Year 7 and 8 boys with a passion for STEM, computing and robotics took part in an exciting Extended Reality (XR) Experience Day this week, uncovering Bedford’s remarkable role in early aviation.
A bold chapter in aviation history
The day began with an introduction from the Airships XR team, who brought to life Bedford’s place at the heart of airship development in the 1920s. The boys learned how these pioneering aircraft were once seen as the future of sustainable air travel, and how local innovation helped shape this ambitious era.
They also explored the dramatic story of the R.101. Its crash in 1930 marked a turning point, bringing the Bedford airship programme to an abrupt and poignant end.
Bringing history to life through technology
Using Extended Reality, the boys stepped into the story themselves. Highlights included:
- Exploring a multi-room immersive airship gallery
- Interacting with detailed 3D models using augmented reality
- Viewing a range of archival, instructional and AI-generated films
- Getting up close to historical artefacts and the stories behind them
- Learning through discovery
The boys were challenged to think like researchers. Drawing on what they had learned about the success of R.100 and the story of R.101, they used XR resources to explore ideas, test their understanding and develop their own design solutions. Working in groups, they analysed their findings and presented their thinking with confidence.
A memorable experience
The day combined history, technology and hands-on enquiry in a way that fully engaged the boys. It offered a powerful reminder of Bedford’s place in aviation history, and showed how new technologies can bring the past vividly to life for today’s learners.
Our thanks go to the Bedford School Foundation Trust who paid for the day, Bedford Creative Arts for funding the project and the Airships XR team for creating such an engaging and intellectually challenging experience. The boys loved it.
