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Jacco M. Hoekstra,
Jos Sinke,
Nando Timmer,
and
Mark Voskuijl
Have you ever flown in an airplane and are you curious about how flying works? Are you interested in the fundamental concepts behind flying? How does a wing generate lift? And how can we fly as optimally as possible?
Read more
Have you ever flown in an airplane and are you curious about how flying works? Are you interested in the fundamental concepts behind flying? How does a wing generate lift? And how can we fly as optimally as possible?
Read more
Have you ever flown in an airplane and are you curious about how flying works? Are you interested in the fundamental concepts behind flying? How does a wing generate lift? And how can we fly as optimally as possible?
This course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of aeronautics, using a tour through the history of flight, starting with ballooning and continuing on to airplanes and helicopters.
Experts from the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering of Delft University of Technology will help you explore and discover the fundamentals of flight, in three blocks. First, you will explore the history of flight including ballooning and obtain a basic understanding of aircraft and the earth's atmosphere. Topics include stability, navigation, propulsion and the structure of aircraft. Block two examines the principles of aerodynamics. You will learn for instance how the shape of an airfoil or wing impacts the amount of lift generated. Block three covers flight mechanics, including various flight phases, such as descending, climbing or cruise, and the most optimal flying conditions for each phase.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/ezzcw9/introduction
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What's inside
Learning objectives
- The impact of the history of flight on aircraft today.
- How the earth's atmosphere can be modelled and how we can use this for aircraft design.
- Stability, structures, navigation and propulsion of aircraft.
- The fundamental aerodynamic concepts for flying an aircraft.
- How airfoils and wings generate lift.
- Flight mechanics of aircraft.
- How aircraft can optimally climb, descend and cruise.
- The impact of the history of flight on aircraft today.
- How the earth's atmosphere can be modelled and how we can use this for aircraft design.
- Stability, structures, navigation and propulsion of aircraft.
- The fundamental aerodynamic concepts for flying an aircraft.
- How airfoils and wings generate lift.
- Flight mechanics of aircraft.
- How aircraft can optimally climb, descend and cruise.
Good to know
Good to know
Know what's good ,
what to watch for , and
possible dealbreakers
Explores the history of flight, providing learners a historical context for aircraft design and use
Teaches the fundamental aerodynamic concepts necessary for flying an aircraft, which are essential for pilots and aerospace engineers
Covers flight mechanics, including various flight phases and how aircraft can optimally climb, descend, and cruise, which are important for pilots and aerospace engineers
Builds a strong foundation for learners interested in aviation, as it provides an overview of the history, aerodynamics, and flight mechanics of aircraft
Taught by instructors from the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering of Delft University of Technology, who are recognized for their expertise in aerospace engineering
Requires learners to have some background knowledge in physics and mathematics, which may be a barrier for some learners
Save this course
Save Introduction to Aeronautical Engineering to your list so you can find it easily later:
Save
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Reviews summary
Introductory engineering overview
Learners say this introductory course provides a largely positive, complete overview of aeronautical engineering's many disciplines, including structures, aerodynamics, propulsion and flight mechanics. Hands-on activities enhance the learning experience, but some students report that equations and calculus can be challenging.
Beginners will appreciate the course content's in-depth coverage.
"This course gives you complete overview of Aeronautical Engineering."
"Each and every aspect of AE is covered with a brief explanation."
Interactive activities support the learning process.
"It worth the efforts, they made the course very entertaining, it is well explained, the use of the virtual blackboard was a big plus."
Students should be prepared for challenging mathematical concepts.
"after the first couple of lessons many of the equations become challenging and calculus appears as well."
