Owens Community College received a donation from FedEx Express, and it touched down about 11 a.m. yesterday at Metcalf Field in Wood County s Lake Township: a 40-year-old Boeing 727-100.

The aircraft s wings will be removed and the body will be transported by land, probably within the next 30 days, to the Center for Emergency Preparedness on Owens Perrysburg Township campus, said Paul Unger, executive vice president and provost.

At Owens, the wings will be reattached and the interior outfitted as a commercial passenger plane. The plane will be parked on a tarmac at the center for use in training exercises that will simulate difficulties aboard passenger craft, from medical emergencies to hijackings, hostage takings, and bomb threats.

The plane was decommissioned by FedEx, and its last flight was from the company s hometown, Memphis, to Metcalf Field, Mr. Unger said.

The company valued the donation at $450,000.

First Published April 19, 2007, 9:58 a.m.