What books can you recommend for Aeronautical Engineering/Technology?

Question

Hi there,

I'm going to University soon and I'd like to do some reading before I go. Can somebody please recommend some books? If you are doing a similar course what books did you use in your first year?

Answer 1

My high school calculus book was used for my first couple engineering school math courses.  At the undergraduate level, isn't Aeronautical pretty much the same as mechanical eng?  I also did some basic physics and computer work in my first year.

When i got to school, the Dean of Academic Advising talked in front of the freshman class.  He said, "Look to your left and your right.  Only one of the three of you will graduate."  It was actually one in four.  In fact, half of the student body were freshmen.

And it wasn't the just smartest who made it.  And it wasn't just those "who work hard".  There seems to be some trait that involves really learning the material - not just getting through the assignments and tests - that is really required.

So one course i took - "stress" - had 110 students.  The prof handed out a syllabus on the first day.  All homework and 3 tests were listed. The lowest of 4 grades was dropped. I took it home and discovered that only half of the first week's homework could be done in the time available.  I could cheat, but i noticed that half of the homework was enough to figure out how to do it.  But passing that in was a failing grade, even if it was 100% right.  I didn't pass it in.  I also noticed that the prof essentially read from the book during lectures.  I didn't need that, and spent the time doing homework, at home.  The last week's homework wasn't on the last test.  I did half of it anyway.  I passed.

The next term, i took "stress 2", same prof.  On the first day, he passed out an exam.  4 questions.  The last of the questions was on that last week's homework set.  I got a 97%.  The next highest grade was 63%.  I concluded that of 110 students, only i had done even half of that last homework assignment.  But now there were 4 exams and homework, with the lowest grade dropped.  Again, i did half the homework, and didn't pass it in.

Before the 4th exam, it came out that the lowest two grades were to be dropped.  But i'd already passed on the strength of the first three.  Do i take the exam?  It won't make any difference, right?  Of course i take it.  I want to be competent.  This goal has nothing to do with passing the course or not.  And, i did half of the homework to the end of the course.  It's going to come up later.  It will.

Finally, of the bunch of guys i hung out with as a freshman, 95% graduated.  10% got Phd's and another 5% got masters.  That's not 25%!  The deal is, that for some reason, like minded people gravitate towards each other.  Think about that when you have your next job interview.  Apparently, companies also either get a group of really good people, or not.  A good interview is a conversation, and both people discover what's going on.