Students from Bedfordshire and Herts came to Cranfield University yesterday for a chance to immerse themselves in all things aviation.
A few lucky students were able to fly from Luton Airport to Cranfield on the University’s National Flying Laboratory Centre, a Saab 340B custom fitted as a flying classroom, performing aerial manoeuvres and showing the students real-time flight data to explain the theory behind how planes fly.
After the plane touched down, those students joined another 60 children for a tour of Cranfield’s world-class aviation facilities including on board the University’s Boeing 737. On top of that, they had the chance to design and test their own wing shapes, and visit to the engine hall, which houses examples of landmark designs in aerospace engineering.
The day was delivered in partnership with London Luton Airport (LLA), and funded thanks to the ‘Reach for the Sky’ grant from the Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority which aims to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals. LLA used the funding to create a competition where younger students created a welcome video for the airport, and older children designed a workshop showcasing the variety of careers available in aviation. The winners had the chance to fly on the NFLC from London Luton Airport to join their fellow students for the day at Cranfield University.
Professor Anna Smallwood, Head of the Centre for Air Transport Management at Cranfield University, said: “Today was a fantastic opportunity to showcase just how inspiring and dynamic the world of aviation can be. We hope we not only captured the students’ imagination, but also motivated them to consider a future within the industry.
“The NFLC is truly distinctive, Cranfield is the only university in Europe with a flying classroom like this. It is an amazing tool for teaching and research, as well as a powerful way to stimulate curiosity, understanding and enthusiasm for aerospace and aviation among the next generation.
“I would also like to extend sincere thanks to London Luton Airport for being such fantastic partners.”
Robert Harrison, Head of the NFLC, said: “This is the first time that NFLC has carried out a bespoke STEM flight for school students. We thoroughly enjoyed meeting the children today, they’re bright, engaged and passionate. If we have inspired a few of them to work in aviation in the future, then I think the industry will be in good hands.”
Alberto Martin, Chief Executive Officer at London Luton Airport, said: “This collaboration between London Luton Airport and Cranfield University has provided a wonderful platform to celebrate the talent, aspiration and imagination of local young people who share our passion for aviation. It was a pleasure to welcome the winning students to LLA today, ahead of their unique learning opportunity on board Cranfield’s state-of-the-art NFLC. The Reach for the Sky competition was made possible by funding from the DfT and CAA and is another example of the ways in which an airport at the heart of a community can strengthen skills and create exciting career pathways for local young people. The quality of the submissions was hugely impressive, and we hope that today’s celebrations will continue to inspire all the winners.”
