ADVANCED AIRCRAFT DESIGN

Aircraft design is a very fascinating and motivating topic for pupils, students and young researchers. They are interested in the engineering subject, knowing that this is a complex subject with the aerodynamics to make the aircraft fly, with the structural layout to accom- modate some sort of payload and keep the integrity of the vehicle, and with the aspects of flight mechanics to stabilize and control the aircraft, just to mention the basic aspects. In the scientific world, the faculties of aerospace engineering follow this principle and consider the basic disciplines such as aerodynamics, lightweight structures, flight mechanics and space technologies as the fundamentals to provide the envelope for aeronautics and space for the engineering students. Aircraft design is normally not considered a specific discipline worthy of inaugurating a specific chair. Some exceptions, however, do exist.