photo by: Contributed photo

Kansas University's new Cessna Citation CJ4 business jet. The plane was delivered to KU Dec. 23, 2014, and replaces the university's Cessna Citation Bravo, which KU had been using 17 years.

Kansas University’s new airplane is now in the skies.

The new plane — purchased with a gift from KU Endowment — has been delivered to KU and already has taken its first trips, KU confirmed this week.

The Cessna Citation CJ4 carries seven passengers, university spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson said. She said it arrived, fully painted, on Dec. 23.

The new business jet replaces a 1997 Cessna Citation Bravo, which was traded in, Barcomb-Peterson said.

KU Endowment agreed to provide KU with a grant not to exceed $8.1 million to buy the new plane, the Journal-World reported in November. KU did not provide an exact purchase price this week.

In addition to the business jet, KU owns a share in a second plane. KU Endowment funded the purchases, and KU pays ongoing expenses.

The planes are used for KU Medical Center’s medical outreach program serving rural Kansas, administrator travel and KU Athletics recruiting trips.

The new plane evokes school spirit. It’s painted with a crimson and blue swoosh and a Jayhawk on the tail. The Federal Aviation Administration registration number ends in “4KU.”