Aerodynamic calculation course in wind tunnels
Online course of 300 hours in wind tunnel aerodynamic analysis: 6 modules covering wind tunnels and similarity, models and balances, measurement techniques, corrections and data processing, and test campaigns and validation, with an assigned technical tutor.
Aerodynamic calculation course in wind tunnels — studying from South Africa
South Africa has a long-standing aerospace base, anchored by the Western Cape cluster around Cape Town and the Gauteng aerospace corridor near Johannesburg. Companies such as Denel Aerospace Systems, Aerosud and Airbus-linked suppliers in the Western Cape draw on local engineering talent. The South African Civil Aviation Authority oversees airworthiness and drone regulation, while the South African National Space Agency coordinates national space activity. Demand for skills in aircraft systems, unmanned aerial systems and satellite engineering continues to grow across both regions.
Fees for South Africa: R 13 900 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by the South African Council for Aeronautical and Engineering Professions or ECSA?
SEIUM is a private online institute and its qualifications are not official state degrees or accredited by a national body. In South Africa, professional registration is handled by bodies such as ECSA (Engineering Council of South Africa) and SACAP for built environment roles, and aviation licensing by the SACAA. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by the employer or the relevant body, so check directly with them before enrolling.
Would this qualification help me get work with aerospace or drone employers in South Africa?
Employers in South Africa's aerospace and drone sector, such as aircraft maintenance organisations, defence contractors and drone operators, usually weigh experience, licensing and university credentials heavily. A private online qualification can support your CV and show specialist knowledge, but it does not guarantee hiring or a particular role. Ask prospective employers whether they value the programme before you commit.
Can I manage the workload while working full time, and do I need to be fluent in English?
The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you need solid working English. Study is fully remote, so no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with an assigned technical tutor. Plan your weekly hours realistically, and ask whether employer sponsorship or instalment payment could help with fees.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Describe how wind tunnels operate.
Apply model theory and similarity.
Select aerodynamic measurement techniques.
Calibrate balances and instrumentation.
Apply wall and blockage corrections.
Assess the uncertainty of the results.
Compare experimental data with numerical simulations.
Who it's for
- Wind tunnel test engineers looking to consolidate their test and correction methods.
- Aerodynamicists who need to plan and interpret wind tunnel campaigns.
- Aerodynamic instrumentation technicians working with balances, pressure and optical techniques.
- CFD simulation engineers validating their models against experimental data.
- Fluid mechanics researchers running experimental programmes.
- Test laboratory managers responsible for campaigns and data quality.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the aeronautical sector.
What you'll work with
- AIAA R-093 (calibration and use of internal strain-gauge balances)
- AIAA S-071A (assessment of experimental uncertainty in wind tunnel testing)
- ISO/IEC Guide 98-3 (GUM) (guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement)
- ISO/IEC 17025 (competence of testing and calibration laboratories)
- ISO 2533 (standard atmosphere)
- AGARDograph 336 (Wind Tunnel Wall Corrections) (wall interference corrections)
- LabVIEW
- MATLAB
- DaVis (LaVision)
- Ansys Fluent
- Python with NumPy
6 modules
1.1Tunnel types: open and closed circuit1.2Subsonic, transonic and supersonic tunnels1.3Components: settling chamber, contraction and diffuser1.4Flow quality and turbulence1.5Model theory and similarity1.6Reynolds number and transition techniques1.7Mach number effects1.8Cryogenic and pressurised tunnels1.9European reference facilities1.10Case study: tunnel for a regional aircraft test
2.1Model design and manufacture2.2Materials and additive manufacturing of models2.3Model supports and their interference2.4External and internal balances2.5Balance calibration2.6Pressure taps and scanners2.7Transition fixing with roughness2.8Reference systems and model angles2.9Mechanical safety of the model2.10Lab: calibration of a six-component balance
3.1Static and total pressure3.2Hot-wire anemometry3.3Particle image velocimetry3.4Laser Doppler anemometry3.5Pressure-sensitive paints3.6Oil and smoke visualisation3.7Wake and drag measurements3.8Thermography for transition detection3.9Acoustic measurements in the tunnel3.10Practical exercise: drag estimation by wake survey
4.1Solid and wake blockage4.2Wall lift interference correction4.3Support and buoyancy corrections4.4Adaptive and slotted walls4.5Reduction of aerodynamic coefficients4.6Repeatability and good practice4.7Measurement uncertainty analysis4.8Extrapolation to full-scale flight4.9Comparison with CFD4.10Workshop: blockage correction for an aerofoil test
5.1Planning a test campaign5.2Test matrix and prioritisation5.3Stability and control tests5.4High-lift device tests5.5Engine effects tests5.6Aeroelastic and dynamic tests5.7Tunnel calibration5.8Quality and accreditation of test laboratories5.9CFD-tunnel cross-validation5.10Case study: analysis of drag polar results from a tunnel test
6.1Test objective6.2Model design6.3Instrumentation selection6.4Test matrix6.5Corrections applicable to the results6.6Data processing6.7Comparison with simulation6.8Conclusions of the aerodynamic analysis6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is LabVIEW, MATLAB, DaVis (LaVision), Ansys Fluent and Python with NumPy, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: calibration of an aerodynamic balance, testing and correction of an aerofoil in the tunnel and comparison of tunnel results with CFD. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrative project.
Standards covered: AIAA R-093, AIAA S-071A, ISO/IEC Guide 98-3 (GUM), ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 2533, AGARDograph 336 (Wind Tunnel Wall Corrections).
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run the programme's software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with LabVIEW, MATLAB, DaVis (LaVision), Ansys Fluent and Python with NumPy, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme's software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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