Freddie Knight

Aerospace engineering & practical projects

Freddie Knight — Aerospace & Astronautical Engineering Student

I'm Freddie, an Aerospace & Astronautical Engineering student at the University of Southampton. I enjoy taking ideas from sketches through analysis, manufacture and testing.

Internship availability

Seeking Summer 2027 Engineering Internships

Open to aerospace-oriented projects

I'm happy to consider any aerospace-oriented engineering project, particularly work involving design, analysis, manufacturing or systems.

75.1%

Year 1 · First Class

73.8%

Year 2 · First Class

View PortfolioTechnical WorkView CV
Freddie Knight

Based in

Poole & Southampton

What I enjoy

Design · Making · Testing

Degree

University of Southampton

Email MeLinkedIn

Outside Engineering

Mountain biking

Competitive racing with SUMBC & Wheelie Bike Shop

Skiing & outdoors

Skiing, camping and travelling

Making

3D printing, fabrication and personal projects

Engineering Portfolio

Portfolio

Year 2 Group Project - CubeSat & LFEP project image 1© Freddie Knight

Year 2 Group Project - CubeSat & LFEP

University group project

A team aerospace systems project involving a CubeSat prototype and Low-Friction Environment Platform. My main contribution was LFEP design and manufacture, and our platform was the fastest and best-performing in the project.

SolidWorksMechanical DesignDesign for ManufactureManufacturingSystems IntegrationTesting & ValidationTeam Engineering
View More
Year 1 Individual Project - High-Efficiency UAV Wing project image 1© Freddie KnightYear 1 Individual Project - High-Efficiency UAV Wing project image 2© Freddie Knight

Year 1 Individual Project - High-Efficiency UAV Wing

An individual avalanche-search UAV wing concept developed through requirements, XFLR5 aerodynamic analysis, SolidWorks design development and physical modelling.

Aerodynamic DesignXFLR5SolidWorksConcept DevelopmentEngineering AnalysisStructural ConsiderationsDesign Iteration
View More
A-Level Project - Custom Mountain Bike Rack project image 1© Freddie Knight

A-Level Project - Custom Mountain Bike Rack

An early product-design and manufacturing project that developed a secure rack for valuable mountain bikes through customer research, prototyping and practical making.

Product DesignSolidWorksPrototypingFabricationDesign for ManufacturePractical Problem Solving
View More

See other projects, practical builds and project notes.

View Other Projects

Technical work from my degree

Technical & Laboratory Work

This is where I have been building experience with the tools and methods behind my degree. I have used them to investigate real engineering questions, compare results and understand where a model or experiment needs to be treated with caution.

View technical work
Adaptive Hessian-refined CFD mesh around a finite-wing model© Freddie Knight
Adaptive refinement concentrated mesh resolution around changes in the flow.

Computational analysis

My work

Computational Aerodynamics & CFD

78% · ANSYS Fluent

I modelled finite-wing and boundary-layer flows, using mesh-sensitivity studies and analytical comparisons to understand how modelling choices affect aerodynamic predictions.

78%

Coursework mark

~3.6M

Maximum mesh elements investigated

ANSYS FluentCFDMesh convergenceBoundary layersTurbulence modellingModel validation
Explore technical evidence →
Wing-shell FEA convergence plots for stress and deflection across mesh sizes© Freddie Knight
Mesh refinement showed how stress and deflection changed across shell models.

Structural analysis

My work

Finite Element Analysis & Structural Optimisation

72% · ANSYS APDL

I progressed from 1D beam models through 2D stress-concentration studies to 3D wing-shell analysis, using convergence and design trade-offs to interpret stress, displacement and structural mass.

1D → 3D

Increasing model complexity

72%

Coursework mark

ANSYS APDLFEAStress analysisMesh convergenceStructural analysisDesign trade-offs
Explore technical evidence →
Closed-loop aircraft control response comparing P, PD, PID and tuned PID controllers© Freddie Knight
Controller responses show the effect of tuning the transient behaviour.

Programming & controls

My work

Aircraft Dynamics & Control

Python · NumPy · SciPy · Matplotlib

I modelled Boeing 747 longitudinal dynamics and compared a full linearised 3-DoF model with a reduced Short-Period Oscillation approximation before designing and tuning P, PD and PID controllers.

~1%

Short-period model agreement

35% → 9%

PID overshoot

PythonState-spaceFlight dynamicsPID controlSignal effects
Explore technical evidence →
NACA0020 pressure coefficient plots comparing XFOIL with wind-tunnel measurements© Freddie Knight
Pressure-distribution measurements compared against XFOIL predictions across several angles of attack.

Experiment & validation

My work

Experimental Aerodynamics & Model Validation

Wind tunnels · XFOIL · XFLR5 · Python

I conducted aerofoil and finite-wing wind-tunnel experiments on a NACA0020 profile, then processed the measurements in Python and compared them with low-order aerodynamic models.

