QAC experience the Falcon 2 Simulator

Falcon 2 is a STEM outreach programme for schools, colleges and youth groups aged (6-19) to contribute their design and engineering skills to develop and build a real-life mobile flight simulator which will travel to Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) schools and public events around the UK to introduce people from all backgrounds to the wonder of flight.

Exterior image of the Falcon 2 simulator

QA College has become the first SEND College to have our students fly the accessible full motion flight simulator, sitting in the same seat as Astronaut Tim Peake, who flight tested it, as noted by Lee Balthazor (Chair, RAeS Falcon 2 Steering Group).

The students had an incredible time taking the controls, experiencing the thrill of flight, and even attempting a crash landing.

Image of a QA college student with the Falcon 2 staff

Read thoughts from our students and the Falcon 2 team below;

  • Leonor (Falcon2 Team) - "Experiencing the wonder of flight, it's for everyone"
  • Millie (Student) -  "I just liked having the experience of doing it and it was fun, I landed the second time, the first time I crashed!"
  • Lexi (Student) - "It was amazing, made me feel happy and makes me want to be a Pilot in the future!"
  • Henry (Student) - "I think this simulator is very important because obviously it's for people like myself with, disabilities and I've tried it before and it's really fun so I think everyone will, I hope everyone will enjoy it because it's very fun"
  • Lee (Falcon2 Team) - "On behalf of the Royal Aeronautical Society, I'm delighted to have brought Falcon 2 Accessible Motion Simulator to QA College. This is the first real operational visit to a school or college. We launched it with great success last year, but really this is the first time we have been able to allow a range of young people with disabilities, the opportunity to fly, the excitement that the rest of us just take for granted because we can do it. But some of the challenges that these young people have got means that they would never be able to get in an aeroplane and fly it, but they can now. They can fly it with Falcon 2. And we're grateful that we've had the support of the Boeing Aircraft Company, Middlesex University, Coventry University, and in particular, Aerability, who actually do teach disabled people to fly. So, you know, it may well be, it's quite possible that some of these youngsters may go away and be able to actually fly a real aeroplane. Now, having experienced this one, being so excited for it, that they'll go to Aerability and say, I'd like to learn to fly"

Image of a student and staff using the simulator

Thank you to the team for coming in to college to allow our students to experience flying a plane, find out more about the Falcon 2 Programme by clicking here