àër·o·dy·nam'ics: the study of the forces acting on an object as it moves through air or some other fluid.

In common usage, the term aerodynamics refers to the study of the forces which allow flight, but as seen in the definition above, aerodynamics has much more widespread applications than just flight. Architects must be knowledgeable in aerodynamics to ensure that buildings can withstand the force of the wind. Car designers study aerodynamics to improve the performance of their cars. Engineers use aerodynamics to examine the forces that act on objects submerged in fluids.

While aerodynamics is certainly applicable to many fields, at AeroNet we focus exclusively on flight. You'll learn about the physics involved, technical control details, design theory, advanced fluid dynamics, and a bit of history.

Our site is organized into eight sections covering many varied topics:

• Forces - describes the forces which act on aircraft, both facilitating and hindering flight.
• Control - discusses the features of airplanes which provide for steering and guidance.
• Design - presents the aspects which go into the creation of a plane, from the wing type, to the internal structure.
• Propulsion - explains the methods which planes utilize for thrust.
• Supersonic - presents the effects which can occur as planes fly at speeds higher than Mach 1.
• Fluid Dynamics - talks about the phenomena which occur when plane wings move through the air.
• Pioneers - discusses the people who played important roles in the development of aerodynamics and aviation.
• Research - allows you to explore the ideas you have learned, using interactive tools.
• Search - lets you find information within AeroNet by keyword.

Inside AeroNet, there are some certain features we hope you'll explore, which are particularly exciting. Among these are the tools in the research center.