~17%

Lift-curve slope difference

~54%

Glide-ratio prediction difference

Wind-tunnel testingNACA0020Python data analysisXFOILXFLR5Model validation
Explore technical evidence →

CV

Experience & Background

April 2024 - Present

Self-Employed Handyman

Local clients, Poole & Southampton

  • Carry out practical property-maintenance work independently, from small household repairs through to substantial outdoor construction and installation work.
  • Projects include pressure washing, painting, fence construction and repair, IT support, light-bulb replacement, gardening, general DIY, guttering and downpipe installation.
  • Have completed 20m+ fence installations and downpipe work on larger properties, while planning, quoting and communicating directly with customers.

View property maintenance work →

July 2023 - April 2024

Workflow Administrator

Shore Medical, Bournemouth

  • Processed clinical correspondence across six GP surgeries using SystmOne, accurately categorising documentation and initiating appropriate administrative tasks.
  • Handled actions relating to prescription updates, blood tests and other follow-up care without making clinical decisions or prescribing medication.
  • The role required accuracy, responsibility and process discipline because errors could affect patient follow-up, alongside independent handling of sensitive information.

July 2022

Work Experience

Lucy Electric, Thame

  • Observed the engineering design process from initial concept through to prototype testing, spending time with design engineers and technicians in the prototyping laboratory.
  • Developed an understanding of how large engineering projects, teams and CAD files are managed in an industrial environment.
  • Following the placement, I have remained in contact and continue to provide occasional feedback on website updates and internal or user-facing processes from an external perspective.

Skills & Evidence

Throughout my university and personal projects, I have built experience with a range of tools, equipment, software packages and interfaces.

CAD & Design

SolidWorksEngineering drawingsOpenVSPBS8888SolidEdgeCuraDesign for manufacture

Analysis & Simulation

ANSYS Fluent / CFDANSYS APDL / FEAXFLR5XFOIL

Programming & Controls

Python / NumPy / SciPyMatplotlibC++ / ESP32Control-system modelling

Manufacturing

Specialist training in:

Manual millingLathe turningMachiningSheet-metal workRivetingSolderingSilver solderingElectrical wiringSystems integrationLaser cutting3D printing

Experimental & Validation

Wind-tunnel testingData analysisModel validationMesh-convergence studies

Software & Other Technical Development

Swift / SwiftUIAPIs / SupabaseREST APIsEmbedded systems

Education

Academic Background

2024 - Current

University of Southampton

Aerospace & Astronautical Engineering · Starting third year in September 2026

  • Starting third year of Aerospace & Astronautical Engineering in September 2026.
  • Practical development across aerospace design, analysis, manufacture, experimentation, programming and control systems.

75.1%

Year 1 · First Class

73.8%

Year 2 · First Class

2016 - 2023

Poole Grammar School

  • 3 A's at A-level and 10 GCSEs ranging from 7-9.
  • Helped run engineering clubs and societies.

Flight Experimental Methods

Cranfield Flying Laboratory — Flight Experimental Methods

Cranfield University · June 2026

I took part in an experimental flight aboard Cranfield University's instrumented Saab 340B+ Flying Laboratory. Acting as a student flight-test observer, I observed a programme of controlled manoeuvres and recorded real-world aircraft data, connecting aeronautical theory with flight-test measurements of performance, stability and dynamic behaviour.

The experience provided practical exposure to parameters including airspeed, control positions and forces, angle of attack, sideslip, aircraft attitude and acceleration. The resulting dataset will be analysed during my third year and developed into a formal laboratory report, so that analysis is still to come.

Flight testing complete · Analysis in third year

Flight TestingExperimental AerodynamicsAircraft PerformanceFlight DynamicsData Analysis
Students beside Cranfield University’s instrumented Saab 340B+ Flying Laboratory© Freddie Knight
The flying laboratory provided a real aircraft setting for observing flight-test measurements.

Recognition

Awards & Achievements

Service to the School Award

Selected across the school for contribution, reliability, prefect responsibilities and willingness to help across school activities.

Dorset Rotary Technology Tournament — Winner

Engineering and design competition between Dorset schools involving the development of a solution to a defined technical task.

Poole Grammar Design & Technology Prize

Awarded in both Year 10 and Year 13.

Certifications

RYA Powerboat Level 2

Additional practical qualification.

Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)

Microsoft / Certiport · –

Word 2016 Expert · Excel 2016 · PowerPoint 2016 · Word 2016

Microsoft Office Specialist certifications in Word, Excel and PowerPoint, including the Expert-level Word 2016 qualification.

View certificates+
Office Word 2016 ExpertExpert · Credential ID 8XX4-uSTn (opens in a new tab)Office Excel 2016 · Credential ID d6yc-XVHb (opens in a new tab)Office Word 2016 · Credential ID dYKk-XVHT (opens in a new tab)Office PowerPoint 2016 · Credential ID wbwXb-HahK (opens in a new tab)

AI Fundamentals: Language and Vision in AI

IBM SkillsBuild ·

Verify credential (opens in a new tab)

CEMAST Engineering Workshop Practical Training

South Hampshire College Group ·

Hands-on engineering training covering turning and machining, sheet-metal work, riveting, soldering and silver soldering, alongside systems-engineering exercises involving switch panels and complex electrical wiring.

View Certificate (opens in a new tab)

Contact

If you'd like to talk engineering, get in touch.

I'm seeking Summer 2027 engineering internships and would be glad to hear about aerospace-oriented projects, opportunities or collaborations.

mail@freddieknight.co.ukLinkedIn