Aeronautics: The Science of Flight

Strength and stability are important factors in airplane or space vehicle design. Engineers create vehicles that are strong enough to fly Effectively and efficiently by using specific materials and structures that are lightweight and durable. Important decisions are made regarding the materials that are used to make the fuselage, wings, tail, and engine. Many airplane materials are now made of composite materials that are lightweight, yet stronger than most metals. This issue shows how aircraft manufacturers are utilizing materials such as carbon fiber along with aluminum and titanium to engineer aircraft.

The boom in aeronautics and commercial aviation came when thousands of pilots were released from military service after World War II and the potential for using aircraft as an affordable and convenient method of transportation led to the creation of airline companies eager to capitalize on this emerging and untapped market. The Boeing 707 was introduced in 1958 as the first widely used passenger jet and laid the foundation for Boeing's steady rise in the jet airliner market. More recent models, including the the 787 Dreamliner, have improved aerodynamics, advances in engine technology, better fuel consumption, and improved cabin features. Since NASA no longer flies people and cargo to the International Space Station it is turning to private companies. Virgin Galactic's Space Ship One and Space Ship Two along with SpaceX's Dragon show how private companies are moving into commercial spaceflight with new advances in aeronautics.