Aeroplane engineers of the future take flight at Soton Uni

Published by

Daniel Face

Credit: University of Southampton

A new state-of-the-art flight simulator has arrived at the University of Southampton to help train the next generation of aeroplane engineers.

Kitted out with 180-degree surround screens, it can be programmed to simulate all manner of different aircraft, from single-seaters all the way up to jumbo jets – each with different wing shapes and engine sizes.

The pilot can choose the terrain to fly over, the conditions they’ll face in the air, and the airports for take-off and landing.

It’s one of six Boeing-funded simulators at the university used to teach engineering undergraduates.

Beginners can get started on a simple desktop simulator to learn how the controls and systems work, before progressing on to the more advanced models.

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Professor Simon Cox, Head of the Aeronautical, Astronautical and Computational Engineering Department, said: “It’s important we give our students realistic experiences of flight.

“It will inspire them and bring to life what they are learning, giving them a full understanding of the physics of different craft in flight.

“Students learn how different designs of planes influence their performance, from how quickly they take off, to their manoeuvrability, to how they land.

“They can experience all these things using the simulator.”

The initiative has been championed by Ian McNeil, Director of Engineering at Boeing Defence UK and himself an Electrical Engineering graduate from Southampton.

He added: “Boeing is committed to building the skills and expertise needed to grow the aviation industry.

“We’re delighted to support the launch of this flight simulator, which will enhance the curriculum by taking theoretical learning into practical, simulated application.

“Importantly, it will also be used by the university for STEM outreach, to encourage more potential engineers to pursue future careers in aerospace.”

Daniel Face

Born and raised in Berkshire, Dan fell into journalism after completing his bachelor’s degree in English at UCL. Writing for The Business Magazine and local Biz News sites has given him the opportunity to chat with all manner of small business owners and share their success stories with a wider audience. Outside of work, Dan enjoys live music, board games and quiz shows, and is making a slow but persistent effort to learn Spanish.