Cranfield University appeals for flight students' sky high memories
Cranfield University is appealing to those students who have flown in their aircraft to share their anecdotes and experiences of their flights as students.
Image courtesy Cranfield University
The National Flying Laboratory Centre (NFLC) operates Cranfield’s three aircraft for research, teaching and consultancy and brings together academics and technical specialists to deliver experiential learning for aerospace engineering students from over 20 UK universities.
The current fleet consists of a 7,000kg Jetstream 31 turboprop - a flying engineering laboratory with 19 seats, and two tandem-seat 1,000kg aerobatic piston engine aircraft.
In 2019, Cranfield received a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for the work of its 'flying classroom' and the role it plays in supporting the nation’s aero-engineering students.
Professor Nicholas Lawson, Head of NFLC, said: “Over the years, we have had hundreds of students from Cranfield and other institutions that have benefited from the facilities at NFLC. Many of them have interesting tales to tell. We would love to hear about their experiences and how it has impacted their future careers, as well as helping us build a social history of the NFLC.”
This year Cranfield has been able to purchase a Saab 340B aircraft and is modifying it for use as a flying laboratory and classroom to replace its existing Jetstream 31 (above).
If you have any stories or special memories about Cranfield’s NFLC, using the flying classroom, recall your instructors or have any photos of yourself and the aircraft, the University would like hear from you. Please visit: your story
You can also send your recollections or scanned photos to: nflcmemories@cranfield.ac.uk
The NFLC team will present the Handley Page lecture on 19th November 2020 covering the research and history of the Centre and hope to include some of the memories that are shared.