New directions of research in aeronautical engineering – breaking the barriers

The paper reviews selected areas of aeronautical knowledge and technology, which play an important role in the progress in the whole branch. Among the discussed component technologies and facinating areas of research there are: super manoeuvrability, aerodynamics of vortex structures, new materials, smart structures, thrust vectoring flight control, low observability, unmanned aerial vehicles and ultra high altitude aircraft. The technologies discussed are in no way exhaustive but attempt to illustrate diversity both military and civil aviation. The paper is probably a little bit biased because of author's scientific interest in aerodynamics and flight dynamics. One of the aim of this review is to put the emphasis on the outstanding progress in aeronautics. In some cases one can talk about breaking the barriers. Among such barriers there are: flying at the post-stall range of angles of attack, controlling the flight path directly by thrust vectoring, being ''invisible'' for radar, flying at ultra high altitudes being driven by a piston engine – propeller power unit. The progress in aeronautics observed nowadays is not such spectacular as it was during passing through the sound barrier, but is still very impressive, important and continuous. Very often the progress in one field is possible due to achievements in the other one. An extensive review of bibliography recently published and related to the subject completes the paper.