I need to ask some questions about aerospace engineering.

[yakumo]

I'm considering it as a career, but I'd like to know a few things first.

1. Do you design aircraft or spacecraft ?

2. What college would be best for someone wanting to become an aerospace engineer?

3. What are some of the tools you use in your work?

4. What's one of your favorite parts of working with said aircraft/ spacecraft ?

5. Is there any part of the job that you don't like, or like the least?

6. What advice do you have for anyone who wants to become an engineer?

7.Finally, have you met any famous pilots or astronauts?

Thanks.

 

[chestycougth]

I'm not an aerospace engineer but I have done allot of research in the area because I'm also considering it as a prospective career; Since no one else has replied thus far, I feel like I can help you out.

1) AE's (Aerospace Engineers) design both aircraft and spacecraft . If you do decide to become an AE then you will probably find yourself working in the aeronautical industry as jobs in astronautical projects are scarce. You can get jobs at places like NASA and ESA but they tend to be highly competitive.

2) You really need to do this reasearch yourself. You have to consider what universities have decent courses and which ones aren't worth bothering with. You need to work out what qualifications you need in order to get on the course and you also have to decide whether you want to do a course in specifically AE'ing or related courses like Electrical and mechanical engineering which would also allow you to work in the Aerospace industry as an AE.

I would give that last point some deep thought because AE is a very specialised field and jobs in the field tend to have a habit of dissipating whenever companies go bust or when large projects end. (A good example is the shuttle project which apparently employed many AE's in Florida. But when the Shuttle project ended then all those jobs dissapeared). MechEng and ElecEng tend to have far more job opportunities which you will be able to take if you can't find a job in the aerospace industry.

3) Besides CAD applications, I don't really know. This article gives you an idea of the day to day work:
http://www.makeit.org.uk/a-day-in-the-life/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-aerospace-engineer/index.html
Bear in mind that the kind of work you end up doing can be very varied.

4) I'm not an AE so I can't answer this.

5) Or this.

6) After all my research I would say that it's very improtant you get the grades you need to do a course at university. In the UK those would normally be Maths, Physics and another science A level (I think their equivelant to APs or whatever you do from 16-18 in the US or wherever) .
Also, you need to make sure that you are strongly motivated to become an engineer because a degree in any engineering subject is by no means easy to achieve. If you think you'll spend all your time partying then engineering is definitely not for you.
Finally, you have to do plenty of your own research. Find out about the average AE income, starting income, levels of competition, prospective universities, etc, etc. Research it thouroughly.

7). No. Obviously. I hope you don't just want to become and AE so you can talk to Astronauts?

 

[yakumo]

Thanks for the help.
And, no, I don't really care about meeting famous astronauts.
I just felt that it would be an appropriate question, but I guess not.
I actually started this as a school project?
But I learned that planes are really awesome and that I might want to pursue
aerospace engineering as a career.