The award is to inspire and recognize innovative post doctorate level research that has the potential to produce major improvements in advancing the practice of systems engineering and systems thinking.

Student teams from the Spring 2011 AAE 451 Aircraft Design course taught by Professor Crossley had the option of submitting a report from their work to NASA's Environmentally Responsible (Green) Aviation College Student Challenge that invited students to propose ideas and designs for future aircraft that use less fuel, produce less harmful emissions, and make less noise. Teams from the course placed second and tied for third place in the contest that was open to entrants from US and international colleges and universities.

On their way to the edge of the solar system - about 3 billion miles away - a group of future astronauts will make a stop at Mars for fuel, water, supplies.

On May 23, 2011, Linda Flack celebrated 45 years with the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Linda joined the School as a secretary in 1966 just after graduating from high school.

Purdue University will be part of an eight-university consortium forming NEXTOR II, a research program focused on aviation operations research. Purdue faculty members participating in this effort include Professors William Crossley, Daniel DeLaurentis, Inseok Hwang, Karen Marais, and Dengfeng Sun from the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Professors Steven Landry and Nelson Uhan from Industrial Engineering.

Students who flew on the NASA Zero G Project, flew with Purdue graduate & NASA Astronaut Andrew Feustal, who just returned from Shuttle Mission.

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan – Every Marine has a story. For one Reservist currently serving in Helmand province the story is of a rocket scientist who answered the call to serve his country as a third generation Marine.

AAE would like to welcome two new faculty members: Dr. Sally Bane - starting August 2011,and Dr. Michael Sangid - starting January 2012.

At a convocation held on April 28, 2011, Leah H. Jamieson, John A. Edwardson Dean of Engineering and Professor (by courtesy) H. Jay Melosh, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Physics, were both recognized as being inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2011.

On behalf of the Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Dr. Paul M. Bevilaqua (MSAAE ‘68, PhD ’73) presented five copies of ‘Fundamentals of Aircraft and Airship Design’ – Volume 1 to the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the April Industrial Affiliates Council (IAC) meeting.