my thoughts
I was born in what today would be called a British Overseas Territory. I received a rather backward elementary education. At fourteen I went to boarding school, passed certificates and unbelievably to me went on to university. Joined the military. Left the military. Flew.
For the first year at University chemistry and physics from school were “reinforced”. Actually it was mostly repetition and I darn near flunked chemistry, my best subject at school, out of boredom.
Theory of Structures commenced at once, very badly taught by a professor. Sometimes the only way to understand is to teach yourself. Sometimes the cleverest man is a lousy teacher.
Year One had both pure and applied maths but the applied maths was so little different from physics that it could well have been dropped. But tradition and obeisance to old Buggins decreed otherwise.
Pure maths continued for three years and went far too far as I then thought. However the student’s subsequent career often takes an unexpected path. Life has shown that the maths only went a little too far but not a lot too far. Sometimes the old farts know more than we think about what we need to lnow.
After boring Classical Physics in Year One came Modern Physics in Year Two. Brilliantly taught and brilliantly coupled with second year pure maths. Just brilliant. When what was “advanced” in one’s youth crumbles into dust, the “basics” had better be the foundation of continued success or else you’re in trouble. This year was well done.
The Second Year included two Humanities options and I chose Economics (Keynes and Cairncross) and Business Law. You need to understand or at least appreciate upwards, downwards and sideways all that goes on in your company, especially finance.
In the second year we studied electrical engineering but for only one year. A big mistake that and very much towards heavy power and sadly not enough into electronics. Very enjoyable lab work most afternoons. Today I would insist that it continue all the way through alongside the big subjects which were mechanical – strength of materials, engineering thermodynamics, structural mechanics and “fluidics”. That trendy term encompassed aerodynamics broadly set in the field of fluid mechanics. Rather badly taught which has always been a hindrance to me.
Third Year saw the passing away of everything except maths and mechanical engineering and set the scene for the Final Honours Year. The lab work was excellent though some of the engines!!!
I’d rate my first year dull, second year brilliant, third year very good and final year as on equal terms with the profs and lecturers in the way we treated each other. So, having had a good career and helped shape to some degree what and how we fly may I suggest
First Year
Mathematics (Pure and Applied)
Physics and Chemistry of Propulsion
Theory of Structures
Electrical Technology
Mechanical Technology
Computer Studies
Second Year
Mathematics of Computation
Modern Physics
Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
Electronics
Strength of Materials
Fluid Mechanics
(plus two Humanities Options or languages)
Third Year
Control Engineering
Advanced Structures
Advanced Mechanical Engineering
Advanced Electrical Engineering
Fluidics
Engineering Practice
Honours Year
Three from five:
a) Control Engineering
b) Advanced Structures
c) Advanced Mechanical Engineering
d) Advanced Electrical Engineering
e) Fluidics
Chosen Thesis/ Project
Broadly, very broadly it is what I did and the rose tinted glasses are still in their case.