In 1958 the first definition of aerospace engineering appeared, considering the Earth's atmosphere and the space above it as a single realm for development of flight vehicles. Today the more encompassing aerospace definition has commonly replaced the terms aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering.

Who was the first aeronautical engineer?

Beginning in the late 1890s, the Wright Brothers absorbed all that was known in aeronautics before them, then added their own discoveries and developed the first successful airplane. Technically, their greatest fundamental achievement was their invention of three-axis aerodynamic control.

When was aeronautical engineering created?

In May, 1917, the degree of bachelor of science in engineering (aeronautical engineering) was established, and in June, 1917, William Frederick Gerhardt was the first student to receive it.