Hybrid Airships - the Cargo Plane of the Future?

Airships have always been one of my fascinations. During WWII they played a key role in submarine warfare. Despite the tragic crash of the Hindenburg which was the result of hydrogen being used instead of helium, there is still great interest in finding ways to use these unique aircraft in a variety of ways.

A recent Outer Places article highlights the Airlander 10, currently the largest aircraft in the world. Designed and built by the British company Hybrid Air Vehicles, variations of the Airlander 10 were originally tested in military operations. When the US Army cancelled the project, the Airlander 10 evolved with commercial opportunities in mind, mainly air cargo. Apparently there are a great many locations in the world where conventional cargo planes cannot land, or when disasters make conventional runways inoperable.

The Airlander 10 has an unusual shape compared to the Goodyear blimps were are accustomed to seeing. Rather than a circular cross section it has an elliptical one, which aids in lift and stability. It's projected payload is 7 to 15 tons, which is significant for places where currently only small planes can land. Watching the video of an Airlander 10 land is so captivating, moving in slow motion with only a low whir of the engines guiding it to a soft landing. Somehow I have to believe that a design to carry people is also in the works.  What an adventure that would be. - Dr. Tom

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Build Your Career, Get Your PE!

You want to build your career. We want to help you. So let’s work together. DTC has a step-by-step plan for your success with our highly structured PE Exam reviews. They help you develop the skills and resources you need to pass the PE exam. So sign up today, and let’s get started!

“I knew I wanted my PE license long before I was eligible to take the exam, but I've never been a great test taker. I always had a problem with the time limits and knew that the PE exam was going to be no different. Dr. Tom's course had a solid plan, and by the time exam day came around, I was very prepared. I took the exam using Dr. Tom's strategy and was able to finish with enough time to check my work in both the AM and PM portions of the exam. I passed on my first try, and I'm excited to move on with my career. I would recommend this course to any engineer who is serious about giving themselves the best chance possible to pass the PE exam.”
- Brian, PE, Taylor Machine Works, Starkville, Mississippi

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Sacrificial Braces for Earthquake Design Bring Many Benefits

Engineers in earthquake-prone areas have dedicated entire careers to developing earthquake-resistant design techniques. In many parts of the world, however, there are buildings that predate the modern design standards. Researchers in Scotland have developed a new steel frame design that could be used on existing structures and, once installed, allow for easier, faster repair when damage does occur. 

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TESTIMONIAL OF THE WEEK - Get on the Right Track

"The most valuable aspect of the course for me was that Dr. Tom provides a finite range of material to study, so that I did not have to guess about what might be on the exam. That alone was worth the price of the course. It also helped me to have the structure of the course to follow. I am a teacher myself, and I recognize that Dr. Tom is personally invested in the success of his students. He puts a lot of thought and work into providing good instruction. Dr. Tom and staff, thank you so much for all of your help."
- John Gravitt, PE   

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Happy Thanksgiving from Everyone at Dr. Tom’s Classroom!

We are very thankful for the many wonderful folks who have put their trust in us to help them pass the Civil and Mechanical Professional Engineering Exams.

To express our gratitude, we are offering a special Thanksgiving Discount of $150 off our 20-Week Reviews from Friday, November 24 through Monday, November 27.

Save $150 on any 20-Week Review!

Use discount code: THANKS20w150

Friday 11/24 - Monday 11/27 
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MECHANICAL PROBLEM OF THE MONTH - Machine Design & Materials NCEES Problem 521 - Thick-Wall Cylinder

Problem 521 in the NCEES Mechanical Practice Exam for Machine Design & Materials has a very straightforward solution, however the origin of the equation used was not clear to participants in our review or myself. Consequently, there was great discussion in our DTC Participant Forum as to where it came from until one of the participants realized how it could be obtained. This Instructional Companion provides the details of the approach suggested by that participant. - Dr. Tom

Dr. Tom’s Solution to Mechanical: Machine Design & Materials NCEES Problem 521

DTC recommends that anyone taking the PE Exam purchase the NCEES Practice Exam for the exam they are taking. It is an essential exam review resource. https://account.ncees.org/exam-prep/

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No More Spare Tire?

Like many other features that were once common in cars (ignition keys, ashtray, cigarette lighters, and vent windows), the spare tire is starting to disappear in new cars as well.

