Aeronautics

The first time I looked at a photograph of the F/A-18 Hornet strike aircraft on the verge of breaking the sound barrier, I felt a curiosity and a passion unlike any I had felt before. As I gazed at the image, I could almost hear the roar of the engine and feel the piercing velocity. I stared, mesmerized, at the white cloud underneath, caused by the atmospheric gases liquefying into a fine mist, and I wondered how a 33-ton jet could do such an amazing thing. My mind turned to all the raw energy, toil, and technology needed to create such a marvelous machine, and I knew I had to investigate further. That moment sparked my intense passion to master the science of aircraft and to pursue a career in aeronautics.

As a first step toward my goal, I gathered as much literature on the subject as I could, carefully perusing countless articles, books, and encyclopedias. I tried to understand every detail of everything that I read. Then I began to put concepts together, relating them to each other in order to gain a deeper understanding of the subject as a whole. By doing so, I established a solid foundation of knowledge from which further ideas and conceptions would arise. I eventually realized, however, that although books could teach me all the bare facts I needed to know, I still had much more to learn.

To gain firsthand experience and conduct a more personal investigation, I attended a regional air show. The first time I observed the aircraft, their magnitude and sophistication filled me with awe. That day I spent eight hours at the show, conversing with pilots, inspecting the flight controls, and feeling the wrought steel. Seeing the aircraft themselves clarified the details that I had read and refueled my passions. That combination of emotion and facts gave me a broader perspective on the subject of aeronautics. As I left the show that night, I recalled the photograph that had initially inspired me, and I realized that I had just taken