Precision Engineers MNB

Just who are the greatest aerospace engineers of all time? The ability to fly has long been an ambitious quest for mankind. Many centuries have been spent trying to master the art, as such there have been many aerospace engineers with a profound and lasting impact. Here at MNB Precision we have compiled a list of both the greatest engineers and the greatest aerospace engineers. Ranging from the most famous and prominent to some lesser known yet still crucial figures, these are some of the best professionals in the field. Read on to find out more.

Greatest Aerospace Engineers of All Time

Neil Armstrong

Armstrong is a very well-known figure in the history of aerospace engineering. He was an American astronaut and aeronautical engineer who also happened to be the first person to walk on the moon. He spent over 2 hours outside of the aircraft on that historic day, famously saying ‘That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.’

Elon Musk

Elon Musk is an entrepreneur, investor and engineer. He founded SpaceX, an aerospace manufacturer and space transport company of which he is CEO and lead designer. He is also the co-founder and CEO of Tesla, Inc, co-founder of PayPal and co-founder and CEO of Neuralink. Clearly a successful engineer and entrepreneur! He has also stated his commitment to reducing global warming through sustainable energy and reducing the risk of human extinction by establishing a human colony on mars. In our opinion a huge figure in the world of aerospace engineering.

Wernher von Braun

Von Braun was a German-American aerospace engineer and space architect. He is widely thought of as the father of rocket technology and space science through the United States. He was also the leading figure in the development of rocket technology in Germany. As the chief architect and director of the Marshall Space Flight Centre he was crucial in the development of the launch vehicle that would later propel the Apollo spacecraft to the moon. His impact upon aerospace engineering cannot be underestimated.

George Cayley

Sir George Cayley is considered to be one of the most important people in the history of aeronautics. As an English engineer, inventor and aviator he is viewed as the first scientific aerial investigator. He was one of the first people to understand the principals of flight. Even back in 1799 he founded the concepts of a modern aeroplane in that it needed separate systems for lift, propulsion and control. Regarded as the ‘father of aviation’ his impact is long-lasting and telling.

Robert H. Goddard

Robert Hutchings Goddard was an American engineer and physicist. He is widely credited with theorising and building the world’s first liquid-fuelled rocket. This model was successfully launched in 1926 and founded an era of space flight and innovation. Widely considered to be the pioneer and figure that ushered in the ‘Space age’ his impact is deep.

Sergei Korolev

Sergei Korolev was the lead Soviet rocket engineer for the Soviet Union in the 1950s and 1960s. Regarded as the father of practical astronautics by many, he played a key role in the Space Race between the United States and Soviet Union as the lead rocket engineer and spacecraft designer. He also played a crucial role in launching the first human being into space.

J. Mitchell

J. Mitchell was an English aeronautical engineer. During his engineering days he worked for Supermarine Aviation and between 1920 and 1936 designed many aircraft. His most famous aircraft design was that of the iconic Supermarine Spitfire, the Second World War fighter. We had to include him on our list of great engineers for that reason alone.

Kalpana Chawla

Kalpana Chawla was the first female of Indian origin to go to space. She was an American astronaut and first flew on the Space Shuttle Columbia in 1997. Sadly she was also one of seven members to die when the Space Shuttle Columbia aircraft disintegrated on its re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere in 2003.

Barnes Wallis

We’ve all heard of the dambusters right? Barnes Wallis is perhaps most famous for his invention of the bouncing bomb, used by the Royal Air Force during the ‘dambusters raid’ during the Second World War. He was an English scientist, engineer and inventor. Other works attributed to him also include the earthquake bomb and his individual version of the geodetic airframe.

Hans von Ohain

Hans von Ohain was a German physicist. Ohain designed the first operational jet engine which was used to power the world’s first flyable all-jet aircraft in 1937. Sadly, despite initial engineering success, his designs were quickly eclipsed and none of his engine designs ever entered widespread production or operational use.

Aerospace Engineering

There have been many pioneers of engineering throughout mankind. As such, to form a definitive list of the greatest aerospace engineers of all time is no easy task. We have formed a list of some of the most crucial in our opinion but perhaps your choices would be different. MNB Precision provide precision machining and CNC machining for the Aerospace Industry. Contact us today for all your Aerospace Engineering needs.

Throughout the history of mankind there have been many pioneers of engineering. Without a great many of these inventions life today as we know it would certainly be rather different. Here at MNB Precision we have tried to compile a list of the greatest engineers of all time in our humble opinion. You may not completely agree with our choices but they will give you some food for thought.

Greatest Engineers Of All Time

Archimedes

We start off with the famous Greek legend Archimedes. As a mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor and astronomer he was an extremely talented person. He is considered by many as the greatest mathematician of all time. A range of theorems have been attributed to him including how to figure the area of a circle and the volume of a sphere. He also designed a great many machines including screw pumps, pulley systems and defensive war machines to protect his home island of Syracuse. Definitely an engineering legend in our eyes.

Leonardo da Vinci

Another engineering legend on our list has to be that of Leonardo da Vinci. Like Archimedes before him he had a great interest in many things including inventing, painting, sculpting, architecture, mathematics and engineering amongst others. Considered by many as the greatest painter of all time he is also legendary in his inventiveness. Widely credited with the invention of the parachute, helicopter and tank he epitomised the Renaissance era of invention and imagination.

