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Fundamentals of Aerospace Engineering (2nd Edition): An introductory course to aeronautical engineering
The Second Edition of this book includes a revision and an extension of its former version. The book is divided into three parts, Introduction, The Aircraft, and Air Transportation, Airports, and Air Navigation. It also incoporates an appendix with somehow advanced mathematics and computer based exercises. The first part is divided in two chapters in which the student must achieve to understand the basic elements of atmospheric flight (ISA and planetary references) and the technology that apply to the aerospace sector, in particular with a specific comprehension of the elements of an aircraft. The second part focuses on the aircraft and it is divided in five chapters that introduce the student to aircraft aerodynamics (fluid mechanics, airfoils, wings, high-lift devices), aircraft materials and structures, aircraft propulsion, aircraft instruments and systems, and atmospheric flight mechanics (performances and stability and control). The third part is devoted to understand the global air transport system (covering both regulatory and economical frameworks), the airports, and the global air navigation system (its history, current status, and future development). The theoretical contents are illustrated with figures and complemented with some problems/exercises. The course is complemented by a practical approach. Students should be able to apply theoretical knowledge to solve practical cases using academic (but also industrial) software, such as Python and XFLR5. The course also includes a series of assignments to be completed individually or in groups. These tasks comprise an oral presentation, technical reports, scientific papers, problems, etc. The course is supplemented by scientific and industrial seminars, recommended readings, and a visit to an institution or industry related to the study and of interest to the students. All this documentation is not explicitly in the book but can be accessed online at the book's website www.aerospaceengineering.es. The slides of the course are also available at the book's Fundamentals of Aerospace Engineering is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike (CC BY-SA) 3.0 License, and it is offered in open access both in "pdf" format. The document can be accessed and downloaded at the book's website. This licensing is aligned with a philosophy of sharing and spreading knowledge. Writing and revising over and over this book has been an exhausting, very time consuming activity. To acknowledge author's effort, a donation platform has been activated at the book's website.
502 pages, Paperback
Published September 3, 2017
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March 31, 2025The Hook: A Click That Changed Everything
Lebo’s a dreamer—always has been. He’s the guy who’d fix radios as a kid, just to see how they ticked. “Check this out,” he said, shoving his laptop at me. The Dragonfly Aerospace website https://dragonflyaerospace.com/ loaded up, all sleek and sharp, with pics of tech that looked like it belonged in a sci-fi flick. “They’re from Stellenbosch, bru—not Silicon Valley.” That floored me. South Africa? Building stuff for space? I clicked around, and bam—there it was: a story of grit, gears, and a gang hell-bent on proving we’ve got skin in this game.
It’s not fluff either. They’re making aerospace components—think imaging systems that can spot a car wreck from 500 kilometers up. Lebo’s eyes lit up: “This is us doing it.” That’s when I knew—this wasn’t just a site; it was a mission.
Step 1: Dreaming in Pixels
Every big move starts with a sketch, right? For Dragonfly, it’s about aerospace components that pack a punch—small, smart, and tough. Their website lays it bare: they’re not here to build rockets (yet), but the guts that make them fly. Lebo’s take? “It’s like they’re the DJs of space—dropping the beats, not the whole show.” I saw their focus on cameras and satellite systems, and it clicked—start with what you can crush.
Here’s the nugget: pick your fight and win it. Lebo once rigged a webcam to a kite—total disaster, but he learned fast. Dragonfly’s site shows off early wins—like a prototype that didn’t just work, it wowed. Don’t overcomplicate it—nail one thing, then build out.
Step 2: Forging the Unbreakable
Space is a grinder—your gear’s gotta take a beating and keep ticking. The website’s got these slick shots of cleanrooms and test rigs, and I could almost hear the hum. Lebo geeked out: “They’re torturing those cameras till they’re invincible.” My fake expert, Zane, a grizzled optics guy, chimed in: “It’s not about surviving Earth—it’s about thriving up there.” Vacuum tests, heat blasts—Dragonfly’s components get the full gauntlet.
Lebo tried his own “space test” once—froze a sensor in his fridge, then baked it. It died, but he got the point: durability’s king. Their site brags about a camera that caught a bushfire’s spark—real stakes, real results. That’s when I saw the hustle pay off.
Step 3: Showing Off the Goods
A website’s your megaphone—Dragonfly’s screams quality. They’re not just flexing tech; they’re pitching it to the world. Lebo said, “They’re selling to folks who can’t drop millions.” Their components—cameras, satellite buses—hit that sweet spot: top-notch, not top-dollar. I scrolled their site, saw the specs, and thought, “This could fly anywhere.”
Here’s the play: show what you’ve got, and the right people bite. Lebo once hawked a gadget at a tech meetup—sold three after a shaky demo. Dragonfly’s site landed them a deal with a weather outfit—proof their stuff works. It’s less about flash, more about trust.
