Is it a good option to take a course in aviation?

 what do aeronautical engineers know that other people don't know?

I can give you some few things that only aeronautical engineers know

1. Why do airplanes have curved wing tips?

During a flight, the pressure is lower on top of the wing than it is under the wing. The air tends to move from the high pressure below the wing to the low pressure above the wing around the wingtips. In the past, wingtips were straight, and the airflow caused severe turbulence.

So aeronautical engineers decided to bend the wingtips upward to reduce turbulence, prolong the wings’ durability, and save a lot of fuel during travel. Thanks to this feature, we feel more comfortable during a flight.

2. Why do planes have different nose shapes?

The nose of military aircraft is pointed. The sharper the nose is, the faster an aircraft is. But a longer nose keeps pilots from seeing the runway properly, that’s why passenger jets have rounded noses.

But Concorde aeronautical engineers solved this problem in the 60s. They invented the fastest passenger jet that was able to tilt its nose. While taking off and landing, the aircraft tilted its nose downward. During a flight, the nose was brought back to its starting position.

This strange design has a purpose: it helps pilots see the runway better.

3. Why are some airplanes oddly shaped?

You’ve probably heard about an aircraft that is also called a stealth aircraft. It’s oddly shaped for one simple reason: its shape makes it less visible to radar, sonar, infrared, and other detection methods. What’s more, it allows the aircraft to carry more luggage and consume less fuel.

The aircrafts’ shape was inspired by birds. Predatory birds use this position to increase their flight range and become less visible.

Such aircrafts are too expensive so they aren’t used in civil aviation.

4. Why are planes painted white?

Planes are nearly always painted white. There are several reasons for this:

• Heat reflection. If an aircraft is painted white, it accumulates less heat. This is better for passengers and economically profitable for airlines.
• White paint is less expensive. White paint is way cheaper than other paint.
• Preventing collisions with birds. Birds can see the reflection from white surfaces better and don’t often collide with airplanes for this reason.
• White paint helps reveal even small cracks and dents. White details are easily recognized in case of an accident and it’s easier to notice damages.

5. Why are aircraft windows round?

In the beginning of the 1950s, de Havilland developed Comet, the world’s first commercial jet airliner. It was literally a miracle. But a year later, it fell to pieces right in the sky. In several months, 2 more airplanes crashed.

Engineers conducted a diagnosis of each screw of the aircraft and found the problem: the windows were square. The thing is, pressure builds more around the corners of square windows and this pressure only increases during a flight. So it was decided to make windows round. Thanks to this decision, flights are way safer now.

Source: 8 Eye-Opening Facts We Didn’t Know About Aviation