Staff and students at Cranfield University have been given the chance to build and fly a plane as part of the British Microlight Aircraft Association’s (BMAA) New Horizons initiative.
A newly established Cranfield University Flight Club will build a 600kg Flylight Skyranger Nynja 912ULS with the work taking place in the Sir Peter Gregson Aerospace Integration and Research Centre starting in April. The project will take around 18 months and will offer students the opportunity to not only build the plane, but also to gain flight experience and use the build process to aid their research projects.
The build will be jointly inspected by Cranfield’s Professor Guy Gratton and Flylight Airsports’ Paul Dewhurst, a BMAA Senior Inspector. The completed plane will then be flight tested from Cranfield Airport.
The concept for the Flight Club is based on the German Akafliegs, academic flight clubs that build and test aircraft, giving students experience in aircraft design, development and maintenance in the process. It’s an immersive learning experience, and the club will give Cranfield students practical experience to complement their academic studies.
Professor Guy Gratton FRAeS, who led Cranfield's successful bid to BMAA New Horizons, said "This is why we choose to work or study at Cranfield. Having the skills and facilities to build an aeroplane, carry out research projects around it, and then flight test it from our own airport is something that makes us absolutely unique. I'm massively looking forward to working with a team of incredible students and colleagues, as well as the BMAA and Flylight Airsports to make this happen."
Professor Dame Helen Atkinson DBE FREng, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Cranfield University, said: "This is an amazing opportunity for Cranfield students. Participating in an aircraft build, and carrying out research projects on a real aircraft, is the sort of thing that makes Cranfield unique. We're very grateful to the British Microlight Aircraft Association for this opportunity, and look forward very much to working with them."
Owain Johns, Chief Executive of the British Microlight Aircraft Association, said: "We’re delighted to partner with Cranfield University. Their impressive bid not only met all our criteria but also demonstrated a clear understanding of the educational value this project offers.
“Having previously awarded projects to secondary schools and air cadets, this new partnership broadens the reach of New Horizons, opening opportunities to a wider range of learners and inspiring future engineers and pilots. We also look forward to exploring further collaborative opportunities with Cranfield that will benefit both organisations."
