A new state-of-the-art flight simulator at the UW College of Engineering is enhancing the aerospace option within the engineering mechanics major. Developed by Christian Franck, the Bjorn Borgen Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and teaching specialist Aidan Butula ’23, MS’24, the simulator replicates a Cessna 172 Skyhawk cockpit with high realism, including wraparound screens for a 180-degree immersive view. Franck, a licensed pilot, custom designed the simulator to support hands-on learning in his Flight Dynamics and Controls course, helping Badgers better grasp complex flight physics and control concepts. The simulator also features real-time flight performance data, enabling students to analyze aircraft stability and verify calculations. Funded by Franck’s H. I. Romnes Fellowship, Franck’s creation is housed in the Flight Simulator Laboratory. It is expected to support future aerospace courses and research and may contribute to establishing Wisconsin’s first ABET-accredited aerospace engineering degree. Franck sees the simulator as a significant step in enriching student education and career readiness while advancing the university’s aerospace program.
“I’m grateful for the H. I. Romnes Fellowship, which enabled me to invest in the educational experience for our students,” says Franck. “The simulator brings a lot of capability and opportunity to the table from an educational standpoint, and I think the students will be excited to use it. Creating an advanced aircraft experience wouldn’t have been possible without this fellowship.”