Editor's Note: Get your hands dirty

For many reasons, simulation has become an important part of design and test in the automotive and aerospace industries. It has helped us produce high-quality designs faster than ever before.

I wonder, though, if this is entirely a good thing. Simulation tools are certainly very powerful, but there's a lot to be said for actually strapping an engine to a dyno stand and watching it operate while you crank it up to 5000 rpm. Building prototypes and running tests gives you a sense for the products you're designing that you can't get from running simulations.

Simulations aren't perfect, and if you have the practical experience that comes from building prototypes and running actual tests, you will be in a better position to judge whether a simulation is good or not. You will have the experience to sense when something is wrong and be able to make the necessary adjustments.

Another reason for getting your hands dirty is that it's more fun. Would you rather sit staring at a computer screen, watching images flicker, or actually build a prototype of a new wing design and then take it into a wind tunnel for some test measurements? Most of the "real engineers" I know would choose the latter.

Getting your hands dirty is what engineering is all about. Engineers are supposed to make stuff—cars, trucks, and airplanes—that people can use. You can't drive or fly a simulation, and you're not going to design a decent car or plane without getting your hands dirty.

Contact Dan Romanchik at editor@aatr.net .