According to a New York Times article, this is part of a trend that has seen full-size spares shrink to smaller “doughnut” spares. The upside: less weight and better gas mileage. The downside: no spare. Of course thinking about tires and spares leads to a lot more engineering solutions to think about: run-flat tire design, self-sealing tires, providing leak repair kits and compressors. Of course, with surveys showing that 20 percent of drivers don’t know how to change a flat tire, maybe our cars just need to come with roadside assistance.

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Whatever Your Pace, DTC Has a Time Frame for You

We’re all a little different, with different needs and different schedules. Some of us like to take our time when we’re learning, others like a steady, brisk pace, and there are even some who like to totally immerse themselves for a short time.

That’s why DTC offers our PE Exam Reviews in three time frames:

     • Extended Review: 12 months to 6 months before the exam 

     • 20-Week Review: 6 months to 3 months before the exam 

     • Fast Track Review: 3 months to 1 month before the exam 

With each of these options, you receive the same comprehensive review, available to you from the day you sign up until the day of the exam. The only difference is how long you have access to the course. Right now you can sign up for a 20-Week Review for the April 2018 Exam or the Extended Review for the October 2018 Exam. In January you’ll be able to sign up for the Fast Track Review for the April 2018 Exam.

With three flexible options, one is the right choice for you! drtomsclassroom.com


“I previously took the mechanical systems exam and failed 3 times, but after taking Dr Tom's Extended Review, I passed it right away!”
PE, New Hampshire

“Dr. Tom's 20-Week Review is the reason that I passed the PE. The week to week structure of the course kept me on track, so I did not run out of time days before the exam.”
Stephen E. Kreidler, PE, Tulsa, OK

“I thought the Fast Track Review course was excellent. It provided the structure, practice, and review that I needed 25 years after receiving my M.E. degree."
-Joel Lemke, PE, Emerson, Chanhassen, MN

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Bugborgs Let the Insect Do the Flying

I find it almost impossible to sit outside for very long and, when any insect flies by, not say to myself, "How does that thing fly? How does it maneuver like it does?" Insects are amazing, almost miraculous, aviators. They take off and land in an instant, and zoom around at blurring speeds. It is no wonder that so much research is taking place at trying to duplicate the flight capabilities of insects for all kinds of uses.

However trying to build lightweight wings and have them support and carry battery packs and tiny motors has proved illusive. So, according to an ASME article, researchers at Draper Laboratory decided to turn the problem upside down and let a real insect do the flying, requiring only an onboard system to direct the insect's own flight and navigation controls. The insect they have chosen is a dragon fly which has only 16 neurons associated with navigation and apparently a great deal is known about how these neurons function.

At this point they have the innovative control system mounted on a dragon fly, named "DragonflEye," although they have yet to control it precisely.  But the concept seems to have great potential, and so the research continues. Instead of creating a "bugbot," they are creating a "bugborg."  As they say, "What will they think of next?"

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TESTIMONIAL OF THE WEEK - Don’t Go It Alone!

“I passed the April 2017 exam on my first try taking the PE, and I do not believe I would have passed without the help this course provided. Dr Tom's help in identifying errors in NCEES and PPI published solutions was very helpful and I would have been ill prepared studying on my own. This course was tremendously helpful and I have already begun recommending it to friends and colleagues gearing up to take the PE. Just wanted to give a sincere thank you for conducting this course for the Machine Design PE exam.”
- Patrick Cable, PE

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Are Driverless Cars Coming to a Street Near You?

If you live near Phoenix, Arizona, the answer is yes. Waymo has begun testing it’s fleet of fully self-driving vehicles on public roads in the Phoenix area. Right now, the cars have no people in them, so no backup drivers, but in a few months, passengers will be added. This New York Times article has more of the fascinating details on the important milestone in the development of autonomous vehicle technology.

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Need More Time? Extend Your Review.

So you’d like to do the 20-Week Review, but reviewing 15-20 hours per week are just not in the cards for you. What should you do? We understand that, for some folks, it’s just not possible to put in that kind of time for five to six months. That’s why we offer our Extended Reviews. They give you up to a year before the exam to go through our 20-Week Review courses. That way you only need to review 7 to 10 hours per week. More doable, right? You’ll still get all the same review material, and you’ll be able to work on your own schedule.

If an Extended Review is the right choice for you, now is the perfect time to sign up for the Extended Review for the October 2018 Exam. You’ll get 12 whole months access to the course and you can begin your review as soon as you sign up at drtomsclassroom.com!



