Key Topics
There are many ways to locate information related to aerospace and aeronautical engineering. The most obvious but not always the most convenient is, of course, to go to a library, which supports those kinds of materials. Any academic institution that offers a degree in aerospace engineering is going to have a library, which maintains a collection of related information. Often laboratories, aerospace museums and private industry corporations (e.g. Boeing) also maintain their own libraries with research materials and journals. While most academic libraries are usually open to the public, the others are generally not. There are a number of commercial databases that can assist a researcher in his/her quest for specific types of information but they are not free and usually not cheap. The resources listed below are available on the Web and the majorities of them are free and offer free access to many of their publications. Some provide the citations and abstracts of their publications for free but then charge a fee to retrieve the actual report. The resources are broken down into the following categories to assist the user in locating the best place to begin doing research: Major Professional Organizations and Scholarly Societies; University sites; Commercial/Corporate Sites; Library Research Guides; Databases and Publications; Collections and Web Directories, and Additional Resources.
Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board (ASEB)
http://www4.nationalacademies.org/cets/asebhome.nsf
ASEB is a board within the National Research Council, which is the principal
operating agency of The National Academies. The ASEB operates a number of standing
committees and task groups that perform studies in aeronautics and space engineering
and policy for the federal government.
Aerospace Industries Association of America (AIA)
http://www.aia-aerospace.org/
This organization began in 1919 and represents the nation's major manufacturers
of commercial, military and business aircraft, helicopters, aircraft engines,
missiles, spacecraft, material, and related components and equipment. A special
statistics section is also useful.
Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC)
http://www.aiac.ca/
The Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC) is the national trade
organization of Canada's aerospace manufacturing and service sector.
American Helicopter Society (AHS) International -- The Vertical Flight Society
http://www.vtol.org/
The Vertical Flight Society is a professional, technical society, with the purpose
of advancing vertical flight. They have publications and links to others in
the field.
American Astronautical Society (AAS)
http://www.astronautical.org/spaceforamerica/index.html
Independent scientific and technical group in the United States dedicated to
the advancement of space science and exploration.
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
http://www.aiaa.org/
AIAA is a global organization with individual members, corporate members, and
thousands of customers worldwide. Their papers, conferences, and publications
provide a wide range of useful information.
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
http://www.asme.org/
ASME International is a nonprofit educational and technical organization serving
a worldwide membership.
Deutsche Forschungsanstalt fur Luft- und Raumfahrt
http://www..dlr.de/DLR-Homepage;internal&LANGUAGE=en
The German Aerospace Research Organization. Most documents are in English.
European Space Agency (ESA)
http://www.esrin.esa.it
ESA, the European Space Agency, provides a vision of Europe's future in space,
and of the benefits for people on the ground that satellites can supply. It
also develops the strategies needed to fulfil the vision, through collaborative
projects in space science and technology.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
http://www.faa.gov/main.htm
The FAA has expanded its Web site to include aviation safety information about
all airlines, domestic and foreign. The FAA provides complete international
aviation accident data, advisories, circulars, regulations, handbooks, manuals,
reports, statistics, and other worldwide commercial aviation data.
Flight Safety Foundation
http://www.flightsafety.org/
An independent, nonpolitical, nonprofit, international organization engaged
in research, auditing, education, advocacy and publishing to improve aviation
safety.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
http://www.aero-space.nasa.gov/
NASA has multiple agencies and links to promote its mission of research, development,
verification, and transferring advanced aeronautics, space, and related technologies.
National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution
http://www.nasm.si.edu/
Independent trust holding more than 140 million artifacts and specimens. The
Institution is also a center for research dedicated to public education, national
service, and scholarship in the arts, sciences, and history. Their online collection
of air and space is a growing portal to their catalogs and images.
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Aviation Division
http://www.ntsb.gov/aviation/aviation.htm
When the board is notified of a major accident, they investigate the accident
by collecting the facts and determining the conditions and circumstances surrounding
the incident and issuing a report. After an investigation is completed, a detailed
narrative report is prepared that analyzes the investigative record and identifies
the probable cause of the accident. This site has descriptions, major investigations
and statistics on most aviation accidents in the United States.
Royal Aeronautical Society
http://www.raes.org.uk/
This site provides current technical information and articles from within the
aeronautical industry. The British organization is for professional pilots,
engineers, and others in the aeronautical industry.
Society of Automotive Engineers
http://www.sae.org/servlets/index
This organization provides technical information and expertise used in designing,
building, maintaining, and operating self-propelled vehicles for use on land
or sea, in air or space.
Society of Flight Test Engineers (SFTE)
http://www.sfte.org/
SFTE is for engineers and scientists interested in the flight-testing of aircraft
and missiles. There is a good collection of SFTE Symposium Proceedings, papers,
and reports
The Wright Air Development Center
http://www.gl.iit.edu/wadc/
The center maintains a digital collection at Illinois Institute of Technology.
