Meridian Regional Airport has donated its 1978 Cessna 152 to Hinds Community College’s Aviation Department to be used by the school’s aircraft maintenance technology program.

Meridian Aviation, the airport’s fixed-base operator, rented out the Cessna 152 to aspiring pilots for 35 years. Throughout the years, its engine was replaced seven times and it was flown for more than 13,000 hours by those taking their first flight. On Oct. 11, 2016, the airplane was severely damaged when a helicopter flew over it, flipping it upside down. Meridian Regional Airport was able to salvage radios and a few other parts to use on its new rental plane.

“I’d like to thank you for your generous donation of Cessna 152 N69029. It will be an invaluable training tool for our students, and we look forward to putting it to good and appropriate use,” Ward Marsh, Hinds Community College instructor, said in a news release.

“This is a win-win for Hinds and Meridian,” Meridian Airport Authority President Tom Williams said in the release. “We could have sold the remains for a few dollars or made a difference in the education of future aircraft mechanics. We have hired several Hinds students as mechanics at Dean Aircraft Service, so this was another good way to give back to their fine aircraft mechanic training program.”