- Kenya Airways donated a Boeing 737-700 to Mangu High School to Bolster Their aviation studies
- The aeroplane was retired in 2021
Mangu High School has consistently been in the top ten best performing schools in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination.
With a rich history spanning almost 100 years, the national school has produced some of the best brains in the country.
The institution was among the first in Kenya to offer Aviation studies focusing on technical skills such as propulsion, thermodynamics and meteorology. Mangu High has gone on to produce a sizable number of personnel working in the aviation sector.
WoK takes a look at the Boeing 737-700 Kenya Airways donated to Mangu High.
Donation From KQ
The aeroplane was donated by Kenya Airways as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to support their aviation studies.
The institution becomes the first to receive a complete aeroplane from KQ. Another institution to benefit from KQ CSR was the Technical University of Kenya in 2016 when they received an engine.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Trade CS Kipchumba Murkomen lauded the move saying that it is an act of nobility from the national airline and their affirmation for the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
‘‘I wish to thank Kenya Airways for this commendable act of CSR that will inspire hope in the students of Mangu High School, assist in the modelling of their skills and transform abstract theories into practicable concepts,’’ the CS said.
“The growth of Kenya’s aviation sector is of paramount importance to this government due to its ripple effects, which include the creation of jobs, expansion of markets, facilitation of faster movement of goods and people, growth of regional economies, and positioning the country as the aviation hub of Africa,” Murkomen added.
History And Features of the Mangu High Boeing 737-700
The plane was retired from active service in December 2021. According to KQ CEO Allan Kivaluka, the plane has a seating capacity of 16 in the business class and 100 in economy.
It was manufactured in 2003 and has been in operation for 20 years. The Boeing 737-700 has accumulated over 56,861 flight hours and 20,966 flight circles.
It has a wingspan of 35.79 metres and a length of 33.63 meters.
The first flight was on February 9, 1997. It is powered by CFM56-7B22 turbofan engines.
The Boeing 737-700 has a top speed of 876 km/h (544 mph).
Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and Crown Paints
KCB donated Ksh5 million to go towards moving the plane from the hangar to the institution and equipping it with learning equipment such as flight simulators and aircraft maintenance tools.
Crown paint on the hand repainted the plane that is now registered 5W MHC from 5W KQH.
