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Engineering Division

AERONAUTICS

Fighters flyover terrazzo

Supports cadets, the Air Force, and the world through studies in aerodynamics, flight mechanics, propulsion, aircraft structures, and experimental methods.

ABOUT US

Since its inception, the U.S. Air Force Academy has been a major contributor to technological developments and the security of the United States through aerospace studies. More than 60 years later, the Department of Aeronautics continues to support cadets, the Air Force, and the world through a variety of studies in aerodynamics, flight mechanics, propulsion, aircraft structures, and experimental methods. Cadets interested in Aeronautical Engineering have two-course design sequences to choose from—aircraft design or aircraft engine design.

The Aeronautical Engineering and Systems Engineering majors are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

Aeronautics Faculty and Staff
Final Zoom Flight

Learn more about the artifacts on permanent display at the Department of Aeronautics facility from the final Aerospace Research Pilot School (ARPS) F-104 Zoom flight conducted on Nov. 30, 1973.

Pilot getting into plane F-104 Zoom flight Pilot in front of jet

MAJORS & MINORS

Aeronautical Engineering (Major)
Aeronautical Engineering
(Major)
Systems Engineering – Aeronautics Depth (Co-Administered Major)
Systems Engineering – Aeronautics Depth
(Co-Administered Major)
General Engineering (Divisional Major)*
General Engineering
(Divisional Major)*

*Restrictions Apply

Department News News From Around The Department

August 1, 2024

Class of ’18 grad returns to Academy as aeronautics instructor

Capt. Anna Mason, U.S. Air Force Academy aeronautics instructor, poses for a photo July 24, 2024 at Fairchild Hall, the Academy, Colorado. (U.S. Air Force photo by Justin Pacheco) By Katherine Spessa U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Capt. Anna Mason, an aeronautical engineer and aeronautics instructor, sits in an office on the top floor of Fairchild Hall, deep in a maze of conference rooms and faculty offices. As with many engineers, she likes to have something to do with her hands – she is spinning a propeller blade with increasing speed as she...

Continue Reading Class of ’18 grad returns to Academy as aeronautics instructor

Capt. Anna Mason, U.S. Air Force Academy aeronautics instructor.
May 1, 2024

Admissions events draw almost 200 hopeful future cadets

U.S. Air Force Academy appointee Elias Phiri of Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., poses with his uncle, Lweendo Chambwa, at the admissions photo station in Arnold Hall April 8, 2024. Almost 200 high school students and their family members visited the Academy during a series of Class of 2028 admissions events in April. (U.S. Air Force photo by Gaelle Ahl) By Randy Roughton U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Almost 200 prospective cadets visited the U.S. Air Force Academy during six Class of 2028 admissions events in April. Appointees were offered a direct...

Continue Reading Admissions events draw almost 200 hopeful future cadets

U.S. Air Force Academy appointee Elias Phiri of Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., poses with his uncle, Lweendo Chambwa.
February 12, 2024

Cadet spends STEM Semester Exchange ‘Down Under’

Cadet 1st Class Zachary Curd returns to the U.S. Air Force Academy for his final semester after spending his fall on a STEM Cadet Semester Exchange Abroad Program with the Australian Defence Force Academy at the University of New South Wales, Canberra in Australia. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Rayna Grace) By Randy Roughton U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – During U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet 1st Class Zachary Curd’s semester in Australia last fall, he enjoyed experiences ranging from formal dining-ins to attending a Women’s World Cup game and scuba diving the Great...

Continue Reading Cadet spends STEM Semester Exchange ‘Down Under’

Cadet 1st Class Zachary Curd returns to the U.S. Air Force Academy for his final semester after spending his fall on a STEM Cadet Semester Exchange Abroad with the Australian Defence Force Academy at the University of New South Wales, Canberra in Australia.
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HQ USAFA/DFAN
2354 Fairchild Drive, Suite 6H-101
United States Air Force Academy, CO 80840
(719) 333-4010 | DSN 333-4010
(719) 333-4013 | DSN 333-4013