It is the permanent repository of technical reports issued by the Wright Air
Development Center/Wright Air Development Division.
Cranfield University
http://aerade.cranfield.ac.uk/
This British university was established in 1946. The site provides engineering,
technical, scientific and managerial training and research in most aspects of
aerospace.
Department of Aerospace Engineering at Bristol University
http://www.aer.bris.ac.uk/
This is the site of the school of aeronautical engineering, which includes contributions
to fluid mechanics.
Georgia Institute of Technology
http://www.ae.gatech.edu/
The Georgia Institute of Technology School of Aerospace Engineering prepares
students for a career in vehicle engineering, with primary emphasis on flight
vehicles.
Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC)
http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/
The SSEC at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Graduate School is concerned
mainly with research and technology development to enhance understanding of
the atmosphere of Earth and other planets.
Stanford Aeronautics and Astronautics
http://aa.stanford.edu/
The research activity of the department of aeronautics and astronautics covers
most aspects of engineering in aircraft and spacecraft design. Links to other
engineering sites are useful.
United States Air Force Academy
http://usafa.af.mil/dfan/
Air Force Academy Department of Aeronautics provides information to Air Force,
NASA and Department of Defense programs.
United States Naval Academy
http://web.usna.navy.mil/~aeroweb/
The Aerospace Engineering Department academic program at the Naval Academy coverage
includes naval aviation, naval research, and the Naval Space Command.
Aerospace Corporation
http://www.aero.org
An independent, nonprofit corporation created to meet long-term research and
development needs and to provide information on launch vehicles, satellite systems,
ground control systems, and space technology.
Boeing and McDonnell Douglas Aerospace
http://www.boeing.com/
Boeing, McDonnell, and Douglas combined to become a major world developer of
military and commercial aircraft and related systems.
Hughes
http://www.hsc.com/
Hughes is noted for aircraft, helicopters, missiles, and rocket development.
Lockheed Martin
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/
Lockheed and Martin-Marietta teamed to become a world leader in the aircraft
industry.
Pratt & Whitney
http://www.pratt-whitney.com/
Pratt and Whitney are noted for aircraft engine technology, gas turbines, and
space propulsion systems.
Raytheon
http://www.raytheonaircraft.com
Raytheon has industry efforts in aircraft electronics, missiles, radar, and
related systems.
Aerospace Engineering
http://www.library.arizona.edu/library/teams/set/aeropath.htm
The University of Arizona Library guide to aerospace engineering resources.
Aerospace Engineering Internet Resources
http://www.lib.ua.edu/rodgers/netae.htm
The University of Alabama Libraries lists internet resources in aerospace.
Aerospace Engineering Research Guide
http://www.lib.virginia.edu/science/guides/s-aero.htm
The University of Virginia Library guide to Web resources, databases, indexes,
etc.
Research Guide: Aerospace Engineering
http://www.bu.edu/library/research-guides/aero.htm
The Boston University Library guide to research in the area of aerospace engineering.
Accident Database
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/query.asp
This NTSB database provides statistics from 1983 forward for civil aviation
accidents.
Aerodynamic Database
http://www.aerodyn.org/Resources/database.html
A site devoted to Advanced Topics in Aerodynamics.
Air University Research Database
http://www.au.af.mil/
Information on all research being conducted at Air University and provides access
to completed research products. Each research record contains the title, a brief
description, a list of authors and faculty advisors, keywords, and an abstract.
Aviation Accident Statistics
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/query.asp
This NTSB site provides statistics related to aviation accidents from 1982 to
the present.
Aviation Safety Data Databases
http://nasdac.faa.gov/internet/
This Web site provides the public with access to several of the principal aviation
safety data and information sources the Federal Government uses for various
purposes.
EI Compendex
http://www.ei.org/ev2/home
A fee-based index covering engineering and computer science from 1970 to present.
The most comprehensive interdisciplinary engineering abstracts database in the
world. Covers over 2,600 international engineering journals, technical reports
and conference proceedings. Each year more than 200,000 new abstracts are added.
See your library for coverage.
IEEE Xplore
http://iel.ihs.com/lpdocs/epic03/
The IEEE database, Xplore, provides full-text access to IEEE transactions, journals,
magazines and conference proceedings published since 1988 and all current IEEE
Standards. These items involve a fee, however, the free sections allow you to
browse and access tables of contents of IEEE transactions, journals, magazines,
conference proceedings and standards.
INSPEC
http://www.iee.org.uk/publish/inspec/
Compiled by the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE), and available to
sites who pay for it. The coverage is from 1969 and includes indexed papers,
significant books, technical reports, dissertations and patents. Links may be
available from your institution. Contact your library for information.
