Prof Laurent Dala is a research and development manager at the CSIR Aeronautic Systems research group.
Research experience and interests:
Prof Dala has more than 25 years of experience in aeronautical/aerospace engineering in Research Centres (ONERA-France, CEAT-France, TsAGI-Russia, ARA-England), in industry (Airbus, CargoLifter-Germany, Ratier-Figeac-France…) and Universities (ESTP-France, IPSA-France, ICAM-France, FALT-Russia, UWE-England, Bristol-England, Manchester-England). He specialises in aerodynamics, flight mechanics/flight dynamics, aeroelasticity, aeroacoustics and multi design optimisation.
Topics include:
• Flow Control
• High-Lift Systems
• Stability and Control
• Unmanned Air Systems
• Missiles and Ballistics
• Shock reduction
• Space re-entry and Launch Phase
• New configurations (Ekranoplane, Flying Wings, High Aspect-ratio…)
Career background:
Head of Aeronautical Engineering: School of Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand
Aerospace Programme Leader: University of the West England (UWE) –England
Chairman of the Advisory Group: FP6 European Project on New Aircraft Concepts Research (NACRE)
Technical Advisor of the CEO: Aircraft Research Association Limited (ARA – Bedford, United Kingdom)
Aerothermal Leader and Manager: Alstom/Rolls-Royce Team
Chief Aerodynamicist
Section Manager of the Flight Science Division
Deputy Head of Division
Design Approved Engineer for Aerodynamics, Thermics and Anti-Icing Systems. CargoLifter (International Airship Company), Berlin, Germany
Head of Applied Aerodynamics: Institut AéroTechnique (IAT/CNAM), France.
Principal Aerodynamicist – Research Scientist: ONERA (Office National des Etudes et Recherches Aerospatiales – France)
Senior Aerodynamicist and Test Engineer: CEAT (Aeronautic Testing centre), Aerodynamics Department, Toulouse, France
Visiting Professor in Compressible Flows at the Institut Catholique des Arts et Metiers (ICAM–Lille-France)
Visiting Professor in Compressible Flows at the Ecole Speciale des Travaux Publics, du Batiment et de l’Industrie (ESTP – France)
Visiting Professor in Aerodynamics at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (FALT-Jukhovsky-Russia)
Visiting Professor in Aerodynamics and Thermics at the Institut Polytechnique des Sciences Appliquees (IPSA – France)
Visiting Professor in Design at the University of Bristol, Aerospace Department
Detailed qualifications:
1988
Ingénieur en Mécanique-Electricité (CEng in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering)
Ecole Spéciale des Travaux Publics, du Bâtiment et de l’Industrie (ESTP-PARIS)
1989
Ingénieur en Aéronautique (CEng in Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering)
Ecole Supérieure des Techniques Aérospatiales (ESTA – FRANCE)
1997
Eur-Ing (European Chartered Engineer)
Fédération Européenne d’Associations Nationales d’Ingénieurs (FEANI).
1997
PhD
University of Manchester (UK) – Aerospace Department
Thesis: Hypersonic Viscous Flows Including Non-Equilibrium real Gas Effects
2004
Chartered Aerospace Engineer (CEng)
Engineer Council (UK).
2008
Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
University of the West of England (UK)
Professional memberships:
FRAeS: Fellow of the Royall Aeronautical Society
Member of the RAeS Aerodynamics Specialist Group
MAIAA: Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Member – Who’s who in Science and Engineering (USA)
Awards and achievements:
Industrial CSIR Chair in Aeronautical Engineering – University of Pretoria
President of the Aeronautical Society of South Africa (AeSSA)
