Flight Vehicle Design introduced the core principles behind designing aircraft and launch vehicles. I learned how to compute lift and drag across an airframe, analyze static and dynamic stability, predict range for fuel & electric aircraft, estimate Mach effects at altitude, and even sizing rockets based on propulsive performance and mission requirements. The class culminated in a hands-on design project where a small team built and tested a ultra-light carbon fiber glider, applying our analytical models to its flight characteristics. Our glider achieved the longest flight distance in the class competition.