Facultatea de Inginerie Aerospațială

Elie Carafoli’s legacy soars at the Facultatea de Inginerie Aerospațială. This isn’t just a faculty. It’s a testament to Romanian ingenuity and a launchpad for dreams of flight. Imagine standing here in 1928, listening to Carafoli deliver the first Aeronautics course at the Școala Politehnică din București. The Facultatea de Inginerie Aerospațială, as we know it today, has evolved from humble beginnings. It started as a subsection of the Faculty of Electromechanics, then part of the Faculty of Mechanics in 1948. Carafoli, a 1924 graduate of the Politehnica, not only pioneered aviation education but also built the first wind tunnel in Southeastern Europe in 1931. That very tunnel is still operational today, a tangible link to the faculty’s rich past. The faculty formally took flight in 1971 as the Facultatea de Construcții Aerospațiale. It offered specializations in aircraft, propulsion systems, and onboard equipment. This growth was fueled by the booming aviation industry after 1968. The name changed again in 1979 to Facultatea de Aeronave and finally, in 1996, to the Facultatea de Inginerie Aerospațială. Over the years, the Facultatea de Inginerie Aerospațială has broadened its horizons. In 2003, it added Engineering and Aeronautical Management. It also established a research center under the CCAS (Center for Aeronautical and Space Research). To meet European demands, Air Navigation in English was introduced in 2009. The faculty has nurtured over 5,000 engineers, contributing to Romanian aviation and companies like Aerostar, IAR, Romaero, and TAROM. Their success is a tribute to the 80 dedicated professors who’ve shaped the future of flight. The Facultatea de Inginerie Aerospațială stands as a proud symbol of Romania’s contributions to aviation. It is a legacy built on passion, innovation, and a commitment to reaching for the skies.