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The donated plane, dubbed "Kira," sits on the runway at Bolton
Field. With the donation, Columbus State's Aviation Maintenance program
is one of few in the country with a large jetliner.Donated 727 to train Aviation Maintenance students A crowd of spectators gathered at Bolton Field June 26 to see the future of Columbus State come in for a landing. Assembled spectators crowded the tarmac as the plane's running lights appeared over the horizon. The plane touched down gracefully on the runway, braking with a blast from its thrust reversers. A Columbus State fire truck gave the traditional water cannon salute as the plane taxied over to the crowd. The pilots brought the plane smartly to a halt in front of the crowd. The Boeing 727, a plane known "Kira," was home. 
Columbus State President Val Moeller thanks FedEx Corp. for donating the
727. FedEx Corp. donated the jet, with a little help from Columbus State alumnus Brian Buttermore. Buttermore, a 1989 Columbus State grad who works at FedEx, remembered his alma mater when he heard the company was retiring its old 727s. Training on the 727 will give Columbus State students an advantage as they start their careers, Buttermore said. At most schools, students learn on models, through textbooks, or by working on smaller planes, Buttermore said. Companies often have to train mechanics themselves. "With this plane right here, (Columbus State) will be known," Buttermore said. "There aren't a lot of schools out there with a large aircraft in their training programs." 
A Columbus State fire truck gives the plane its traditional water cannon
salute.David Sutton, managing director for aircraft acquisition at FedEx, said the company was pleased to donate the retiring aircraft. The donation is valued at $1 million, making it the largest single donation ever given to the Columbus State Development Foundation. "Kira" was built in 1967 for United Airlines and entered FedEx's service in 1978. The plane was named after the daughter of two FedEx employees, who Sutton said is now 16 years old. The airplane logged 39,878 landings--including her last one at Bolton Field. The trip to Bolton Field is "Kira's" last stop. The college plans to construct a special landing pad and hangar and use the plane for maintenance training. It is too large to take off from Bolton Field, and it is the largest plane ever to land there. "We will take good care of her, and she will continue to serve FedEx by providing you with your future aviation technicians," Jeffrey Gruber, an Aviation Maintenance instructor, told Sutton. The Aviation Maintenance program has more than 500 graduates out working in the field. Around 92 percent of its graduates find jobs right out of school, and 95 percent pass their Federal Aviation Administration exams. "In fact, there are not many planes that take off from Port Columbus without a Columbus State graduate checking on them," said Columbus State President Val Moeller. In addition to the plane, two Columbus State Aviation Maintenance students received $2,000 Casto/Wolfe Aviation Scholarships: Zachary Ludi and Jeremy McMullen. The scholarships come from the Casto & Wolfe Family Foundations. David Whitaker, vice president of business development and communications for the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, presented both scholarships. The authority oversees Bolton Field, Port Columbus and Rickenbacker International Airport.
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Student Scholars