Step 4: Building the Buzz
Growth’s tricky—you don’t just slap more code on a site and call it done. Dragonfly’s scaling smart, from components to full satellite systems, and their website tracks every step. Zane’s wisdom? “Don’t rush the spotlight—earn it.” They’ve got a rhythm: perfect the gear, then push the boundaries. Lebo’s obsessed with their CubeSat plans—he’s betting they’ll orbit soon.
Stats say 70% of aerospace startups stall on expansion—Dragonfly’s dodging that with laser focus. Lebo’s latest toy? A sensor he’s pitching to a drone guy. Small potatoes, but he’s riding their wave.
Lift Off’s Just the Start
Lebo’s still tinkering in his flat, but his sensor’s humming on a test drone, sniffing out smog for a uni project. He’s not quitting his day job yet—he’s too busy dreaming. Dragonfly Aerospace’s website isn’t just a portal—it’s a spark, showing South Africa’s got the chops to soar. From Stellenbosch to the stratosphere, they’re rewriting what’s possible.
So, what’s your click? Hit up their site, snag an idea, and run with it. Space isn’t some far-off club—Dragonfly’s proving it’s ours too. Get in on it.
Lebo’s a dreamer—always has been. He’s the guy who’d fix radios as a kid, just to see how they ticked. “Check this out,” he said, shoving his laptop at me. The Dragonfly Aerospace website https://dragonflyaerospace.com/ loaded up, all sleek and sharp, with pics of tech that looked like it belonged in a sci-fi flick. “They’re from Stellenbosch, bru—not Silicon Valley.” That floored me. South Africa? Building stuff for space? I clicked around, and bam—there it was: a story of grit, gears, and a gang hell-bent on proving we’ve got skin in this game.
It’s not fluff either. They’re making aerospace components—think imaging systems that can spot a car wreck from 500 kilometers up. Lebo’s eyes lit up: “This is us doing it.” That’s when I knew—this wasn’t just a site; it was a mission.
Step 1: Dreaming in Pixels
Every big move starts with a sketch, right? For Dragonfly, it’s about aerospace components that pack a punch—small, smart, and tough. Their website lays it bare: they’re not here to build rockets (yet), but the guts that make them fly. Lebo’s take? “It’s like they’re the DJs of space—dropping the beats, not the whole show.” I saw their focus on cameras and satellite systems, and it clicked—start with what you can crush.
Here’s the nugget: pick your fight and win it. Lebo once rigged a webcam to a kite—total disaster, but he learned fast. Dragonfly’s site shows off early wins—like a prototype that didn’t just work, it wowed. Don’t overcomplicate it—nail one thing, then build out.
Step 2: Forging the Unbreakable
Space is a grinder—your gear’s gotta take a beating and keep ticking. The website’s got these slick shots of cleanrooms and test rigs, and I could almost hear the hum. Lebo geeked out: “They’re torturing those cameras till they’re invincible.” My fake expert, Zane, a grizzled optics guy, chimed in: “It’s not about surviving Earth—it’s about thriving up there.” Vacuum tests, heat blasts—Dragonfly’s components get the full gauntlet.
Lebo tried his own “space test” once—froze a sensor in his fridge, then baked it. It died, but he got the point: durability’s king. Their site brags about a camera that caught a bushfire’s spark—real stakes, real results. That’s when I saw the hustle pay off.
Step 3: Showing Off the Goods
A website’s your megaphone—Dragonfly’s screams quality. They’re not just flexing tech; they’re pitching it to the world. Lebo said, “They’re selling to folks who can’t drop millions.” Their components—cameras, satellite buses—hit that sweet spot: top-notch, not top-dollar. I scrolled their site, saw the specs, and thought, “This could fly anywhere.”
Here’s the play: show what you’ve got, and the right people bite. Lebo once hawked a gadget at a tech meetup—sold three after a shaky demo. Dragonfly’s site landed them a deal with a weather outfit—proof their stuff works. It’s less about flash, more about trust.
Step 4: Building the Buzz
Growth’s tricky—you don’t just slap more code on a site and call it done. Dragonfly’s scaling smart, from components to full satellite systems, and their website tracks every step. Zane’s wisdom? “Don’t rush the spotlight—earn it.” They’ve got a rhythm: perfect the gear, then push the boundaries. Lebo’s obsessed with their CubeSat plans—he’s betting they’ll orbit soon.
Stats say 70% of aerospace startups stall on expansion—Dragonfly’s dodging that with laser focus. Lebo’s latest toy? A sensor he’s pitching to a drone guy. Small potatoes, but he’s riding their wave.
Lift Off’s Just the Start
Lebo’s still tinkering in his flat, but his sensor’s humming on a test drone, sniffing out smog for a uni project. He’s not quitting his day job yet—he’s too busy dreaming. Dragonfly Aerospace’s website isn’t just a portal—it’s a spark, showing South Africa’s got the chops to soar. From Stellenbosch to the stratosphere, they’re rewriting what’s possible.
So, what’s your click? Hit up their site, snag an idea, and run with it. Space isn’t some far-off club—Dragonfly’s proving it’s ours too. Get in on it.
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