The Stengel Angle

Hello and thanks for taking the time to read my blog! My name is Mike, and I’m nuts about aerospace, to say the least. Through this blog, I hope to help everyone understand how the industry works (I definitely have much to learn as well), have some interesting discussions, and just enjoy writing about what is going on.

Why aerospace? Are there not more pressing issues to write about, like the budget deficit or the slow recovery of the global economy? Well, aerospace actually encompasses many issues, including the ones I just mentioned. Here are a few reasons why I am interested in aerospace and why I am writing about it:

• Even if you have never stepped a single foot onto an airplane, aerospace is still very much a part of everyone’s life. Whether it’s by the package you received via FedEx or UPS or by the industrial gas turbine that may power your home, everyone has been affected by the aerospace industry.
• Aerospace products are used in a broad array of segments. There are unique applications in the commercial market, military and defense, research, leisure, and much more.
• The aerospace industry is a large economic driver. Manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus employ tens of thousands of people, and support thousands more due to their supply chain. If you didn’t already know, Boeing is the largest exporter in the United States! Furthermore, airlines provide the average person an affordable means to travel for leisure or business.
• The aerospace industry a dynamic one; new technology is always developing that opens new doors and creates new possibilities. One good example is the Boeing 787, the first commercial jet to utilize composite materials in more than 50% of the airframe, making it a lighter and more fuel-efficient aircraft. It may be heavily delayed, but it is the catalyst to a new era in aerospace materials.

I will write about a variety of topics concerning the aerospace industry, from manufacturing to operations. I have my biases and opinions, but I will make my best effort to be impartial and provide a point of view that is based on current data and trends. I invite comments, questions, discussions, and suggestions for topics.