On Friday 21st November, a record number of nearly 80 third-year Aerospace Engineering students took to the skies at the National Flying Laboratory Centre (NFLC) in Cranfield, marking a record day of flying for the programme. The cohort flew in four separate sessions, giving every participating student hands-on experience with real flight dynamics.

To accommodate the numbers, two groups departed Queen Mary University of London at 7am, with two additional groups following at 11am via coach. Adding to the day’s uniqueness, two students piloted their own light aircraft from Biggins Hill to Cranfield to join the course, an impressive illustration of the diverse backgrounds and skillsets represented within Queen Mary's aerospace programmes.

The flight course, an important component of the Flight Dynamics module, was organised from Queen Mary’s side by the module organiser Dr Eldad Avital and teaching associate Dr Agamemnon Chaidos. Dr Avital accompanied the first two groups to NFLC and returned with the later groups, ensuring that every student who attended had the opportunity to fly.

Students investigated key aerodynamic and flight-mechanics concepts in the air, including the parabolic drag law, load factor manoeuvres of up to 2g, and the five modes of dynamic stability. The NFLC team delivered a smooth, well-structured experience, and feedback from students was overwhelmingly positive.

This flight day reflects our ongoing commitment to providing practical, real-world experience with aircraft. It complements other experiential elements of the aerospace curriculum, including first-year field work at the RAF Museum and a rich programme of guest lectures in the third year from industry and professional bodies such as Airbus, the IMechE, RAeS, and visiting academic specialists.