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Introduction to Aeronautical Engineering with these
activities:
Read 'Introduction to Aerospace Engineering' by Ahmed F. El-Sayed
Show steps
Gain a comprehensive foundational understanding of aerospace engineering concepts
View
Foreign Object Debris and Damage in Aviation
on Amazon
Show steps
-
Read and understand the core concepts presented in the book
Review Newtonian mechanics
Show steps
Develop a deeper understanding of the concepts of forces, energy, and motion to strengthen fundamentals
Show steps
-
Review the laws of motion
-
Practice solving problems involving forces and motion
Compile a glossary of aerospace engineering terms
Show steps
Enhance understanding of technical terminology used in the field of aerospace engineering
Show steps
-
Gather terms from course materials and other resources
-
Define and explain each term clearly
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Attend a study group focused on aircraft stability and control
Show steps
Enhance comprehension of complex concepts through collaborative learning and peer support
Browse courses on
Aerodynamics
Show steps
-
Join or form a study group
-
Discuss and solve problems related to aircraft stability and control
Simulate fluid dynamics with OpenFOAM
Show steps
Develop proficiency in utilizing computational tools to analyze fluid flow and enhance comprehension of fluid dynamics principles
Show steps
-
Install OpenFOAM
-
Work through tutorials on basic fluid flow simulations
-
Run simulations and analyze results
Attend a workshop on aircraft design and optimization
Show steps
Acquire specialized knowledge and practical skills in aircraft design and optimization
Browse courses on
Aircraft Design
Show steps
-
Attend the workshop and participate actively
-
Apply the learned techniques to design and optimize an aircraft
Design and build a balsa wood airplane
Show steps
Foster a practical understanding of aircraft design and aerodynamics by applying principles learned
Browse courses on
Aircraft Design
Show steps
-
Research and design the airplane
-
Build the airplane
-
Test fly the airplane
Contribute to an open-source flight simulator project
Show steps
Gain practical experience in software development, flight simulation, and aerospace engineering principles
Browse courses on
Flight Simulation
Show steps
-
Find an open-source flight simulator project
-
Contribute to the project by improving existing features or adding new ones
Read 'Introduction to Aerospace Engineering' by Ahmed F. El-Sayed
Show steps
Gain a comprehensive foundational understanding of aerospace engineering concepts
View
Foreign Object Debris and Damage in Aviation
on Amazon
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read and understand the core concepts presented in the book
Review Newtonian mechanics
Show steps
Develop a deeper understanding of the concepts of forces, energy, and motion to strengthen fundamentals
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Review the laws of motion
- Practice solving problems involving forces and motion
Compile a glossary of aerospace engineering terms
Show steps
Enhance understanding of technical terminology used in the field of aerospace engineering
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Gather terms from course materials and other resources
- Define and explain each term clearly
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Attend a study group focused on aircraft stability and control
Show steps
Enhance comprehension of complex concepts through collaborative learning and peer support
Browse courses on
Aerodynamics
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Join or form a study group
- Discuss and solve problems related to aircraft stability and control
Simulate fluid dynamics with OpenFOAM
Show steps
Develop proficiency in utilizing computational tools to analyze fluid flow and enhance comprehension of fluid dynamics principles
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Install OpenFOAM
- Work through tutorials on basic fluid flow simulations
- Run simulations and analyze results
Attend a workshop on aircraft design and optimization
Show steps
Acquire specialized knowledge and practical skills in aircraft design and optimization
Browse courses on
Aircraft Design
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Attend the workshop and participate actively
- Apply the learned techniques to design and optimize an aircraft
Design and build a balsa wood airplane
Show steps
Foster a practical understanding of aircraft design and aerodynamics by applying principles learned
Browse courses on
Aircraft Design
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Research and design the airplane
- Build the airplane
- Test fly the airplane
Contribute to an open-source flight simulator project
Show steps
Gain practical experience in software development, flight simulation, and aerospace engineering principles
Browse courses on
Flight Simulation
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Find an open-source flight simulator project
- Contribute to the project by improving existing features or adding new ones
Career center
Learners who complete Introduction to Aeronautical Engineering will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Aerospace Engineer
Aerospace Engineer
An Aerospace Engineer designs, analyzes, and tests aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and other aerospace vehicles. This course provides a solid background in the history of flight, the earth's atmosphere, stability, structures, navigation and propulsion of aircraft, and the fundamental aerodynamic concepts for flying an aircraft. This knowledge can help an aspiring Aerospace Engineer understand the design, development, and testing of aerospace vehicles.
Aeronautical Engineer
Aeronautical Engineer
An Aeronautical Engineer designs, analyzes, and tests aircraft. This course provides a solid background in the history of flight, the earth's atmosphere, stability, structures, navigation and propulsion of aircraft, and the fundamental aerodynamic concepts for flying an aircraft. This knowledge can help an aspiring Aeronautical Engineer understand the design, development, and testing of aircraft.
