Master thesis in General Aviation company?

Hi there,

I know this is not exactly a homebuilt question, but I guess
homebuilders know the "regular" market a lot better than the regular
people know the homebuilt market.

Anyways, I'm an aerospace engineering student, soon to be engineer,
and I would like to do my master thesis ("Diplomarbeit") in
aerodynamics in a company manufacturing general aviation aircraft, as
that's what I'm flying myself and I find it much more interesting to
work on more or less the whole plane than on a single bolt like you do
at Airbus or Boeing. The thing is, there are not that many companies
out there that have a decently sized engineering department that would
be suitable for a master thesis.

Right now I have three candidates:
- Epic (turboprops as kits, yay!)
- EADS Socata
- Diamond

and maybe Cessna (seems very big as a company), but I'm sure there are
a few others out there I haven't though of yet. I have no real
preference as to which country it should be in, english-speaking would
be good as these don't show up on my CV yet except for a year in high
school.

Any help is greatly appreciated as I don't want to be stuck in my
aerodynamics department here at Uni ;-)

Oliver

"Oliver Arend" wrote in message
ps.com...
Hi there,

I know this is not exactly a homebuilt question, but I guess
homebuilders know the "regular" market a lot better than the regular
people know the homebuilt market.

Right now I have three candidates:
- Epic (turboprops as kits, yay!)
- EADS Socata
- Diamond

Aviate Aircraft
Maule
Bombardier (Canadian)

Earlier, Oliver Arend wrote:
...I'm an aerospace engineering student, soon to be engineer,
and I would like to do my master thesis ("Diplomarbeit") in
aerodynamics in a company manufacturing general aviation aircraft...

Interesting. Please educate us, what is the process for such a
program? Is the expectation that you are paid by a sponsoring company
for the research or other work that comprises the thesis? Is it
something like an internship? Is the topic of the research chosen by
the sponsoring company?

Thanks, Bob K.

Is the expectation that you are paid by a sponsoring company

Yes. In more detail, I expect to be paid since I'm practically doing
engineering work for the company. It's not a requirement from my side
per se, but it could help in renting an apartment and paying for the
flight across the pond.

for the research or other work that comprises the thesis?

Exactly, as it should be to the benefit of the company as well.

Is it something like an internship?

Basically yes. It's just that this internship should be concerned with
a research-related project, and not be limited to helping out here and
there. This is research in the broad sense, like comparing two
different stabilizer configurations, doing CFD runs on different
wingtips, anything...

Is the topic of the research chosen by the sponsoring company?

It can and should be, as it should benefit the company. Then, I should
be interested in the subject and the guys at the aerodynamics
department at the university should be OK with it as well, otherwise
it wouldn't get recognition and I wouldn't receive my degree...

Oliver

"Oliver Arend" wrote in message
oups.com...
It can and should be, as it should benefit the company. Then, I should
be interested in the subject and the guys at the aerodynamics
department at the university should be OK with it as well, otherwise
it wouldn't get recognition and I wouldn't receive my degree...

Oliver .........

I envy you. Oh, to be young again and in school, looking forward to an
interesting career and seeing the great things to be accomplished over the
next few decades. Enjoy!

Rich S.

Oliver Arend wrote:


Anyways, I'm an aerospace engineering student, soon to be engineer,
and I would like to do my master thesis ("Diplomarbeit") in
aerodynamics in a company manufacturing general aviation aircraft,

If you could get a job at Cessna, TEXTRON has very liberal educational
benefits. TEXTRON also comprises Bell Helicopter so don't forget to
look there as well.