Want a cool job? Well, aeronautical engineers make things fly. They are the people who keep things up in the air (and even in space) ? that includes things like planes, satellites, and missiles.

Although this is technically a science position there are lots of areas that you can specialise in such as design, manufacturing and navigation.

Over a million aircraft fly through the UK's airspace every year. Aerospace engineering can involve anything from design and implementation of air traffic systems to computer-assisted design of airframes and wings for aircraft to wind tunnel trials.

The UK has a great tradition in aeronautical engineering, from the great pioneers such as Lanchester with his theory of lift in 1894 to visionaries such as R.J. Mitchell whose 1930s Supermarine Spitfire is still regarded by many to be the most elegant aircraft ever to take to the skies.

Engineers often start out on graduate training schemes run by specific employers, and additional training may also be taken on the job. If your work is successful you could find yourself being the member of a professional institution like the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS).

The standard recognition of professional engineers in the UK is set by The Engineering Council UK (ECUK) and for engineering technicians through the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence (UK-SPEC). They are responsible for granting Incorporated (IEng) and Chartered Engineer (CENG) status.