“The structure of the course worked well for me. My concerns revolved around the spectrum of topics to review. While it seems overwhelming, it was nice to focus on the topics in one week “chunks” and to have the decisions already made for me as to what to study, when to work on it and targeted problems and chapters already noted. This allowed me to set aside some anxiety as to topics of greater importance. I would recommend the course to others.”
- Walt Herbert, PE, Baldor Electric Company (A member of the ABB Group), Greenville, SC

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New Voids Found in the Great Pyramid - Engineering Feature or Hidden Chamber?

Anything associated with the pyramids has always been fascinating to me. When I was 5 or 6 years old, my father was in law school at Emory University in Atlanta, and many times he had to handle child care as my mom worked. When he had a class, he would often take me to the small museum on campus containing what to me at the time was a magical world of mummies and ancient Egyptian artifacts. I usually found myself the only visitor and the person in charge was pleased that I was interested in such things.

As it became clear engineering would be my career, to me the engineering associated with the design and building of the Great Pyramids was a constant curiosity. So, when a CBS News bite came across my cell phone the other day that a large void in the Great Pyramid had been discovered, the rest of the day was lost to finding out more. I found myself back in that small museum in Atlanta wondering what treasures await those who one day will explore this mysterious void. - Dr. Tom

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TESTIMONIAL OF THE WEEK - Time Commitment Is Worth It

“Prior to selecting Dr. Tom's program, I read a testimonial that could have been me: 50 something years old, 30 years since my freshman year of college, and 2 prior unsuccessful attempts to pass the PE exam. I chose Dr. Toms program because of the reasonable price, military discount, and an accelerated curriculum that fit my schedule. While the course does require a significant time commitment, passing the PE exam was well worth the effort. I highly recommend Dr. Toms course.”
- Gary Johnson, PE, Vear, Inc., Birmingham, AL

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Let the Hunt for Red October Begin

The title of a recent ASME SmartBrief instantly caught my eye, "China has tested silent 'Red October' drive." The reference to "Red October" is from the fictional book and subsequent movie "The Hunt for Red October." In the story, the Red October is an advanced Russian submarine powered by a magnetohydrodynamic drive (MHD), which because this drive has no moving parts it is virtually silent. The drama of the book and movie is that such a submarine could approach the coast of the United States undetected and launch nuclear missiles before our defense system would even know such a vessel was present.

An article in the International Business Times (IBT) says that China has tested a full scale vessel powered by this MHD technology in the South China Sea, though there are no specific details or any photos of the vessel. It would not be surprising that this new technology could be used in the same role as the fictional Red October. Other countries, including the United States, are involved in developing this technology as well, however China is clearly in the lead.

As a side note, and since I was in Naval Aviation, the IBT article does have this impressive photo of China's only aircraft carrier. From the upward shape of the forward deck, it appears the carrier launches what are called "jump jets," aircraft requiring little to no runway to take off or land.

In 1890, Alfred Thayer Mahan's book "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History" was published and became one of the most influential books of all time. Sea Power has and does and will continue to influence our lives and therefore our history. The realization of the "Red October" drive begins another chapter in that history. -Dr Tom

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Why 20 Weeks Is the Magic Number

Dr. Tom developed the 20-Week Review because he found, after many years of preparing engineers for the PE Exam, that 20 weeks is the optimal timeframe for learning and retaining the knowledge and skills you need to pass the exam.

There are concepts you need to relearn, problem-solving skills you need to develop, reference materials you need to organize, and practice solving problems that needs to happen. All this takes time. Start too early and your familiarity with the material will fade over time. Start too late, and the information won’t sink in and you won’t get enough practice.

Everyone’s schedule is different, but if you can put in 15-20 hours per week on your preparation, now is the time take advantage of the magic number and sign up a DTC 20-Week Review for the April 2018 Exam.



“Dr. Tom's 20 week course helped me learn everything I needed to pass the PE Exam on the first try. The best part about the 20-Week Review is that you develop a weekly schedule of what you need to work on. Material is not crammed into a 3 or 4 week review like some other PE courses. With the 20-Week Review, you gradually rebuild and strengthen what you learned in college so you can take on the PE exam with confidence. I just wish I could shake Dr. Tom's hand and tell him thank you for everything!”
- Michael Noll, PE, Delmar Systems in Houston, TX

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