Student club holds glider simulator experience for elementary school students
The Tokyo Institute of Technology* Glider Club visited a local elementary school on September 18 to hold an interactive event using a glider simulator owned and built by the student club.
The event materialized after one of the club members approached his old elementary school with the idea. This was the first time that the glider club, aiming to spread the excitement and joy of gliders to broader audiences, organized a project for elementary school students.
This “special class by elementary school graduates” was truly a hands-on experience for the younger generation. After an introductory explanation, participants were offered a chance to sit in the cockpit of a glider simulator, which is used by the club members for pilot training, and experience a flight. The club members offered their constant assistance, which was needed more by some than others. Some elementary school students struggled and complained about motion sickness, while others demonstrated impressive stability comparable to the club members themselves.
To wrap up the event, a member of the club offered his version of a model flight. In addition to showing a normal stable flight, he performed some aerobatics, executing an inverted flight and a backflip which drew loud cheers from the young crowd.
What is a glider?
Like an airplane, a glider has wings and wheels, and is piloted by a pilot in the cockpit. However, as its name suggests, a glider can “glide” for long periods of time and over long distances by using updrafts instead of an engine or other power source. Since a certain altitude and speed are required before this gliding can commence, a glider is towed by a plane with an engine for the takeoff and initial ascent.
Comments from Glider Club member Kosei Shibuya
It was a great pleasure to see my elementary school alma mater's students enjoying themselves. I was also able to reconfirm the great potential joy that gliders offer, and this will have a significant impact on my future activities.
As an alumnus, I would like to continue to actively participate in elementary school events and other activities that give back to the community.
*Tokyo Medical and Dental University and Tokyo Institute of Technology merged to form Institute of Science Tokyo on October 1, 2024.
Related articles
Contact
Institute of Science Tokyo glider club
Email titech.glider.1965@gmail.com