EST. 2016 OPEN ACCESS WORLDWIDE
Lessons
124
Articles
18
Access
FREE
Jet engine
The Basics of Jet Engines: Suck, Squeeze, Bang, Blow
UAV drone
The Future of Aviation: UAVs and Autonomous Flight
Aircraft maintenance
New Module: Aircraft Systems (ATA Chapter Structured)

Aerospace Academy

Aerospace Academy is an open access aviation engineering education platform, published online by Mr. Aircraft Engineer. It is dedicated to making technical knowledge — gas turbine engines, UAV systems, aircraft systems, and aviation English — freely accessible to technicians, students, and engineers worldwide.

  • Open Access — free for readers, no registration wall, no paywalls.
  • Structured Curriculum: 5 modules covering 124 lessons across 40+ weeks of content.
  • Field Expertise: Built by an active aviation instructor with hands-on experience in turbine engines and UAV systems.
  • Real Engine References: Content built around real aircraft and engines — GE90, CFM56, LEAP, F110.
  • Industry-Ready: Maintenance technician-focused, technician-level depth rather than purely theoretical content.

Latest Articles

Jet engine
8 pages · 12 figures

The Basics of Jet Engines: A Four-Stage Cycle Analysis

Aerospace Academy 2026, 1(1), 002; published 21 Jan 2026

From intake to exhaust — the four-stage cycle that powers modern aviation. This article examines the thermodynamic cycle of gas turbine engines with real-engine references (GE90, CFM56, LEAP), explaining how the suck-squeeze-bang-blow sequence translates into thrust. Special attention is given to bypass ratios in modern turbofans and the role of compressor pressure ratios in overall efficiency.

This article belongs to the section Propulsion Systems

UAV
10 pages · 8 figures

The Future of Aviation: UAVs and Autonomous Flight Architectures

Aerospace Academy 2026, 1(1), 001; published 21 Jan 2026

An analysis of unmanned aerial systems, flight control architectures, and the engineering challenges of next-generation autonomous aircraft. The paper examines fixed-wing and multi-rotor configurations, the role of flight control systems (FCS) in stability, and how modern sensor fusion (gyroscopes, accelerometers, GPS) enables autonomous navigation.

This article belongs to the section UAV Engineering

Aircraft
Coming soon

Axial vs Centrifugal Compressors: Engineering Trade-offs in Modern Propulsion

Forthcoming · Q1 2026

A comparative study of axial and centrifugal compressor designs, examining why modern turbofans favor axial multi-stage compression while APUs and helicopter engines retain centrifugal stages.

Aims & Scope

Aerospace Academy is dedicated to the open dissemination of aviation engineering knowledge. The platform covers four core areas: gas turbine propulsion, UAV systems engineering, aircraft systems (ATA-chapter structured), and technical English for maintenance environments.

All content is curated by an active aviation instructor with field experience. Materials are designed for technician-level depth and workplace applicability rather than purely theoretical study, with real-engine references and worked examples used throughout.

Audience

Maintenance Technicians

Hangar-floor English, AMM reading, troubleshooting communication.

Engineering Students

Thermodynamics through real-engine analysis with worked examples.

UAV Developers

Flight control architecture, payload integration, autonomous navigation.

History

The project began on Instagram in 2016 and reached a community of 457,000 people before the account was taken down. This academy is the same mission in a new home — and this time, the knowledge stays openly accessible to everyone.

Aircraft

Aircraft Systems (ATA Chapter Structured)

Core M.01 · ATA Structured

A comprehensive aircraft systems engineering and maintenance knowledge base structured around ATA chapter conventions. Covers hydraulics, electrical, pneumatics, avionics, and fuel systems with reference to real airframes.

Topics: Hydraulics · Electrical · Pneumatics · Avionics · Fuel Systems · Landing Gear

42
Lessons
Open Access
Engine

Gas Turbine Engines: Deep Dive

Core M.02 · 14 Weeks · Intermediate

Turbofan architecture, Brayton cycle thermodynamics, FADEC systems, and combustion analysis. Real-engine case studies include GE90, CFM56, LEAP, and F110, with worked examples on pressure ratios, bypass ratios, and specific fuel consumption.

