Aircraft refers to a vehicle capable of flight, while aeronautics is the science or art involved with the study, design, and manufacture of flight-capable machines, and the techniques of operating aircraft.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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Aircraft: A tangible, physical machine designed for flight. This includes airplanes, helicopters, gliders, drones, etc. Aircraft are the result of aeronautical engineering and technology.
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Aeronautics: The science and art of flight. It encompasses the theoretical and practical aspects of designing, developing, manufacturing, and operating aircraft. Aeronautics is the process that results in aircraft. It includes areas like aerodynamics, propulsion, control systems, and structural engineering. Aeronautical engineering, a discipline within aeronautics, directly deals with creating and improving aircraft. It can even lead to a career as a pilot with additional aviation courses, as mentioned in one reference.
Essentially, an aircraft is the what (the flying machine), and aeronautics is the how (the science behind it).
