Source: Firas Mandour, 316-304-9277, firasm@k-state.edu
Photo available. Contact media@k-state.edu or 785-532-6415
News release prepared by: Abigail Crouse, 785-826-2642, acrouse@sal.k-state.edu
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
K-STATE AT SALINA STUDENT'S DONATION TO HELP AVIATION MAINTENANCE RESEARCH
SALINA -- One Kansas State University at Salina student is not waiting until after graduation to give back to his school.
Firas Mandour, a senior in aviation maintenance, recently donated the fuselage of a Cessna 188 Agwagon to the department of aviation at K-State at Salina.
Valued at $1,500, the fuselage will allow aviation maintenance students to begin research that could ultimately produce a more efficient agricultural spreader for the aviation industry. An agricultural spreader distributes things like seeds and fertilizer over a broad area. K-State at Salina students plan to research and modify the spreader, improving its efficiency and reducing drag.
Mandour, who came to K-State at Salina from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, purchased the rare aircraft component on eBay, the online auction site. He says he feels fortunate because the Agwagon is very hard to find, and if someone owns the aircraft, they rarely sell it.
"I just wanted to see the research go through," Mandour said. "It is good to know future aviation students will continue the research and development of the ag spreader."
After winning the bidding on eBay, Mandour contacted Evan Beckman, an aviation maintenance instructor at K-State at Salina, about donating the fuselage to the department. Then Mandour and Beckman, along with five other students, made the 12-hour trip to Kirk, Colo., to pick up the fuselage.
Mandour, who plans to return to Dubai after graduation, considers the donated fuselage as his way of giving back to a program that he says has provided him a great deal.
"I believe the instructors in aviation are very helpful," Mandour said. "I just wanted to give back."