Future Aircraft Design Course

Explore the next frontier of aviation — innovation, sustainability, and collaborative engineering.

🌍 Introduction

The Future Aircraft Design Course is part of the Collaborative Bee Network,
where students and professionals learn how to design the next generation of sustainable, modular, and intelligent aircraft.
Developed in collaboration with partner universities and Technoplane SAS, this program brings together cutting-edge research, digital tools, and open-source methodologies under the Lesser Open Bee License 1.3 – Chapter 2 Open Source.

This course is more than a lecture series — it’s a hands-on journey through the technologies and ideas shaping tomorrow’s skies.

✈️ Why Study Future Aircraft Design?

Global aviation is entering a new era driven by sustainability, autonomy, and digital transformation.
This course equips participants with the skills to design, analyze, and optimize aircraft systems that meet environmental and societal challenges while advancing technological frontiers.

Understand and apply next-generation aerospace technologies.
Explore sustainable design strategies for carbon-neutral flight.
Collaborate with experts from academia and industry worldwide.
Gain experience with open digital tools used in real-world research.

By the end, you’ll be ready to contribute to projects such as Bee-Plane™, ISO-Plane™, Mini-Bee™, and GPS 4D™ —
real open engineering initiatives shaping the future of aviation.

🚀 What You’ll Learn

Each module combines theoretical insight with applied simulation and project work.
You’ll explore every aspect of modern aircraft development — from concept definition to performance optimization — using open collaborative platforms.

Advanced Materials: Learn how lightweight composites and smart materials enhance efficiency and safety.
Next-Generation Aerodynamics: Apply CFD and AI-assisted tools to design high-efficiency configurations.
Sustainable Propulsion: Study hybrid, electric, and hydrogen systems driving clean aviation.
Autonomous and Intelligent Systems: Integrate AI, sensors, and automation into flight control and maintenance.
Design Thinking for Future Mobility: Understand urban air mobility (UAM) and global innovation trends.

All lessons are built around open-access tools like Onshape, SimScale, QGIS, and CesiumJS, ensuring that every student can learn, test, and publish results collaboratively.

👨‍🏫 Meet the Instructors

The course is taught by an international network of aerospace professionals and researchers from partner universities — including ENSTA Paris, ESTACA, INSA Toulouse, and Ecole Centrale de Lyon — coordinated by Technoplane SAS.

Each instructor brings real-world experience from research and industry in areas such as hybrid propulsion, flight optimization, aerodynamics, and sustainability.

“Learning aircraft design with open collaboration gives students both technical depth and ethical responsibility — it’s how we build the future together.”

— Course Coordinator, Technoplane SAS

🧩 Course Format

The program is designed for flexibility and collaboration, enabling participants from around the world to contribute at their own pace.

Duration: 6–8 weeks (self-paced learning with group projects).
Format: Online, hybrid, or in-person at partner institutions.
Certification: Participants receive a Collaborative Bee Certificate in Sustainable Aircraft Design upon completion.
Resources: Access to digital case studies, open data, and Bee-licensed simulation models.

All participants are encouraged to publish their work on the Collaborative Bee Wiki for peer review and future use.

💬 Student Experiences

Students and young engineers from across Europe have already taken part in this program through the Bee-Plane, Mini-Bee, and ISO-Plane collaborative projects.

“The course completely changed my perspective on how sustainability and innovation intersect in modern aviation.”
– John D., ENSTA Paris

“An inspiring journey that blends open collaboration, advanced simulation, and real engineering purpose.”
– Sarah T., ESTACA Bordeaux

🧠 Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join this course?
This course is open to engineering students, professionals, and anyone passionate about the future of aviation and sustainable technologies.

Do I need prior experience?
A basic understanding of physics or aerodynamics is helpful, but all required tools and concepts are introduced progressively.

Is there an official certification?
Yes. Participants completing all modules and projects receive an official certificate endorsed by Technoplane SAS and the Collaborative Bee Consortium.

Can I contribute to a Bee project?
Absolutely. Outstanding participants are invited to join ongoing TRL-level Bee projects (Bee-Plane™, ISO-Plane™, etc.) as open collaborators under Chapter 2 of the license.

🌱 Join the Future of Aviation

Whether you are a student, researcher, or engineer, this course invites you to be part of a global movement redefining how aircraft are designed — openly, ethically, and sustainably.

Join us to design the future of flight — one innovation at a time.

🚀 Enroll Now