Donated jet engine to serve KCC trades students at the RMTC

A crane removes a jet engine from the side of an airplane.

Thanks to Western Michigan University, Kalitta Air and Buck’s Crane, Inc. for donating and assisting with delivery of a fully functional Pratt & Whitney JT8D Jet Engine from a Boeing 727 commercial airplane to KCC this summer!

The engine will help future Industrial Trades students at KCC as they get hands-on training on a variety of mechanical maintenance and troubleshooting applications and lab exercises, including rigging and moving heavy equipment; troubleshooting and repair; assembly, disassembly and maintenance; and more.

WMU donated the jet engine, Kalitta Air donated the engine stand and required maintenance support, and Buck’s Crane, Inc. donated the crane operations, transportation and onsite delivery of the engine to KCC’s Regional Manufacturing Technology Center campus in Battle Creek, which houses the College’s Industrial Trades programs.

According to KCC trades instructor Matthew Cronkhite, the donation “will significantly enhance our skilled trades training capabilities at the college.”

For more information about skilled trades at KCC, visit kellogg.edu/industrial.

This brief first appeared in the September 2024 edition of BruIN magazine. To read the issue online when published, please visit kellogg.edu/bruinmagazine.