Hawaiian Air donates DC-9 to College

ironrebel · 10-24-2002, 01:45 AM

Hawaiian Air Donates Airplane To College
Students Receive Hands-On Experience

HONOLULU -- Honolulu Community College has its own DC-9 jetliner after Hawaiian Airlines donated the used jet to the college Wednesday.

This was the oldest jet in the Hawaiian fleet: Aircraft No. 69, an old DC-9 that has been flying inter-island for more than 20 years.

Thursday it was officially decommissioned at a ceremony at the Hawaiian Airlines maintenance hanger. On hand were officials from the University of Hawaii and its community college to accept their new jet.

The gift was somewhat of a surprise.

"I was a little taken aback. How many universities have their own DC-9," said University of Hawaii President Evan Dobelle.

It will be taken to the south ramp of the airport to the college's Pacific Aerospace Training Center.

The jet will not be flown. Students will use it for aircraft maintenance training.

In this case, it will be used to train mechanics on aircraft systems from the hydraulics to the pneumatics to electrical systems so they can troubleshoot and learn how to do it properly.

The plane holds the records for most cycles, meaning takeoffs and landings. It has made 95,132 flights.

"Because it has so many takeoffs and landings this aircraft will be useful for engineering students to study things like metal fatigue stress and corrosion," Honolulu Community College Provost Ramsey Pedersen said.

If it hadn't been donated, the old jet might have been sold to a small airline in Central America or South America. Or it might have been sold as parts or put in an airplane graveyard in the desert. Now, it will train a new generation of aviation professionals.

HannibalHays · 10-24-2002, 01:57 AM

Wonderful story!
It is so depressing to see these icons of aviation sitting so undignified in the boneyards... if those aircraft could talk they could tell many facinating stories. It's great that she continues to serve a new generation!

Westjetter · 10-24-2002, 02:26 AM

Cool! I bet those students are really happy!

10-24-2002, 01:45 AM	#1
ironrebel Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Honolulu, Hawai`i Posts: 246	Hawaiian Air donates DC-9 to College Hawaiian Air Donates Airplane To College Students Receive Hands-On Experience HONOLULU -- Honolulu Community College has its own DC-9 jetliner after Hawaiian Airlines donated the used jet to the college Wednesday. This was the oldest jet in the Hawaiian fleet: Aircraft No. 69, an old DC-9 that has been flying inter-island for more than 20 years. Thursday it was officially decommissioned at a ceremony at the Hawaiian Airlines maintenance hanger. On hand were officials from the University of Hawaii and its community college to accept their new jet. The gift was somewhat of a surprise. "I was a little taken aback. How many universities have their own DC-9," said University of Hawaii President Evan Dobelle. It will be taken to the south ramp of the airport to the college's Pacific Aerospace Training Center. The jet will not be flown. Students will use it for aircraft maintenance training. In this case, it will be used to train mechanics on aircraft systems from the hydraulics to the pneumatics to electrical systems so they can troubleshoot and learn how to do it properly. The plane holds the records for most cycles, meaning takeoffs and landings. It has made 95,132 flights. "Because it has so many takeoffs and landings this aircraft will be useful for engineering students to study things like metal fatigue stress and corrosion," Honolulu Community College Provost Ramsey Pedersen said. If it hadn't been donated, the old jet might have been sold to a small airline in Central America or South America. Or it might have been sold as parts or put in an airplane graveyard in the desert. Now, it will train a new generation of aviation professionals.

10-24-2002, 01:57 AM	#2
HannibalHays Master Collector Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Valley of the Sun Posts: 841	Wonderful story! It is so depressing to see these icons of aviation sitting so undignified in the boneyards... if those aircraft could talk they could tell many facinating stories. It's great that she continues to serve a new generation! __________________ Scott

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10-24-2002, 02:26 AM	#3
Westjetter Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Age: 27 Posts: 2,650	Cool! I bet those students are really happy!