I have loved aircraft and everything to do with aviation since I was eight years old. It’s gotten to the point that I’m quite obsessed with anything that flies. Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in a cultural exchange program organized by ICECB in Tokoname, Japan.
Let me give you some backstory here. The Boeing 787 is one of the most successful commercial widebody airliners in the world. It first came out in 2011, two months after I was born. The very first 787, the first prototype that was built, is currently stored in a museum in-you guessed it, Tokoname, Japan. By this incredible stroke of luck, I was able to come face-to-face with one of my favourite aircraft, and not only that, but the first prototype of that aircraft.
Our journey starts in Dhaka, Bangladesh on the 24th of October 2024. That day will forever remain one of the best days of my life. After completing our science fair, that we also had that day (my project was about a supersonic airplane), I went home. I got some rest, and in the evening we set out on the journey of a lifetime. The airport is one of my favourite places in the world, so I obviously got excited as soon as I stepped out of the car. At the airport, after check in, we headed to the lounge, where we lounged about for an hour. Then came my favourite part: the walk to the gate. Through the airside windows, I saw many planes, mostly domestic services within the country. And then there it was: the beautiful 787 of Biman Bangladesh, patiently waiting to ferry us to Japan. Boarding the plane was a surreal experience; I got seated and we took off. The sound of the engines roaring was music to my ears. As my teammates will testify, I hardly slept on that flight, because I was too excited
We landed at Tokyo Narita at around 9:15 local time. I will fast-forward a little bit here; on the second of November, my lovely host family took me to the Aichi Museum of Flight. My host family consisted of a great mother, Yuka, a strong father, Shinya, and two brothers Noa and Sena. They gladly cared for me throughout my time in Japan. I still talk with them over the internet every day. Getting back to the topic, on a very rainy second of November, my host mother Yuka drove me all the way to the Aichi Museum of Flight in Nagoya, along with the two brothers. Shinya had police duty that day. Entering the museum, I was greeted with rows upon rows of model aircraft. The little, detailed models of historic aircraft had me glued to the glass panels. But the real attraction of the museum was still yet to come. Downstairs was a whole Ys-11 aircraft. The NAMC Ys-11, was a Japanese post-World War 2 airliner, which was widely used in regional services. The aircraft was open to enter, and still had a full interior, including the cockpit. The experience as unreal. After that, my host mother Yuka, booked me for a make-believe simulator session, where I would attempt to take the Ys-11 for a spin (in a computer, of course). After scoring full marks there, we headed out. We spent the rest of the day with Yuka’s elder sister Kae and her husband.
Fast-forward two days, we went to Nagoya Chubu International airport to check out the Flight of Dreams theme park. This was by far one of THE best experiences I’ve had in my life. Inside the theme park, there was an entire Boeing 787-8 airliner. Now, this wasn’t any 787; this was the very first 787 in the world. It was built in the late 2000s, and first flew in 2009. Yes, this was the very first of an entire aircraft type. I went inside the prototype with my good friend Nahiyan, and though he wasn’t a huge fan of airplanes, even he was blown away.
FLYING THE SIMULATOR:
That day Nahiyan entered the theme park as a non-aviation enthusiast, and left being fascinated with the world of aircraft. We even took a picture in front of Engine No. 2 of the Boeing 787. Finally, I got to try out a real, authentic full-motion Boeing 787 simulator, with a fully simulated cockpit and controls. Believe me when I say this simulator looked EXACTLY like a real 787’s cockpit. I have put a picture down below, if you want to check it out. In this simulator, I took the 787 for a ride, with myself at the controls. It was the best experience I’ve ever had in my 13 years of life. All the controls felt real, and I felt as if I was really piloting the aircraft of my dreams. After I landed the beautiful bird, I got a picture with the elderly flight instructor who acted as a co-pilot on this flight. It really was amazing.
My host family was great. They understood my obsession with aircraft, and took me to visit all these places. No matter how much money you spend, you won’t get to experience living with a host family, and visiting all these places. I thank ICECB for this amazing opportunity
Me posing with the beautiful bird taking us to Tokyo
(I snapped a picture of a Japan Airlines Boeing 737 taxiing to its gate)
This was one of the best experiences of my life
-Adyan Islam
