Flight Practicals: Bridging Theory with Real-World Measurements

It is important that aerospace engineering students integrate their classroom theory with measurement in a real aircraft and Academic Aviation over the last 12 years has developed test/measurement flight courses in collaboration with the University of Leicester and the University of South Wales.

At the most basic level we can offer flight test courses for aeronautical/aerospace engineering students. These were developed by a commercial flight instructor who is also a university academic with over 35 years teaching experience including aviation modules. He has also written an undergraduate textbook on aircraft instruments and navigation [ISBN: 1119259541]. The model we use is to fly the students two at a time in a 4-seater aircraft and take measurements in the air including frequencies of different dynamic modes, the power vs. true airspeed and others. As well as aircraft dynamics the flights can be used to demonstrate instruments and radio navigation in practice and other practical modules can be developed to suit your requirements. These sessions are treated as tutorials in the air so that questions by the students can be discussed and any aspect of flight demonstrated in practice. The course offered will be made completely compatible with the theory taught in your lectures and with a cost efficiency that differentiates it from others in the market. You can find a publicity video made by the University of South Wales about the course when the flights were conducted in Greece at the link: https://youtu.be/Hd0Zcilkgss. The courses have made a measurable improvement in the student satisfaction score in the departments that have used them.

We can also provide courses as complete modules, including all the theory lectures, the flight practicals and student assessment, thus freeing up staff time at in your department.

In addition, we are keen to develop collaborations with universities on research, with a particular interest in grants from the EU Horizon programme

Finally, we are happy to discuss any other ideas you might have regarding collaboration between your University and Academic Aviation. If you would like to take this further please contact us.