Aircraft Engineering & Design
A lifelong flight path through aeronautical engineering—from RAF Air Cadet wings at 13 to a full university degree. Hands-on workshop skills, advanced aircraft performance, design principles, and project leadership in modern aviation systems.
Born to Fly, Built to Engineer
“Engineering isn’t a hobby. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a mindset. From Lego bricks to lifting bodies—this is my flight plan.”
This Aircraft Engineering & Design Portfolio is my logbook from age 13 in RAF Air Cadets to earning a BEng (Hons) while still smelling of jet fuel! - Going to the petrol station just isn’t the same!
I learned to fly before I could drive even though my nickname was Vomit comet and I’ve been chasing altitude in different ways ever since!
Age 13: RAF Air Cadets – The Launchpad
Joined the Air Training Corps (RAF Air Cadets) at 13.
Not for the uniform. For the sky. I am glad the my father one day took us to our local Squadron and join!
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First flight: Glider, Powered flight and Aerobatics at the of age 14
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First attempted ghost-solo: Powered aircraft, age 16 — way before my driving test - I do have to say, due to my air-sickness, I didn’t pass my test after letting go of the control column just before touching the ground causing the aircraft to hit a hard landing and ballon bouncing on the runway along with the instructor lightly screaming at me…
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Several ground school: principles of flight, navigation, engines
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Regular visits to RAF bases (Lossiemouth, Leuchars, Cranwell so many more) and airshows (RIAT, Farnborough)
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Hands-on: stripping piston engines, reading schematics, pre-flight checks
I wasn’t just learning to fly. I was learning why things fly!
High School: Engineering Diploma
Dual-track:
- Theory: Mechanics, Electrics, materials,
- Practice: Wood/Metal work, Lathe work, welding, technical drawing
- Transcripts: Two years of graded projects—designing an early warning forest fire detection system using Bluetooth/WIFI interconnected mesh network
This wasn’t extra credit. This was proof of craft!
University: BEng (Hons) Aircraft Engineering
Some modules were:
- Advanced Aircraft Performance
- Aircraft Design – wing loading, stability, control surfaces, systems integration
- Propulsion Systems – gas turbines, reciprocating engines, performance mapping
- Avionics & Flight Control
- Engineering Project Management
- Workshop Mastery – fabricated components to EASA tolerances
Graduated with industry-ready skills and a tool bag of skills!
Why Aircraft Engineering?
It isn’t passion. It’s an obsession!