Cranfield is purchasing and fitting a new Saab 340B to serve as our world-renowned National Flying Laboratory Centre (NFLC), or ‘flying lab’. Replacing the old Jetstream 31, this new aircraft will help us to deliver better training to more students, enhancing Cranfield’s contribution towards developing the aerospace leaders of tomorrow.
We would love to hear your Cranfield Aerospace story – perhaps you experienced the NFLC on the Jetstream 31 or an earlier model of aircraft, or tell us about what Cranfield’s heritage in aerospace means to you.
Why we need a new flying classroom and laboratory
Cranfield has been at the forefront of aerospace and aviation for over 60 years. Our National Flying Laboratory Centre (NFLC), or ‘flying lab’, is world-renowned, having played an integral part in delivering a first-class aerospace education to our alumni, partners and friends.
Unfortunately, the current Jetstream 31 aircraft is no longer operated in the UK (except at Cranfield and by a handful of small European airlines), so support for the aircraft has become challenging. It is struggling to keep up with demand and so we will be purchasing and fitting a new aircraft – a Saab 340B.
Being larger than the Jetstream 31, the new Saab 340B will allow us to conduct teaching and research with minimum reconfiguration. Students will be able to undertake flight test engineer roles, experience a range of in-flight sensations and perform a variety of aerodynamics and performance tests, static and manoeuvre stability measurements, dynamic stability testing and avionics systems demonstrations and testing.
It also comes with a range of research capabilities, including the mounting of research racks for industrial and research flight trials to test navigation and communication systems, and advanced airborne sensors. As the facility is developed, further teaching capabilities will be possible, such as the demonstration and testing of advanced sensors and airborne systems. The facility will also be available for human factor demonstrations.
Furthermore, the Saab 340B will deliver range of real-time data and performance parameters to students during flights, including: airspeed, angle of attack, angle of sideslip, bank angle, control and tab positions, stick force, acceleration and rates, engine thrust and rpm, air data computer outputs, navigation and GPS system outputs and settings and cockpit camera views.
This new aircraft will help us to deliver better training to more students, enhancing Cranfield’s contribution towards developing the aerospace leaders of tomorrow, and so this year we are launching a campaign to help fit the Saab with the necessary equipment and surrounding infrastructure that is needed for the student experience. Our strength has always been our ability to combine academic rigour with the practical experience needed for industry; we address real challenges and focus on research that is of strategic and practical importance, both nationally and internationally, and we want that to continue. If you share our vision for the future then please consider supporting our campaign.
Share your memories and photos
We would love to hear your memories of the NFLC, aerospace at Cranfield or indeed the College of Aeronautics, so please tell us your story and share any old photos you might have.