Technical Writer
Technical Writer
A Technical Writer creates and maintains technical documentation for aircraft, spacecraft, and other aerospace vehicles. This course provides a solid background in the history of flight, the earth's atmosphere, stability, structures, navigation and propulsion of aircraft, and the fundamental aerodynamic concepts for flying an aircraft. This knowledge can help an aspiring Technical Writer understand the technical aspects of aerospace vehicles.
Avionics Engineer
Avionics Engineer
An Avionics Engineer designs, develops, and tests electronic systems for aircraft, spacecraft, and other aerospace vehicles. This course provides a solid background in the history of flight, the earth's atmosphere, stability, structures, navigation and propulsion of aircraft, and the fundamental aerodynamic concepts for flying an aircraft. This knowledge can help an aspiring Avionics Engineer understand the integration of electronic systems into aerospace vehicles.
Flight Test Engineer
Flight Test Engineer
A Flight Test Engineer plans and conducts flight tests to evaluate the performance and safety of aircraft. This course provides a solid background in the history of flight, the earth's atmosphere, stability, structures, navigation and propulsion of aircraft, and the fundamental aerodynamic concepts for flying an aircraft. This knowledge can help an aspiring Flight Test Engineer understand the principles of flight testing.
Propulsion Engineer
Propulsion Engineer
A Propulsion Engineer designs, develops, and tests propulsion systems for aircraft, spacecraft, and other aerospace vehicles. This course provides a solid background in the history of flight, the earth's atmosphere, stability, structures, navigation and propulsion of aircraft, and the fundamental aerodynamic concepts for flying an aircraft. This knowledge can help an aspiring Propulsion Engineer understand the design, development, and testing of propulsion systems for aerospace vehicles.
Systems Engineer
Systems Engineer
A Systems Engineer designs, develops, and tests systems for aircraft, spacecraft, and other aerospace vehicles. This course provides a solid background in the history of flight, the earth's atmosphere, stability, structures, navigation and propulsion of aircraft, and the fundamental aerodynamic concepts for flying an aircraft. This knowledge can help an aspiring Systems Engineer understand the integration of systems into aerospace vehicles.
UAS/Drone Engineer
UAS/Drone Engineer
A UAS/Drone Engineer designs, develops, and tests unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and drones. This course provides a solid background in the history of flight, the earth's atmosphere, stability, structures, navigation and propulsion of aircraft, and the fundamental aerodynamic concepts for flying an aircraft. This knowledge can help an aspiring UAS/Drone Engineer understand the design, development, and testing of UAS and drones.
Mechanical Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
A Mechanical Engineer designs, analyzes, and tests mechanical systems for aircraft, spacecraft, and other aerospace vehicles. This course provides a solid background in the history of flight, the earth's atmosphere, stability, structures, navigation and propulsion of aircraft, and the fundamental aerodynamic concepts for flying an aircraft. This knowledge can help an aspiring Mechanical Engineer understand the design, development, and testing of mechanical systems for aerospace vehicles.
Materials Engineer
Materials Engineer
A Materials Engineer develops and tests new materials for use in aircraft, spacecraft, and other aerospace vehicles. This course provides a solid background in the history of flight, the earth's atmosphere, stability, structures, navigation and propulsion of aircraft, and the fundamental aerodynamic concepts for flying an aircraft. This knowledge can help an aspiring Materials Engineer understand the role of materials in aerospace vehicles.
Software Engineer
Software Engineer
A Software Engineer designs, develops, and tests software for aircraft, spacecraft, and other aerospace vehicles. This course provides a solid background in the history of flight, the earth's atmosphere, stability, structures, navigation and propulsion of aircraft, and the fundamental aerodynamic concepts for flying an aircraft. This knowledge can help an aspiring Software Engineer understand the integration of software into aerospace vehicles.
Aircraft Mechanic
Aircraft Mechanic
An Aircraft Mechanic maintains and repairs aircraft. This course provides a solid background in the history of flight, the earth's atmosphere, stability, structures, navigation and propulsion of aircraft, and the fundamental aerodynamic concepts for flying an aircraft. This knowledge can help an aspiring Aircraft Mechanic understand the design, maintenance, and repair of aircraft.
Flight Attendant
Flight Attendant
A Flight Attendant provides safety and comfort to passengers on commercial aircraft. This course provides a solid background in the history of flight, the earth's atmosphere, stability, structures, navigation and propulsion of aircraft, and the fundamental aerodynamic concepts for flying an aircraft. This knowledge can help an aspiring Flight Attendant understand the principles of flight and the operation of commercial aircraft.