Topics: Brayton Cycle · Compressors · Combustion · Turbines · FADEC · Real Engines

28
Lessons
Open Access
UAV

UAV Systems & Engineering

Specialist M.03 · 12 Weeks · Advanced

Flight controllers, RF systems, autonomous navigation, and drone airframe design. The curriculum is built around real-world systems and adapted for civilian engineering applications.

Topics: Flight Control · RF Datalinks · Autonomy · EO/IR Payloads · Ground Stations

35
Lessons
Open Access
Composite

Composite Structures: Damage & Repair

Specialist M.04 · 8 Weeks · Advanced

Composite damage mechanics, hole strength analysis, and repair engineering for modern airframes. Covers CFRP behavior under impact, NDT inspection methods, and structural repair manual (SRM) procedures.

Topics: CFRP · Damage Mechanics · NDT · Repair Engineering · SRM

19
Lessons
Open Access
Workshop

Aviation English for Technicians (A1–A2)

Language M.05 · 14 Weeks · A1–A2

Practical English for the hangar floor: AMM, IPC, work cards, logbooks, and shift handover. Designed for technicians who already know the content in their native language but need workplace fluency in English.

Topics: AMM Reading · IPC · Work Cards · Logbooks · Shift Handover · Troubleshooting

14
Lessons
Open Access
Avionics

Avionics & Navigation Systems

Forthcoming M.06 · In Development

INS/GPS integration, flight management systems, and autopilot architecture. Module is currently in development and will be released as content is completed.

Topics: INS · GPS · FMS · Autopilot · Sensor Fusion

In Dev
Coming 2026
Manual

Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) Reading Guides

Reference excerpts from AMM documentation with reading guides for technicians. Includes navigation through chapter/section/subject conventions, understanding of task numbering, and identification of effectivity codes.

12 documents available · Aircraft maintenance technician focus

SRM

Structural Repair Manual (SRM) Worked Examples

Worked repair examples from structural repair manuals, with emphasis on composite repair procedures, allowable damage limits, and inspection requirements before and after repair.

8 documents available · Structural engineer focus

Notes

Instructor's Engineering Notes

Curated notes from classroom teaching on gas turbine engines, aerodynamics, and aircraft systems. Compiled from active instructor experience and field observations.

24 notes available · All experience levels

3D

3D Technical Models

Interactive cutaway views of engines, components, and assemblies. Includes turbofan cross-sections, compressor stages, combustion chamber geometries, and turbine cooling architectures.

6 interactive models · Browser-based viewer

Jet engine
8 pages · 12 figures

The Basics of Jet Engines: A Four-Stage Cycle Analysis

Aerospace Academy 2026, 1(1), 002; 21 Jan 2026

From intake to exhaust — the four-stage cycle that powers modern aviation. This article examines the thermodynamic cycle of gas turbine engines with real-engine references (GE90, CFM56, LEAP), explaining how the suck-squeeze-bang-blow sequence translates into thrust.

Read full article →

UAV
10 pages · 8 figures

The Future of Aviation: UAVs and Autonomous Flight Architectures

Aerospace Academy 2026, 1(1), 001; 21 Jan 2026

An analysis of unmanned aerial systems, flight control architectures, and the engineering challenges of next-generation autonomous aircraft. The paper examines fixed-wing and multi-rotor configurations.

Read full article →

Discord Server

Real-time chat with engineers, technicians, and students worldwide.

Coming Soon

YouTube Channel

Video lessons, engine teardowns, and technical walkthroughs.

Coming Soon

Newsletter

Weekly digest of new lessons, research papers, and library additions.

Coming Soon

Contact

For questions, collaboration, or content suggestions.

— A Note from the Instructor —

This project began on Instagram in 2016 and reached a community of 457,000 people before the account was taken down. The audience is gone, but the work is not. This academy is the same mission in a new home — and this time, the knowledge stays open to everyone.

— MR. AIRCRAFT ENGINEER