Try following stone initially experimentally in a branch of aeronautical engineering (8)
I believe the answer is:
rocketry
'branch of aeronautical engineering' is the definition.
'rocketry' can be an answer for 'engineering' (rocketry is a kind of engineering). I'm unsure of the 'branch of aeronautical' bit.
'try following stone initially experimentally' is the wordplay.
'following' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'stone' becomes 'rock' (synonyms).
'initially' says to take the initial letters.
The initial letter of 'experimentally' is 'e'.
'rock'+'e'='rocke'
'try' put after 'rocke' is 'ROCKETRY'.
'in a' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rocketry that I've seen before include "Propulsion of missiles" , "Science concerned with missiles" , "Clever science" , "NASA's expertise" , "Branch specialised in launching" .)