Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence

The Penn State Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence – one of three Vertical Lift Research Centers of Excellence in the United States – engages in a wide range of research and education activities related to vertical flight technology.

Approximately 60 full-time graduate students work on projects related to dynamics, aerodynamics, acoustics, flight control and simulation, icing, HUMS, smart stuctures, and advanced design of rotary-wing vehicles.

Visit the VLRCOE website to learn more.

Key Faculty:

Kenneth Brentner
Edward Smith

Centers and Institutes

About

The Penn State Department of Aerospace Engineering, established in 1961 and the only aerospace engineering department in Pennsylvania, is consistently recognized as one of the top aerospace engineering departments in the nation, and is also an international leader in aerospace education, research, and engagement. Our undergraduate program is ranked 15^th and our graduate programs are ranked 15^th nationally by U.S. News & World Report, while one in 25 holders of a B.S. degree in aerospace engineering in the U.S. earned it from Penn State. Our students are consistently among the most highly recruited by industry, government, and graduate schools nationwide.

The department is built upon the fundamentals of academic integrity, innovation in research, and commitment to the advancement of industry. Through an innovative curriculum and world-class instruction that reflects current industry practice and embraces future trends, Penn State Aerospace Engineering graduates emerge as broadly educated, technically sound aerospace engineers who will become future leaders in a critical industry