Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering
'Aerospace and aeronautical engineering covers the design and engineering of the systems, equipment and components that are part of flying vehicles such as aeroplanes, helicopters, spacecraft and rockets.' from Neon resource From Idea to career
Mission to Mars
This DIY Faraday Challenge asks students to work in teams to design and construct a rocket that will transport supplies via Earth orbit to the astronauts on Mars and to build a system to transport the rocket to the launch site on Earth.
The challenge is designed to be delivered over a full day and the resource provides introduction videos, resources for students and support for facilitators on how to use the activity.
STEM Club Activity: Keeping It Cool
This activity supports students to design, make, test and evaluate an appropriate heatshield to protect a square of chocolate from a heat source.
Taking inspiration from a solar orbiting satellite, this resource is a hands on way of teaching students about how engineers keep materials and tools cool in space.
Take off
This two-part activity starts with a group discussion about the factors that need to be considered when an aircraft takes off and lands. The second activity challenges student to design and make a model aeroplane and a simple mechanism or system for launching it.
Abbie Hutty - A Career at Airbus Defence and Space
This video from the IET introduces Abbie Hutty, a spacecraft structures engineer at Airbus Defence and Space. Abbie is part of a team working on a Mars Rover mission looking for life on other planets. She takes us through her working day and why she decided to become an engineer.
Aviation engineer profile: Ben Truman
In this film, from the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, Ben Truman explains his passion for aviation and engineering. After completing his degree in mechanical engineering he became a design engineer for Goodrich Actuation Systems where he is working on the thrust reverser system for the Airbus A350. Ben talks through the whole design process, including the parts he designed, stress concentrations, testing for load and manufacture.
Aircraft of the future
In this activity, learners will design a sustainably powered aircraft of the future. They will learn about the alternatives to using petrochemicals to power aircraft. It will build understanding of sustainability issues in engineering and how these are applied when designing a product.
Understanding aerodynamics
Understanding aerodynamics is key to understanding flight. Aerofoils are designed to allow aircraft to fly. The design of these is crucial to minimise drag and increase lift. In this activity, learners will make and test a simple design for an aerofoil. They will learn about the terms lift, drag and thrust and how these apply to aircraft. It will build knowledge of aerodynamics theory and how this can be applied.
Human kite
Taking inspiration from the Born to Engineer video from Angelo Grubisic, an aeronautical engineer who combines his love for engineering with a passion for extreme sports., this resource supports students to increase their understanding of flight and how engineers use nature to inspire their ideas. Students will have the opportunity to build, test and evaluate their own creations.
Drones: friend or foe?
The drone resource box is aimed at key stage 3 or key stage 4 students and could be used as a six-session curriculum resource or a drop down activity day. The resource explores how drones work and how they can be used for civilian, humanitarian and commercial purposes. Each session will be based around a different system in the drone.
From idea to career
A guide to 12 different engineering disciplines showing different pathways into engineering, to support students with their career decision-making.