Air Traffic Controller
Air Traffic Controller
An Air Traffic Controller directs and coordinates the movement of aircraft in the air and on the ground. This course provides a solid background in the history of flight, the earth's atmosphere, stability, structures, navigation and propulsion of aircraft, and the fundamental aerodynamic concepts for flying an aircraft. This knowledge can help an aspiring Air Traffic Controller understand the principles of air traffic control.
Airline Pilot
Airline Pilot
An Airline Pilot flies commercial aircraft to transport passengers and cargo. This course provides a solid background in the history of flight, the earth's atmosphere, stability, structures, navigation and propulsion of aircraft, and the fundamental aerodynamic concepts for flying an aircraft. This knowledge can help an aspiring Airline Pilot understand the principles of flight and the operation of commercial aircraft.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/ezzcw9/introduction
Reading list
We've selected 13 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Introduction to Aeronautical Engineering.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the design process for modern aircraft, covering topics such as aircraft configuration, structural design, aerodynamics, and propulsion. It also discusses emerging technologies and trends in aircraft design.
Save
This highly-regarded textbook develops a solid theoretical and practical understanding of the principles of aircrafts and space vehicles. It covers a range of topics including aircraft structures, aerodynamics, propulsion, stability, and control.
This textbook provides a thorough foundation in the principles of aerodynamics, with a focus on the practical application of these principles to the design and analysis of aircraft. It covers topics such as fluid mechanics, boundary layers, airfoils, wings, and control surfaces.
This textbook provides a comprehensive treatment of the principles and practice of flight dynamics, with a focus on the stability, control, and performance of aircraft. It covers topics such as equations of motion, stability derivatives, control systems, and flight simulation.
This textbook provides a broad overview of the principles and practice of aerospace engineering, with a focus on the design and analysis of aircraft and spacecraft. It covers topics such as aerodynamics, propulsion, stability, and control.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and practice of aircraft flight dynamics and control, with a focus on the stability, control, and performance of aircraft. It covers topics such as equations of motion, stability derivatives, control systems, and flight simulation.
This textbook provides a clear and concise introduction to the basic principles of flight, covering topics such as aerodynamics, propulsion, stability, and control. It is suitable for students with a background in basic physics and mathematics.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and practice of aerospace engineering, with a focus on the design and analysis of aircraft and spacecraft. It covers topics such as aerodynamics, propulsion, stability, and control.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and practice of avionics, with a focus on the design and integration of avionics systems. It covers topics such as sensors, displays, navigation systems, and communication systems.
Provides a comprehensive history of the development of aerodynamics, from its early beginnings to the present day. It covers topics such as the Wright brothers, the development of supersonic flight, and the role of aerodynamics in the design of modern aircraft and spacecraft.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the principles and practice of aircraft propulsion, with a focus on the design and analysis of aircraft engines. It covers topics such as engine cycles, combustion, turbines, and propellers.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of classical mechanics, with a focus on the application of these principles to the study of motion. It covers topics such as kinematics, dynamics, and conservation laws.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of engineering thermodynamics, with a focus on the application of these principles to the design and analysis of thermodynamic systems. It covers topics such as energy, entropy, and the laws of thermodynamics.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/ezzcw9/introduction
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Effort
10 to 12 hours per week for 7 weeks
Level
Introductory
Via
edX
Institution
Delft University of Technology
Instructors
Jacco M. Hoekstra
Jos Sinke
Nando Timmer
Mark Voskuijl
Session
August 29, 2024
- August 22, 2025
Language
English
Transcript
English
Good to know
Explores the history of flight, providing learners a historical context for aircraft design and use
Teaches the fundamental aerodynamic concepts necessary for flying an aircraft, which are essential for pilots and aerospace engineers
Covers flight mechanics, including various flight phases and how aircraft can optimally climb, descend, and cruise, which are important for pilots and aerospace engineers
Builds a strong foundation for learners interested in aviation, as it provides an overview of the history, aerodynamics, and flight mechanics of aircraft
Taught by instructors from the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering of Delft University of Technology, who are recognized for their expertise in aerospace engineering
Requires learners to have some background knowledge in physics and mathematics, which may be a barrier for some learners
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