2008-2009 Catalog - United States Air Force Academy

aeronautical engineering major
Successful completion of the Aeronautical Engineering major leads to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical
Engineering, and prepares cadets for a wide variety of Air Force assignments in research and development, testing, and
operations in the discipline. The Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, 111 Market Place, Suite 1050, Baltimore MD
21202-4012, telephone: (410) 347-7700 accredits this degree.
Program Operational Goals define attributes and capabilities young graduates of the Academy’s Aeronautical Engineering
Program are expected to exhibit.
The goal of the Aeronautical Engineering program is to prepare cadets to become leaders of character who:
• Possess breadth of integrated, fundamental knowledge in engineering, basic sciences, social sciences, and the
humanities; and depth of knowledge in aeronautical engineering.
• Communicate effectively.
• Work effectively on teams and grow into team leaders.
• Are independent learners, and as applicable, are successful in graduate school.
• Can apply their knowledge and skills to solve Air Force engineering problems, both well- and ill-defined.
• Know and practice their ethical, professional, and community responsibilities as embodied in the Air Force core
values.
Upon successful completion of the Aeronautical Engineering program cadets will demonstrate satisfactory:
• Use of fundamental knowledge to solve aeronautical engineering problems commensurate with a Bachelor of
Science degree.
• Ability to plan and execute experimental and computational investigations, and interpret and analyze data from
such investigations to formulate sound conclusions.
• Development and evaluation of engineering designs that meet customer needs.
• Use of speaking and writing skills to communicate effectively.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
• Skills to engage in independent learning.
In the Aeronautical Engineering major, studies in aerodynamics, flight mechanics, propulsion, aircraft structures, and
experimental methods prepare cadets to succeed in either of the two-course design sequences, aircraft design or aircraft engine
design.
Suggested Course Sequence:
3rd-Class Year 2nd-Class Year 1st-Class Year
Aero Engr 315 Aero Engr 341 Academy Option A. E. Elective
Chem 200 Aero Engr 342 Aero Design Elective
Econ 201 Aero Engr 351 Aero Engr 442
El Engr 231 Aero Engr 352 Aero Engr 471
Engr Mech 220 Aero Engr 361 Aero Engr 481
Law 220 Beh Sci 310 Astro Engr 410
Math 243 English 211 Biology 315
Math 245 Engr Mech 320 English 411
MSS 200 Engr Mech 330 MSS 400
Physics 215 History 302 Philos 310
Pol Sci 211 Math 346 Soc Sci 412
Sys Opt Aero Engr 241 Math 356 Structures Elective
AERONAUTICS (Aero Engr)
Offered by the Department of Aeronautics.
Aero Engr 241. Aero-Thermodynamics. Fundamentals of the 1st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics applied to systems and
control volumes. Foundations in heat transfer. Control volume approaches to the equations of motion of a fluid. Applications
of gas dynamics to incompressible and compressible flows through nozzles, diffusers, and turbomachinery. Isentropic flows
to include Prandtl-Meyer expansions, and non-isentropic flows to include normal and oblique shocks, and flows with simple
United States Air Force Academy Catalog 53