Global Aerospace Database
http://www.x-cd.com/ or http://aerospace.x-cd.com/
Search over 8,000 aerospace and defense companies in over 40 countries.
Jane's Online Database
http://online.janes.com
Jane's Online is a subscription service to the complete portfolio of Jane's
defence, transportation and security information online. It is updated daily,
weekly and monthly, to provide current news, analysis and technical reference
material. It includes search, and browse capability with search tips and online
help.
Jet Impingement Database
http://www.eevl.ac.uk/
A bibliographic database of over 1,200 abstracts from journals, theses, proceedings
and papers related to jet-impingement phenomena and engineering applications,
from Edinburgh Engineering Virtual Library (EEVL).
National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Aviation Accident/Incident Database
http://nasdac.faa.gov/asp/fw_ntsb.asp
This NTSB database is the official repository for aviation accident data. Coverage
is from 1983 to today.
Near Midair Collisions System (NMACS)
http://nasdac.faa.gov/asp/fw_nmacs.asp
This database on the FAA site provides information about near midair collisions.
Research Index (formerly Cite Seer)
http://researchindex.com/
Sponsored by NEC Corporation, NECI's Research Index is an indexed scientific
literature digital library that provides full-text access to many scientific
articles on the Web. It is currently the largest free full-text index of scientific
literature in digital library format. Its aims are to improve the dissemination
and feedback of scientific literature, and to provide improvements in functionality,
usability, availability, cost, comprehensiveness, efficiency, and timeliness.
SciBASE
http://www.thescientificworld.com/scibase/search.asp
Sponsored by The Scientific World, "SciBASE gives free access to the world's
premier database of scientific, technical and medical research literature."
As of 19 June 2001, SciBASE included approximately 19 million articles published
since 1965 in more than 30,000 journals. SciBASE is updated daily with approximately
7,000 new articles. The features of SciBASE include rapid searching and article
location, and article verification with major abstracting services prior to
single-article ordering. SciBASE now also features immediate direct digital
delivery of articles.
AGARD and RTO Technical Publications: A Quarterly Listing
http://www.sti.nasa.gov/Pubs/Agard/Agard.html
These documents are in Adobe PDF format and require Adobe Acrobat Reader.
AIAA Meetings Papers Searchable Citation Database [1999-]
http://www.sti.nasa.gov/Pubs/Agard/Agard.html
Updated quarterly and contains author, title, paper number, conference date
and location information for papers presented at AIAA meetings from 1999 to
the present.
Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) Technical Report Server
http://www.arnold.af.mil/aedc/test.htm
Search abstracts database for AEDC technical reports issued since 1986.
Chemical Propulsion Information Agency (CPIA) Propulsion Database
http://www.cpia.jhu.edu/Database/database.html
The Web version of the CPIA unlimited-distribution Propulsion Information Retrieval
System (PIR). Contains over 19,000 citations of unlimited-distribution DoD,
military services, NASA, and contractor technical reports and JANNAF and AIAA
conference papers on propulsion technology.
GrayLIT Network
http://www.osti.gov/graylit/
This site simultaneously searches the Dept of Energy (DOE); Dept of Defense
(DOD), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) sites.
National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA)
http://naca.larc.nasa.gov/
The NACA site includes a digital library with access to the digitized versions
of NACA documents and reports from 1917-1958. NACA was the predecessor to NASA.
NASA Center for Aerospace Information (CASI)
http://www.nas.nasa.gov/index.html
Provides citation and abstract references to reports in the aerospace field.
Coverage begins in 1915.
NASA Astrophysics Data System
http://adswww.harvard.edu/
NASA-funded project that provides free access to the full text of articles in
astronomy and astrophysics. Most of the major astronomical journals are included.
NASA/CASI Technical Report Server
http://www.sti.nasa.gov/RECONselect.html
This site allows the user to search NACA, NASA technical reports, and open literature.
NASA Technical Reports Server - NTRS
http://techreports.larc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/NTRS
This site allows the user to simultaneously search multiple NASA technical report
servers and other NASA related sites.
NATO RTO (Research and Technology Organization) / AGARD (Advisory Group for
Aeronautical Research)
http://www.rta.nato.int/Abstracts.asp
This database provides searching of abstracts of full-text documents, and listings
of publications.
Scientific and Technical Aerospace Reports (STAR)
http://www.sti.nasa.gov/Pubs/star/Star.html
Reports from 1996-present, updated biweekly. STAR lists citations with abstracts
for aerospace-related reports obtained worldwide. It includes documents that
have recently been entered into the NASA Scientific and Technical Information
(STI) Database(s). STAR is available as PDF files only.
Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Technical Papers
http://www.sae.org/servlets/techtrack?PROD_TYP=PAPER
Lists papers published in the last 12 months, searchable by words in the title.
Society of Flight Test Engineers (SFTE)
https://www.sfte.org/local-cgi-bin/view_listings.cgi
SFTE Symposium proceedings and papers. Also links online to other test-related
sites.
Aeronautical Engineering Resources
http://www.academicinfo.net/engringae.html
Organized into categories such as indexes & directories, reference desk,
and organizations and centers, this provides annotated links to sites within
those categories.
Aerospace Digital Library [Georgia Institute of Technology Aerospace Engineering]
http://www.adl.gatech.edu/
This site provides links for aerospace engineering publications, data, research
and software.
Aerospace Online
http://www.aerospaceonline.com/content/homepage/default.asp
Billed as the online source of the aerospace industry, this source has news,
products, jobs, etc.
Edinburgh Engineering Virtual Library (EEVL)
http://www.eevl.ac.uk/
Allows users to browse Aerospace Engineering resources as a subset of the Mechanical
and Manufacture Engineering resources, or to search the EEVL database.
Google Web Directory: Aerospace Engineering
http://directory.google.com/Top/Science/Technology/Aerospace/
Google provides a good list of links to related sites and other related directory
categories.
Prices' Lists and Web Resources
http://gwu.edu/~gprice/handbook.htm#Aviation
Price has listings for aerospace/astronomy and aviation transportation. Search
the entire site for the best results, there is too much to describe. Also includes
several handbooks accessible digitally.
WWW Virtual Library: Aerospace Engineering
http://vlib.org/Engineering.html
This site provides organized links to aerospace engineering resources. Also
has a link to aviation.
Yahoo: Science: Aviation & Aeronautics
http://dir.yahoo.com/Science/Aviation_and_Aeronautics/
Provides a nice list of links for various aerospace related categories.
Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology
http://er.lib.msu.edu/item.cfm?
item=003072
Connects to "Academic Press Dictionary of Science and Technology."
Aerodynamics for Students
[by D.J Auld and K. Srinivas, Aerospace. Mechanical
& Mechatronic Engineering, University of Sydney]
http://www.aero.usyd.edu.au/aero/aerodyn.html
This Web site provides a textbook, which contains information, data tables and
computer programs to support this study.
Aeronautical Engineering Resources
http://www.academicinfo.net/engringae.html
Organized into categories such as indexes & directories, reference desk,
and organizations and centers, this site provides annotated links to sites within
those categories.
Basic Aeronautics: An Introduction [by Jim McCabe, NASA]
http://www.nas.nasa.gov/Services/Education/Resources/tutorials/jmccabe/aerotext.html
This is a recommended Web-based tutorial connected to a NASA site.
Calculators Online Center ... Aeronautics & Aerospace Engineering
http://www-sci.lib.uci.edu/HSG/AERO
The Calculators Online Center from the University of California at Irvine, provides
over 14,000 calculators specifically useful for aeronautics and aerospace engineers.
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Online
http://www.cfd-online.com/
An online center devoted to information and sites related to computational fluid
dynamics.
Compressible Aerodynamics Calculator [by William Devenport]
http://www.aoe.vt.edu/aoe3114/calcbody.html
This calculator was developed by the Aerospace and Ocean Engineering Department
at Virginia Tech.
Dan Raymer's Aircraft Design & RDS Site
http://www.aircraftdesign.com
This site provides access to a wide variety of information related to all aspects
of aircraft and their design. The links page also provides a nice listing of
sites by categories such as: technical and professional societies; aerospace
companies; engineering, computing and consulting companies; government organizations;
universities with aircraft design programs; and more.
Encyclopedia Astronautica [by Mark Wade]
http://www.friends-partners.org/mwade/spaceflt.htm
Excellent variety of information related to rockets and spacecraft.
Fluid Flow Calculator [by Michael J. Rocchetti]
http://www.connel.com/flowcalc1.htm
This calculator was developed by Connel Internet Marketing Solutions.
NASA Thesaurus (1998 edition with supplement)
http://netsrv.casi.sti.nasa.gov/thesfrm1.htm
This thesaurus contains the authorized subject terms used for indexing the documents
in the NASA SDI databases. Using the terms expedites searching.
Online Aerodynamics [by Ilan Kroo]
http://appliedaerodynamics.com/
A digital textbook written by a professor of aeronautics and astronautics at
Stanford University.
UIUC Airfoil Data Site
http://amber.aae.uiuc.edu/~m-selig/ads.html
Produced by the Department of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering at
the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, this airfoil database covers a
wide range of applications, from low Reynolds number airfoils for UAVs to jet
transports. The total number of airfoils is over 1,000.
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