This chapter is a synthesis of the aerospace engineering activities in Romania or performed by Romanians. Important contributions to aviation and space flight since the earliest times demonstrate Romanians’ vocation and passion for flight. The chapter is structured in three parts: aviation and aeronautical industry, space flight and rocket technology, and aerospace sciences and engineering education. The activity of aviation pioneers Traian Vuia, Aurel Vlaicu, and Henri Coandă is better known, but many other less known aviation pioneers are presented. Their contribution is important nonetheless: Anastase Dragomir who invented the ejectable pilot seat, Ion Stroescu, who designed and built some of the most innovative wind tunnels of the time, and George de Bothezat, who built some of the earliest helicopters. After the First World War, Romania developed its aeronautical industry. IAR Brasov was the leading aircraft manufacturer of the time, with the military fighter IAR-80 as an iconic success of these times. After WWII, the Romanian aviation industry recovered, relying on four aircraft manufacturing plants: ICA Ghimbav (IAR Brasov), IRMA/IAv Bucharest (ROMAERO), IA Craiova (Avioane Craiova), and IAv Bacău (Aerostar). In addition to those, Turbomecanica Bucharest was specialised in turbine engines manufacturing, and Aerofina Bucharest was supplying avionics. For the aircraft design, the Institute for Aerospace Scientific Research and Technological Engineering (ICSITAV) became the only research and design institution in the aerospace sector in Romania. After 1990, ICSITAV split but the National Aerospace Research Institute INCAS continued this central role activity. The second part of the chapter is about astronautics and space research and industry, starting with a history of Romanian contributions, mainly with the visionary work of Hermann Oberth. The Romanian Space Agency established at the initiative of Cosmonaut Dumitru Prunariu in 1990 coordinated the activity of the Romanian space industry and research, with notable achievements. The early accession of Romania to the European Space Agency (ESA) accelerated the development of space activities in the country. The third part of the chapter presents the Romanian aerospace engineering school, with a tradition of almost 90 years. The school was established in the Polizu Campus of the University Politehnica of Bucharest by Academician Elie Carafoli. Thousands of Alumni made a decisive contribution to the Romanian aerospace industry and research, but also worlwide.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    History of Aviation, Rocket Technology, and Aerospace Engineering


    Additional title:

    History Mechanism, Machine




    Publication date :

    2023-09-22


    Size :

    40 pages





    Type of media :

    Article/Chapter (Book)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




    Aviation — Why Not Aerospace?

    Commodore F. R. Banks CB , Air OBE | Emerald Group Publishing | 1978


    Model Rocket Projects for Aerospace Engineering Course: Propellant Analyses

    Brewer, John C. / Reis, Ronaldo Chavez / Limberger Tomiozzo, Ronaldo et al. | AIAA | 2016


    Aviation : reporting the business of aviation + aerospace

    TIBKAT | March/April 2016-March/April 2017 ; damit Erscheinen eingestellt