Summary
- Kenya Airways donated a decommissioned Boeing 737 to Mang’u High School in Kenya, which has now been repainted with the school’s colors and name.
- The donation is part of Kenya Airways’ efforts to inspire students to pursue careers in aviation, and the aircraft will be equipped with a simulator for practical lessons.
- Mang’u High School is known for its focus on aviation and has received support from various aviation organizations in the past, including Kenya Airways.
A decommissioned Boeing 737 donated to Kenya’s Mang’u High School about three months ago by Kenya Airways has been repainted and now features a unique high school livery. The delegates called in to inspect their new aircraft were happy with the brand transformation.
The school plane
In most cases, students see their school name on the school bus or other lighter vehicles. However, the situation is a bit different for the Kenyan high school pupils who will be waiting to welcome a new aircraft in their school colors. While it is not the most striking livery, the aircraft now has Mang’u High School written on it, along with the school’s motto – “Jishinde Ushinde,” a Kiswahili phrase meaning “Conquer yourself so that you may conquer the world around you’.”
Photo: Kenya Airways
Kenya Airways donated the Boeing 737-700 as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility to inspire the young students to take up careers in aviation. On December 14, the company hosted a delegation from Mang’u High School to inspect and formally accept the new livery at Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO). The school authorities were pleased to see the aircraft in its new colors and the progressive work done by KQ’s engineers and partners. According to the airline, the aircraft will be fitted with a simulator for practical lessons.
The carrier aims to enhance academic and practical excellence for future aviation professionals. Mang’u High School, located about 25 mi (40 km) from Nairobi, is one of the top higher learning institutions in the country. It was the first Kenyan school to introduce Aviation Technology as an examination subject and has received support from the Kenya Air Force, Kenya Airways, Airkenya Express, and British Airways in the past.
The 20-year-old 737 previously spotted the SkyTeam livery before being handed over to the learning institution in September. With registration 5Y-KQH, the aircraft was one of four 737-700s previously operated by the national airline. It was built in 2003 and delivered to KQ the same year. It was retired at the end of 2019 after accumulating over 56,860 flight hours across 20,966 flight cycles.
Goodbye Boeing 767: LATAM Brasil Retires Passenger Widebodies
The planes will now operate as freighters for LATAM.
Kenya Airways’ decommissioned aircraft
When an aircraft is retired, it does not always head for the boneyard or get scrapped for parts. Sometimes, it can be preserved in a museum or, in the case of Kenya Airways, donated for training and research purposes. Last month, the national carrier relocated two aircraft, including another 737-700 and an Embraer E190-100, to The Pride Center – Kenya Airways’ training facility.
According to KQ Pride Center Acting Head of Training Captain Abubakar Bajaber, the jetliners would find better use in the training facility. They will be equipped with practical elements to enhance the center’s training capabilities. He added that the facility will run for 18 to 24 hours per day to train more crew members in a shorter period.
The Boeing 737 was one of the two remaining -700s in the airline’s fleet, with the other being donated to the high school. 5Y-KQG was delivered to Kenya Airways in December 2002 and operated until 2020. It had accumulated nearly 60,000 flight hours across 22,457 cycles. The E190, registration 5Y-KYR, stopped flying in 2019 after being seriously damaged in a ground collision with another Kenya Airways E190.
What are your thoughts on Mang’u High School’s new livery? Please let us know in the comments!