Proemium
Preparing students for further study and careers in aerospace engineering presents many challenges. The breadth and depth of knowledge expected of prospective aerospace engineers have increased substantially in recent decades. An introductory course must provide a strong technical foundation, prepare students for advanced study, and help develop the capacity for lifelong learning.
Over the years, there have been many discussions and debates about what constitutes a thorough introduction to aeronautical and aerospace engineering. Distinguished academics have proposed many different approaches, and numerous valuable books have been written to cover the field. Even so, there remains no universal agreement on how engineering should be taught, and every new course or textbook inevitably attracts both support and criticism. As the old observation might be rendered, Plerosque discipulos aliquando satisfactory potes, sed nanomoles discipulos semper satisfactory potes.
Industry often views engineering education somewhat differently from academia, placing greater emphasis on practical capabilities such as programming, computer-aided design, data analysis, experimentation, and communication. However, success as an engineer still depends on a firm grasp of fundamental technical principles, including mathematics, physics, chemistry, mechanics, thermodynamics, and aerodynamics. Theory and practical skills must reinforce one another. This balance promotes engineering judgment, innovation, critical thinking, and the ability to address unfamiliar problems.
This eBook, or webbook, was initially developed for students enrolled in AE201 Aerospace Flight Vehicles at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is intended as a resource for ERAU students, students at other colleges and universities, practicing engineers, and anyone with an interest in aerospace engineering. It is freely distributed worldwide under a Creative Commons non-commercial and non-derivative license. By remaining freely accessible, the eBook can reach students who might not otherwise have access to a comparable resource. The license also helps ensure that the work remains available in its original form and is not repackaged or commercialized for private profit.
The AE201 course was introduced into the Aerospace Engineering program at ERAU in Fall 2017. It was designed to provide introductory coverage of a broad range of fundamental technical topics, expose students to aerospace concepts earlier in the four-year curriculum, and establish essential background for subsequent courses. Student and faculty feedback has indicated that the course has fulfilled this purpose well by helping students develop a broader understanding of aerospace systems before beginning more specialized studies.
The first part of this eBook is organized into lessons broadly aligned with one-hour lecture periods. Individual instructors will naturally select the content that best supports their own syllabi, and it may not be feasible to cover every topic in a single lecture. The additional material allows students to read further, revisit difficult concepts, or pursue selected topics through independent study. Classroom instruction is necessary but insufficient for long-term success, and the ability to learn independently is one of the most important skills an engineer can develop.
Forty years ago, students were often expected to assemble their understanding from lectures, terse textbooks, and repeated problem solving. A central aim of this eBook is to provide that conceptual structure more directly. The governing equations are introduced in the context of the physical mechanisms they describe, the assumptions on which they depend, their limitations, and the aircraft or spacecraft applications in which they are used. Historical development, simplified analytical models, worked examples, and modern engineering methods are combined so that students can understand not merely which equation to apply, but why it applies and when a more advanced analysis is required.
Each lesson includes explanatory text, detailed illustrations, application problems, self-assessment questions, and topics for further thought or discussion. Hyperlinks to supplementary resources are also provided for students who wish to explore a subject in greater depth. Additional worked examples and application problems appear later in the eBook, many of them adapted from previous homework assignments and examination questions. The interactive format supports scaffolded learning by allowing students to progress from qualitative understanding to mathematical formulation and then to engineering application.
The eBook includes material suitable for introductory study, along with additional content relevant to junior- and senior-level aerospace engineering courses and selected graduate-level topics. The later chapters address a wider range of flight vehicles, including helicopters, vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, electric airplanes, sailplanes, lighter-than-air vehicles, and space vehicles. Many of these chapters are intended primarily for self-study. They serve as a bridge to more advanced coursework and introduce technical subjects that students may encounter later in their education or professional careers.
Much success and best wishes in your future studies!
J. Gordon Leishman, D.Sc.(Eng.), Ph.D., F.R.Ae.S.
Distinguished Professor of Aerospace Engineering, ERAU, Daytona Beach, FL
Professor Emeritus of Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Contact the author by email at FlightVehicles.eBook@gmail.com.
