David Falcó Orduna: An unforgettable year at Cranfield
29/07/2024
As I am closer to the end of my stay at Cranfield, it is incredible to look back and see the growth, both academically and personally. It is unbelievable how fast this year has gone, with intense periods of studies, exciting projects, and unforgettable experiences.
The first bits of 2024 have been very challenging going through all the modules of the MSc and working hard on all the group assessments and exams. From performing a conceptual design of an aircraft wing to hands-on experiments on many of Cranfield’s Wind Tunnels, I have enjoyed and learned a lot both in the theoretical and the practical aspects of aerodynamics.
Currently, I am fully focused on my thesis, making use of Cranfield’s HPC (High-Performance Computer) for my CFD simulations. This time, the workplace has shifted from the classroom to more individual research with the support of my supervisors. However, I am always interacting with classmates eager to explain and let you see first-hand what are they working on, such as the tests done at the 8 x 6 wind tunnel with Cranfield’s Saab model.
Balancing studies and life
At Cranfield, there is plenty of time for everything. Beyond the course, I have enjoyed my time in the UK. Playing tennis and watching football have been great ways to relax and recharge. I have been incredibly lucky as both club and country have been successful during my time here. First, Real Madrid gets to the Champions League Final in London, and I could see them lift the trophy from the Victoria
Embankment Real Madrid fan zone, as well as see how London transformed for this important event. Then I experienced a fantastic Euro cup with Spain beating strong rivals up to the final in a crowded Cranfield Students’ Association (CSA) atmosphere.
NFLC experience
Last July was full of aeronautical highlights. I never get enough of seeing planes. First, I had the student flight experience at the NFLC Slingsby with Pete Hughes on the commands, having fun in the air with many acrobatics and experiencing from the cockpit, the effects of control, stability, and stall.
I attended two events that I had highlighted on my calendar before coming to Cranfield as a “must-go”.
The first one was the Royal International Air Tattoo, where I caught up with Graham Braithwaite with Cranfield’s Saab 340B, part of the “Pushing the Boundaries” display, and I had a blast with the incredible flight performances from different air forces around the world.
Not even a week later, I found myself with my Cranfield University badge at the Farnborough International Air Show more industry-focused. There were so many aircraft, both on static and flying display that I would have stayed there for more time to be able to see everything carefully. But it is incredibly motivating to see the industry and products you will work on showcasing that amount of power with civil aircraft, climbing vertically and feeling the earth vibrate with the fighter jet engines. For me, the highlight was seeing the iconic Spitfire in flight, as it is one of my favourites airplanes, and I had never seen one flying, and hearing that Rolls-Royce Merlin engine sound was just magnificent.
Looking ahead
As I wrap up my thesis and prepare to present my findings, I am getting ready to leave Cranfield. It has been an incredible year, I’ve had the best preparation possible before jumping into the industry and kick-off my career as an aerodynamics engineer.
The Careers and Employability Service, especially Lucille Folker, has been invaluable in supporting me through interview preparations and providing feedback on my applications. As eager as I am to see my next steps, I will make the most of these last weeks at Cranfield to end this chapter on a high note.
Categories & Tags:
Leave a comment on this post:
You might also like…
Cranfield alumni hits 2 million views milestone with accessible archaeology YouTube channel
Cranfield alumni Rosie Crawford’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. While pursuing her undergraduate studies, Rosie created 'JustALittleRoo,' a free online access and outreach platform across YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to share her experience as ...
From lean principles to lasting love: A Cranfield PhD journey
From the bustling streets of Turkey to Cranfield University, one graduate’s journey embodies the power of academic pursuit, industry connection, and unexpected life events. This is the story of Zehra Canan, ...
Finding economic data on Passport
One of the quickest and easiest ways to find global economic statistical data from a range of authoritative sources is to use Passport. Passport, a Euromonitor product, has both quarterly and annual historical data going ...
Level 7 apprenticeships support social mobility and address skills gaps
A recent article in The Times painted a misleading picture of Level 7 apprenticeships, accusing companies of sending senior executives on management courses, and diverting levy funding away from entry-level apprenticeships. The story fails ...
Want to improve your reading skills?
Are you starting to read through the mountains of journals, books or articles for your project or on your course reading list? Let’s start with a few myths about the reading process: You need to ...
From classroom to real-world robotics: My experience at Cranfield University
Hi there! I’m Sakshi Chavan, and I’m thrilled to share my experiences as a recent graduate of the MSc in Robotics at Cranfield University. I graduated in 2024 and am currently ...