Aircraft Systems Engineering
MIT OpenCourseWare's 16.885J treats the aircraft as a complete system rather than a set of isolated parts. Lectures cover systems engineering fundamentals, cost and weight estimation, basic performance analysis, safety and reliability, lifecycle considerations, aircraft subsystems, and risk analysis and management. Small student teams retrospectively analyze an existing aircraft, examining key design drivers, subsystem attributes, and operational history, then present findings in both oral and written case studies. The Fall 2005 offering centers on the Space Shuttle, with outside experts lecturing on its design and operations, and students selecting specific shuttle systems for detailed analysis and new subsystem design work using contemporary tools. Materials include lecture notes, assignments, and case study guidelines from MIT's Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. No enrollment or certificate fee applies since this is a self-paced OpenCourseWare offering.