The National Flying Laboratory Centre (NFLC) at Cranfield University is a world-leading aerospace education and research facility that operates a unique fleet of instrumented aircraft, including its Saab 340B Flying Classroom and Laboratory, to provide hands-on flight test engineering experience for postgraduate students and industry partners. Each year, more than 2,000 students from over 20 universities use the NFLC to collect and analyse real-time flight data, gaining practical insight into aircraft performance, aerodynamics and systems in a real flying environment that is unmatched in the European academic sector.
Alongside its teaching activities, the NFLC undertakes specialist flight research, consultancy and airborne testing for aerospace companies, government organisations and research institutions, supporting the development and evaluation of new aviation technologies and experimental equipment. Operating from Cranfield University's own airport, the centre combines experienced pilots, engineers and flight test specialists with advanced airborne instrumentation to deliver innovative research, industry collaboration and experiential learning that has earned national recognition, including the Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education.