Aerodynamics

Advanced aerodynamics covering potential flow, wing theory, panel methods, and propeller theory.

offering recorded3 credits
Recorded instructors · Spring 2027 Jennifer Franck3.8/5

Summary

What you’ll be able to do

  • Solve potential flow problems in the context of aerodynamics

  • Model and solve for the potential flow over airfoils using two-dimensional panel methods

  • Analyze the performance characteristics of two- and three-dimensional lifting surfaces, including interpreting data and computing lift and drag polars

  • Solve aerodynamics problems and interpret solutions using the appropriate non-dimensional parameters

Source: UW Guide

Grade history

↗
average GPA
letter grades

No recorded grade history.

All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors

Prerequisites

Course map

MATH 321, (E M A 202, M E 240, or PHYSICS 311), and (CIV ENGR 310 or M E 363), or graduate/professional standing, or member of Engineering Guest Students

EMA 421 used by

“Used by” includes alternatives; linked courses may have other requirements. This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.

Prerequisite text tree

Professors

Spring 2027
Adjusted rating
RMP difficulty
captured reviews
About this rating

Raw average: 4.29/5 from 7 quality ratings. The adjusted rating blends this with the UW review average (3.66/5), weighted as 20 additional ratings. Smaller samples stay closer to that average. Each captured review is counted once in the prior; this does not correct who chooses to leave a review.

RMP profile ↗ · All captured review dates; profile matched by name.

No course-specific feedback yet.

Historical instructors & teaching patterns

Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

Calendar & sections

Spring 2027

Schedule loads here as you scroll.

SectionModeEnrolled / capacityWaitlist
LEC 001Classroom Instruction0 / 600
DIS 301Classroom Instruction0 / 280
DIS 302Classroom Instruction0 / 280

Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections. Enrollment reflects scan time.

Meeting source records

Student experience

the class

Potential flow theory; stream functions; vortex filaments and sheets. Two- and three-dimensional wing theory. Doublet and panels methods. Propeller theory. Was E M A 521 prior to Fall 2026.

difficulty & workload

No workload feedback recorded.

Topics

  • Potential flow theory, stream functions, and vortices
  • Wing theory and panel/doublet methods
  • Propeller theory

Skills

  • Solving potential flow problems in aerodynamics
  • Modeling and solving potential flow over airfoils using two-dimensional panel methods
  • Analyzing performance characteristics of two- and three-dimensional lifting surfaces
  • Interpreting aerodynamic solutions using non-dimensional parameters

Grades

Instructor

Grade distribution · % of letter grades

No grades available yet.

More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data

Sources & history

UW–Madison

Catalog & offerings

Descriptions, prerequisites, and recorded course offerings.

Catalog observation history

Observations at scan time; dates do not imply when a catalog change took effect.

Selected offering source records
EMA 421 · Spring 2027

Aerodynamics

Recorded 2026-10-14
Raw records
[
  {
    "run_id": "20261014T203208-0851c9a1",
    "semester": "1274",
    "observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00",
    "offering_id": "1274:346:006615",
    "course_id": "EMA 421",
    "course_uid": "course_b0dcf0eb2a97d4f7d953cba1",
    "term_id": "1274",
    "source_course_id": "006615",
    "source_subject_id": "346",
    "title": "Aerodynamics",
    "credits_min": 3,
    "credits_max": 3,
    "typically_offered": "Fall"
  }
]
Rate My Professors

Student reviews

Original comments behind the course and instructor summaries.

Read original reviews

No records available.

Madgrades

Grade history

Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.

Explore recorded grades
Model outputs & technical records
Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B
LLM outputs across runs
Full model traces

Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.

Model & dataset provenance
{
  "model": "Qwen/Qwen3.8-27B",
  "model_revision": "1d4bf0f2ff6012fd82039f2fa52739d0dd7c60c0",
  "task_version": "17",
  "output_id": "055dad988b763c6fcb544d72c487b64efafe1638ea5ebd1992daaf32a7eb74b6",
  "requirements_status": "valid",
  "dataset_revision": "fc1811fa52e581ea57a35c0cf3343f8740a8ffbf",
  "observed_at": "2026-10-14 17:50:09.728220+00:00"
}