Glasgow Science Centre celebrates the first anniversary of Newton Flight Academy

Glasgow Science Centre’s state of the art Newton Flight Academy (NFA), the only one of its kind in the UK, celebrates its first anniversary on Wednesday 29th March 2023. Over the past 12 months, the three simulators in the Academy have flown 7.4 times around the planet and clocked up 1619 hours of teaching.

NFA has welcomed thousands of visitors including RAF Air Cadets, Royal Navy, 2386 members of the public and 1565 S2 and S3 school pupils and teachers from 11 local authorities. Developed in partnership with FIRST Scandinavia, and made possible through an investment from Boeing, with support from the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland and MathWorks, bookings for schools are free and 48% of participating schools were from deprived areas across Scotland.

Newton Flight Academy is a bespoke Newton Room containing full-motion flight simulators. Only the second one of its kind in the world, is a suite of rooms, technology and resources which together create a unique immersive learning experience for students and visitors. Glasgow Science Centre have created an immersive experience comprising:

• amphitheatre – an informal learning space with 84” interactive screen
• classroom – a large minimalist and flexible space where students work together and apply their skills and knowledge to chart a flight path and solve real-life scenarios
• simulator room – an immersive space where learners experience taking the controls of one of three full motion flight simulators.

Visitors to the Academy are invited to discover the science of flight as they take-off at the controls of a light aircraft under the reassuring guidance of the flight instructors. NFA is most suitable for ages 12+ and not suitable for anyone aged 8 and under. Keen young flyers aged between 9 and 11 must share their flying experience with an accompanying adult.

Newton Flight Academy at Glasgow Science Centre is a thrilling experience which includes:

• a realistic wrap-around 180-degree view of the landscape generated from real map data.
• full feedback from the controls – feel every slight adjustment to your flight as the simulator cabin moves.
• full instruction and background to the science of flight from the flight crew.

NFA is a permanent classroom used to teach students aviation-related STEM concepts; inspiring engineers and scientists of tomorrow to develop the ideas and technologies that will shape the future of more sustainable aircraft and aviation, providing immersive and experiential learning programmes that enable S2 and S3 pupils across Scotland to engage in real-world challenges while working alongside industry professionals. More information can be found on the Glasgow Science Centre website.

Stephen Breslin, Chief Executive Officer of Glasgow Science Centre, said: “We’re immensely proud of the success of the Newton Flight Academy in its inaugural year. Twelve months on, we celebrate the achievements of the Newton Flight Academy - we have welcomed thousands of potential pilots and engineers through the door and the feedback from schools and students has been overwhelmingly positive. We’re delighted to have this world class experience available at Glasgow Science Centre.”

Maria Laine, President of Boeing UK, Ireland the Nordics said: “A year ago, alongside our valued partners, Boeing set out to inspire the next generation of aviation and STEM experts. As our presence continues to grow in Scotland, we are thrilled to see the huge impact Newton Flight Academy has had on thousands of young people, who will one day help to bring about a more sustainable future in Scotland and beyond, and we are honoured to nurture such ingenuity.”

Alysia Tofflemire, Executive Director at Newton Room said: "We are delighted to mark the 1st anniversary of the Newton Flight Academy at the Glasgow Science Centre, which has had tremendous success in promoting STEM education and aerospace. The first NFA in Scotland, established together with our esteemed partners, reflects our commitment to inspiring the next generation of scientists and innovators around the world. We are proud to continue to work with the Glasgow Science Centre towards providing a stimulating and interactive learning environment, and we look forward to seeing the impact that the NFA will have on the future of STEM education and careers in the region."

Dr Lynne O’Hare, Chief Commercial Officer at the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, University of Strathclyde, commented: “We are delighted to be celebrating the first anniversary of the Newton Flight Academy with our friends and partners at Boeing and Glasgow Science Centre. The Academy offers a unique way of encouraging young people to consider exciting careers as engineers and scientists, and the general public to engage in a sustainable future for aviation. We look forward to its continued success, and valuable impact on the next generation of innovators in Scotland.”

Jamie Bowman, Engineering Manager and STEM Ambassador at MathWorks: “MathWorks has been a proud sponsor of the Newton Flight Academy since its launch in 2022. It provides a truly immersive experience of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths for young people across Scotland. The flight simulator complements classroom learning, allowing students to explore aviation engineering and science hands-on. MathWorks has a strong commitment to inspire and engage the next generation in STEM and our continued partnership with Glasgow Science Centre enables us to work together toward this shared goal.”