then design the prototype or model section. They design the test procedures and then run the test using a small team of experts. The engineer then examines the results and generates a report that identifies whether the design should be continued as is, modified as per the results or completely re-designed. The research performed prior to the design as well as the design work is performed in an office building or aeronautical lab facility using sophisticated computer workstations and computer visualization tools. When models are tested they can be tested in a wind tunnel facility or "flown in a computer" using sophisticated computational fluid dynamics visualization software. Aeronautical engineers spend a lot of time researching information, working with complex equations, using computers and discussing possibilities with colleagues.

Areas of Expertise:

• Aerodynamics
• Aeronautics
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Aircraft structure and function
• Aircraft propulsion systems

Interests and Abilities:

• Genuine love of aviation, airplanes and flight.
• Find it enjoyable to work out complex mathematical formulae.
• Fascinated by how air flows around cars and airplanes.
• Using mathematical equations to express a scientific idea is easily understood
• Solving problems using a computer is fun.
• Paying attention to every little detail is something I don't mind doing.

Suggested Topics to Study in School:

• Physics
• Aeronautics
• Chemistry
• Auto shop/engine repair
• Database software programs
• Mathematics: geometry, trigonometry, calculus
• English composition

Education and Training Needed:

• Minimum Bachelor's college degree in aeronautics, aeronautical engineering, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, fluid dynamics, thermal dynamics, computer science
• To perform research, Master's level to Ph.D. in aeronautics, aeronautical engineering, aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, fluid dynamics
• Pilot's license is helpful

You might want to further explore this career by checking out the resources given below:

• Read the magazine Aviation Week and Space Technology to get a better understanding of the aerospace industry.
• Check out the NASA aerospace research Web sites (Langley Research Center, Ames Research Center or Glenn Research Center) to learn more about aerospace research.
• American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Web site
• Junior Engineering Technical Society Web site

What can I do right now?

• Attend a camp session of Aviation Challenge.
• Visit an aviation museum and take in the different types of aircraft.
• Start designing your own paper airplane models to see which ones fly the farthest, the highest, or perform the greatest number of loops, etc.
• Design and build your own long range balsa wood gliders.
• Learn to fly model aircraft.
• Check out the Web site Foil Sim at the Glenn Research Center Web site and learn about aeronautics.
• Take a ground school course.
• Take a flight in as many different types of aircraft as possible to see how you like it.
• Join an organization like Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and participate in their activities.
• Participate in a NASA Quest Web cast or chat, and pose questions to the aeronautical researchers featured there.

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