Currently viewing the category: "History"

Milestones in Aircraft Structural Design

On June 9, 2012 · In History

Although the exploitation of advanced composite materials in the aerospace industry is steadily increasing, high strength metallic materials, particularly aluminium alloys, are still the first choice for large-scale fleets such as the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737. Since the introduction of stressed-skin “semi-monocoque” aircraft structures in the 1930’s the structural design philosophy has developed […]

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Reducing Skin-Friction Drag by Laminar Flow

On April 28, 2012 · In Aerodynamics, History

In a previous post I introduced the concept of skin-friction and pressure drag, and discussed the contradicting aerodynamic conditions to minimise either of the two types of drag. Overall the minimum resistance of slender shapes (such as aerofoils) to a fluid is attained with an attached laminar […]

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The Start of a New Era

On April 19, 2012 · In History, News

Put frankly, the Space Shuttle is probably the most powerful machine ever constructed. One of the earliest astronauts aptly described the Shuttle as “A very beautiful butterfly bolted to a bullet”!

During launch the three solid-rocket boosters output 37 MILLION horsepower sucking fuel through a 17-inch diameter pipe at a rate that would empty an Olympic […]

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Breaking the Sound Barrier

On April 11, 2012 · In History

The Battle of Hastings in 1066 marked the last successful conquer of the British Isles. In the summer of 1940 the Spitfire prevented the most recent attempt of invasion and marked one of the turning points in WWII. Between July and October 1940 an astonishing 747 Spitfires were delivered of which 361 were destroyed and […]

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Dreams of Flight

On April 9, 2012 · In Bio-mimicry, History

Since the early days of human intelligence the dream of flying and the idea that we are not alone in this universe has possessed the human mind. In the second century AD the Greek writer Lucian describes a trip to the moon in his book Vera Historia, in which Lucian’s ship is caught in a […]

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The Birth of the Jet: The Engine that Shrunk the World

On April 7, 2012 · In Case Studies, History

In today’s time it is easy to take for granted the complex inventions that alleviate our everyday life. The modern jet propelled airplanes for example, are one of the biggest drivers behind rapid globalisation and play a major role in world trade. Nevertheless, the development that revolutionised aviation and inaugurated the era of jumbo jets […]

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