Federal Express delivered a package of its own Friday, donating a Boeing 727 to Sacramento City College. Over 200 people attended the arrival of City College’s
newest aeronautics program training tool: a cargo plane named Gideon.
The City College aeronautics hangar at McClellan Park Airfield hosted the donation presentation Friday of the retired FedEx cargo plane to City College. The aircraft was donated for student training in support of City College aviation program.
According to David Sutton, Federal Express managing director of aircraft acquisitions and sales, Gideon is the 64th plane FedEx has donated in the United States since beginning its aircraft retirement program in 1995.
City College President Kathryn Jeffery said the retired Gideon is in good hands.
“Gideon will have a very, very good home with us at SCC. In partnership with the Aerospace Museum of California, SCC initiated an agreement to assure the safety of this aircraft.”
Gideon made its final landing on McClellan’s runway at
9:40 a.m., arriving to a fanfare of applause while “California
Sun” by _ e Rivieras played in the background. United States
Coast Guard Metro Fire Department fire trucks sprayed arches
of water over the nose of the 727 as it taxied up the airfield.
Fed Ex Captain David Shows, First Officer Mike Ware, and
Second Officer Robert Dittman opened Gideon’s door to greet
the crowd.
Dozens of attendees hoisted cameras, cell phones and even
one tablet computer to catch a shot of the 727.
According to Shows, Gideon departed from Roanoke, Va.,
Feb. 17.
While Gideon may seem to be an unusual name for a plane,
the 727’s namesake is the son of Kurt Bohm, a member of the
Memphis FedEx flight crew.
“At FedEx, we have the tradition of naming our aircraft after
the children of employees,” said Sutton. “_ at’s why you will
shortly note the name Gideon on the side of the aircraft.”
Dave Keslar, a senior Ground Support Equipment technician
for FedEx, said consumers tend to forget the global delivery
company relies on a large fleet of cargo planes.
“A lot of times people don’t think of Fed Ex as an airline,”
said Keslar. “[People] think of [FedEx] as package carrier, but we
ship anything from large freight to whales to you name it.”
Speaking at the donation ceremony, Sutton said the
same was true of Gideon.
“_ is Boeing 727-200, registration number N466FE,
serial number 21292l, was manufactured in December
1976 for Eastern Airlines,” said Sutton. “In October
1992, I took the liberty of this aircraft from Eastern.
And until just yesterday, she has been faithfully hauling
packages for Federal Express.
“So after 16 years in passenger service at Eastern
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and almost 21 years cargo service at Fed Ex, in those 37
years this aircraft has accumulated 55,481 flight hours
and 39,722 landings, including her final flight here to
Sacramento,” Sutton said.
City College Aeronautics department chair Professor
Phil Cypret said that while Gideon may be retired,
she’s not finished with her service just yet.
“Gideon will continue to function as an airplane
with the help of the California Aerospace Museum,” said
Cypret. “_ ey have volunteered some repairs as well. So
between Sacramento City College and California Aerospace,
we’ll keep it in operational condition.”
Before Gideon’s arrival at McClellan Park, City College
students and faculty shared their excitement and
speculations about the impact the 727 will have on the
aeronautics program.
City College student Nick Ware, 22, aeronautics
major in the Air Traffic Control program, said he looks
forward to the hands-on experience.
“What’s nice for us is that we will get in there and be
able to use the instruments,” said Ware. “We can look at
them in a book, but [we are not] able to turn the knobs.”
“FedEx has been phenomenal,” said City College
Dean of Advanced Technology Division Donnetta Webb.
“_ is will make the program so much better. We’ll be
able to use the plane for hands-on learning and it has
enough space to hold class inside.”
Jeffery credited Cypret for putting the wheels in
motion to make the donation happen. According to Jeffrey,
Cypret has hoped for a plane for the department for
quite some time.
“I want to thank Phil Cypret,” said Jeffery. “_ is guy is
always doing something at City College to keep us on our
toes. A couple of years [ago], he told us, ‘I think we’ll be able
to get a jet for our students to run on,’ and I’m thinking,
what is Phil up to now? But he pulled off , what I would say,
is one of the biggest coups of the aeronautics program.”
A model of Gideon, pictures, and certificates will be
displayed in Rodda North, 2nd floor.