Isembard Kingdom Brunel

Considered by some as one of the most prolific figures in engineering history, Isembard Kingdom Brunel has created quite a legacy. Brunel is responsible for numerous dockyards, steamships, bridges, tunnels and the Great Western Railway. Public transport as we know it was revolutionised by Brunel. His contribution to engineering is profound.

George Stephenson

Referred to by some as the ‘father of railways’, George Stephenson certainly left an impression. He was a civil and mechanical engineer and pioneer of rail transport. This led to huge technological advances in the 19^th century and was crucial in the Industrial Revolution. Coupled with his founding of the minors safety lamp he left a long and lasting impression upon British society as we know it today.

James Watt

A pioneer of the Industrial Revolution, James Watt improved upon the idea of steam engines and created the Watt steam engine. Believed to always have had an avid interest in the power of steam his contribution to society as we know it cannot be underestimated. He also came up with the concepts of horsepower and the unit of power ‘watt’ was named after him.

Henry Ford

Founder of the Ford Motor Company and sponsoring the creation of modern assembly lines allowing mass production, Henry Ford revolutionised factory production. Henry Ford allowed automobiles to be affordable to American citizens. This was through his use of factory production lines and the rest as they say is history. Although not the inventor of automobiles his pioneering work left a long lasting and profound impression on society even to this day.

Thomas Edison

Considered by many as the greatest inventor America has produced. Boasting over 1000 patents to his name it is easy to see why many considered him a truly great engineer. A great many of his inventions also had a large impact upon the modern industrialised world. Inventing things such as the phonograph, motion picture camera and light bulb it is clear to see the impact Thomas Edison had upon the modern world.

Alexander Graham Bell

Bell is credited with inventing and patenting the world’s first practical phone. Due to deafness in his family he always had an interest in hearing and speech issues. There is also a range of other inventions that can be attributed to Alexander Graham Bell including optical telecommunications, hydrofoils and aeronautics. Imagine a world in which the phone doesn’t exist…

Alan Turing

Highly influential in the development of theoretical computer science, Alan Turing is widely believed to be responsible for the creation of the world’s first computer. In developing the Enigma machine, a machine used during the Second World War to crack German ciphers, it is believed he shortened the war by up to two years and saved over 14 million lives. He is widely considered to be the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence. A true pioneer and legend indeed.

The Wright Brothers

Although not strictly a single engineer we found it impossible to leave out the Wright Brothers. They are largely credited with inventing, building and flying the world’s first working airplane. They were not the first to build experimental aircraft but were the first to build a working model. In our opinion very worthy of being on the list of the greatest engineers of all time.

Great Engineers

So there you have it, our list of the greatest engineers of all time. There are a great deal more we could have added to the list but unfortunately we only have room for the top ten! Throughout history there has been many contributions to engineering as we know it. Here at MNB Precision we provide manufacturing and precision engineering services to many sector leading companies. Get in contact today to see what we can do for you.

Even though the field of engineering is much appreciated, it is equally overlooked especially considering that it is to thank for some of the greatest achievements in the history of the UK.  Engineering has not always been what we know of it today and has come a long way. Here is a quick walk down memory lane to have a look at the history of engineering and what its earliest forms were like.

Earliest Examples and Etymology

The concept of engineering has been in existence for a long time. Today, engineering is best described as the application of mechanical solutions and skills to build things and solve different problems, and the same description can be used in the ancient world.

One of the best examples of engineering in the ancient times was the use of levers which is also one of the earliest forms of engineering. The wheel and its many uses is also another perfect example of engineering from the ancient times. While during the earliest inventions the term engineering had not yet been coined, the term itself has its roots dating back to the year 1325.

The first definition of the term was simply a person who operates an engine. During those days, the term ‘engine’ largely referred to military machines, and in most instances, these included a siege engine, a catapult or a trebuchet.

Formal and Organised History of UK Engineering

narrow and shallow definition that engineering had in its earlier days, it has come a long way with numerous achievements and has become broadly used and practised. By the 19th century and in particular the Victorian times, engineering was one of the most exceptional fields with tremendous achievements.

Because of its impact around this era, engineering started becoming better organized and professional with the Institution for Civil Engineers being the first established professional engineering organization and was established in 1818.

There are several other institutions that quickly followed suit to continue with the professionalising of engineering and also in a bid to maintain the high standards in the UK. Through this framework, the field of engineering and some of the greatest engineers in the history of the UK were able to flourish.

The Greatest Engineers in the UK

The UK is not short of great men who excelled in the field of engineering, and a quick roundup of the history of engineering would not be complete without the honourable mention of some of the greatest minds in engineering.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Brunel was born in 1806 and is easily one of the most popular engineers in the UK in his time. He was the mind behind great creations of his era like the Great Western Railway and also the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Robert Stephenson

Stephenson and Brunel were born around the same time and was the son of George who had played a significant role in the building of railways. Stephenson went on to make a name for himself as one of the greatest engineers of his time because of his contribution to the locomotive design and railway development.

Barnes Wallis

While the former two built their reputation in the 19th century, Barnes contributions were in the 20th century. He is credited for building the bouncing bomb which played a critical role in WWII and is also the inspiration behind the Hollywood film ‘The Dambusters.’