Program Overview

Overview of the Aircraft Design Option - MSc in Aerospace Vehicle Design

The Aircraft Design option is a specialist course that explores the complex combination of aerodynamic performance, lightweight durable structures, and advanced systems engineering required to design modern efficient aircraft. This course is part of the MSc in Aerospace Vehicle Design and is designed to provide students with a comprehensive overview of the whole aircraft design process, including the design of aircraft structures and systems.

Course Details

• Start Date: September 2026 (March 2027 TBC)
• Duration: Full-time MSc: One year
• Delivery: Taught modules 10%, group project 50%, individual research project 40%
• Qualification: MSc
• Study Type: Full-time
• Campus: Cranfield campus

Who is it for?

This option is suitable for students wishing to gain an overview of the whole aircraft design process as well as the design of aircraft structures and systems.

Why this Course?

The Aircraft Design option aims to provide a comprehensive overview of whole aircraft configuration design as well as structures and systems. It takes a holistic teaching approach to explore how individual elements of an aircraft can be designed and integrated using up-to-date methods and techniques. Students will learn to understand how to select and integrate specific systems and their effects on the aircraft as a whole.

Course Structure

The course consists of nine mandatory modules and 11 optional modules, along with a group design project and an individual research project. The teaching methods include structured lectures, industry guest lectures, computer-based workshops, and private study.

Mandatory Modules

1. Design of Airframe Systems
   • Aim: To expand students' knowledge of airframe systems, their role, design, and integration.
   • Syllabus: Introduction to airframe systems, systems design philosophy and safety, aircraft secondary power systems, etc.
   • Intended Learning Outcomes: Identify main airframe systems, formulate requirements driving their design, differentiate various architectures, etc.
2. Loading Actions
   • Aim: To provide knowledge of all main loading cases.
   • Syllabus: Standard requirements, flight loading cases, balance equations, etc.
   • Intended Learning Outcomes: Estimate design loads, extend knowledge to derive structural loads, demonstrate knowledge of airworthiness requirements.
3. Aircraft Stability and Control
   • Aim: To introduce the fundamentals of aircraft stability and control.
   • Syllabus: Stability, control, and handling qualities relationships, aircraft aerodynamic controls, etc.
   • Intended Learning Outcomes: Describe concepts of trim, stability, and control, describe methods for static stability.
4. Design and Analysis of Composite Structures
   • Aim: To introduce composite materials, manufacturing techniques, and analysis methods for aerospace composite structures.
   • Syllabus: Introduction to composites, micromechanics, macro mechanics, etc.
   • Intended Learning Outcomes: Demonstrate understanding of composite materials, apply analytical methods for evaluating thermal effects.
5. Reliability, Safety Assessment, and Certification
   • Aim: To provide an introduction to aircraft airworthiness, reliability assessment methods, safety assessment methods, and certification issues.
   • Syllabus: Airworthiness, reliability, reliability requirements, etc.
   • Intended Learning Outcomes: Demonstrate understanding of aircraft certification, identify system safety requirements.
6. Aircraft Performance
   • Aim: To facilitate gaining fundamental knowledge of the theory of conventional fixed-wing aircraft performance.
   • Syllabus: Introduction to aircraft performance, aircraft cruising performance, etc.
   • Intended Learning Outcomes: Have knowledge of performance characteristics, understand methods of estimation of flight path performance.
7. Design for Manufacture and Operation
   • Aim: To ensure students design structures with awareness of manufacturing and operational considerations.
   • Syllabus: Metallic and non-metallic manufacturing processes, material and manufacturing process selection, etc.
   • Intended Learning Outcomes: Evaluate influences of design for manufacture and maintainability, apply knowledge to the group design project.
8. Initial Aircraft Design
   • Aim: To introduce the process of aircraft conceptual design and support structural layout work.
   • Syllabus: Aircraft project design process, drag and weight prediction, etc.
   • Intended Learning Outcomes: Demonstrate systematic understanding of aircraft design, identify functional role of structural elements.
9. Flight Test Experience
   • Aim: To provide flights in the Flying Laboratory in support of the lecture course.
   • Syllabus: Measurement of aircraft drag, aircraft longitudinal static stability, etc.
   • Intended Learning Outcomes: Describe flight test techniques, describe dynamic stability modes.

Optional Modules

• Aircraft Aerodynamics
• Computer Aided Design
• Aerospace System Development and Life Cycle Model
• Detail Stressing
• Fatigue, Fracture Mechanics, and Damage Tolerance
• Finite Element Methods
• Aeroelasticity
• Integrated Vehicle Health Management
• Structural Stability
• Aircraft Power Plant Installation
• Landing Gear Design

Teaching Team

The course is taught by a wide range of subject specialists from the University and industry professionals, including:

• Dr. Amir Zare Shahneh
• Professor Craig Lawson
• Dr. Ioannis Giannopoulos
• Dr. Jafar Jamshidi
• Dr. Mudassir Lone
• Professor Howard Smith
• Mr. Angelos Plastropoulos

Accreditation

The Aerospace Vehicle Design MSc is accredited by the Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for further learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer (CEng).

Career Prospects

This MSc is valued and respected by employers worldwide. Graduates have gone on to pursue engineering careers in disciplines such as structural design, stress analysis, or systems design. Many occupy senior positions in their organizations, making valuable contributions to the international aerospace industry.

Fees and Funding

• Home (Full-time): Ł13,960
• Overseas (Full-time): Ł31,775
• Deposit for Home students: Ł500
• Deposit for Overseas students: Ł1,000

Entry Requirements

• A UK upper second-class undergraduate degree with honors, or equivalent international qualification, ideally in an engineering discipline.
• English language proficiency: IELTS Academic 6.5 overall and 5.5 in all skill components, or equivalent.

ATAS Clearance

This course requires Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) clearance for international students.