THAT WAS THE REASON FOR SOME CONFUSION EARLIER TODAY. IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY INHERITED A PIECE OF AEROSPACE HISTORY TODAY -- A DC-8 PLANE FROM NASA. THIS RESEARCH AIRCRAFT COMPLETED ITS FINAL MISSION APRIL 1ST. IT IS THE LARGEST FLYING SCIENCE LABORATORY IN THE WORLD. LOCAL NEWS 8'S ASHLEY CHILCUTT SHOWS US HOW I-S-U WILL USE THE PLANE. WELCOME TO THE DC-8 JET. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 150 SCIENCE MISSIONS, NASA IS RETIRING THE AIRCRAFT AND DONATING IT TO IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY. THE JET LANDED AT THE POCATELLO AIRPORT AND TAXIED ITS WAY UNDER CELEBRATORY WATER CANNONS TO COMMEMORATE ITS 37 YEARS OF SERVICE. Wagner: "For our students, this NASA DC8 represents a unique opportunity to gain hands on experience with one of the most advanced flying laboratories to ever exist. They'll be learning on an on an aircraft that has significantly contributed to scientific advancements." IT WILL NOW SERVE AS A LEARNING TOOL FOR I-S-U STUDENTS IN THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM. Ed: "That makes me excited. It really suits our program. We lecture about a lot of this stuff. We have some of the components that are on aircraft like this, but we've never had a full up operating aircraft." AIRCRAFT LIKE THIS ARE TYPICALLY DONATED TO MUSEUMS. BUT ED FOSTER -- A PROGRAM COORDINATOR AND INSTRUCTOR AT I-S-U -- USED HIS KNOWLEDGE OF FEDERAL DATABASES FOR SURPLUS EQUIPMENT TO FIND AND ACQUIRE THE DC-8. "We just kept searching, kept searching, and eventually came across this. NASA entered it into that system. And so, we made application. We, made our argument on why we felt we deserved it over all others. And NASA accepted that and finally awarded it to us." THIS IS THE LARGEST DONATION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO THE STATE OF IDAHO. AND IT'S MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL. Taylor: "NASA has the responsibility of sunset and existing platforms in a way that's advantageous to the taxpayer. And that's what we're looking at today. This was, mutually beneficial agreement that we've come to, and it saved NASA quite a bit of money, money that we would have had to pay a third party. just positioning this aircraft so it transfers is really the best outcome." Kirsten: "We are so happy that this historic aircraft is going to continue its educational legacy, where future aircraft technicians can learn firsthand what makes the DC eight so special." Wagner: "The future is bright and we are grateful for the lasting impact this DC 8 will have at Idaho State University. And forgive me, but I have to say the sky's the limit for our program here. Thank you all very, very much." BEFORE RETIREMENT, THE DC-8 PLANE WAS USED TO SUPPORT NASA'S