UNION LOCAL Maintenance Director Jim Hess stands next to a newly installed pedestal that is expected to hold a U.S. Air Force Jet as a symbol of the school district in the coming months. The project is being funded strictly through donations.

BELMONT — The UL Jets Afterburners organization is soaring toward its goal of bringing a jet fighter to the Union Local campus.

The group started installation of the pedestal that will support a jet on the lawn in front of the high school.

The group is working to install a retired U.S. Air Force F-16 jet, representing the district’s longtime Jet mascot. The $125,000 project began in 2018 when the Union Local Jet F-16 committee, called the UL Jets Afterburners, applied for a surplus jet with the U.S. Navy and Air Force.

The USAF approved the committee for an F-16 fighter jet in 2021, and the committee received a letter that it would receive a jet within the next four years. The committee then asked for donations in support of the project about a year ago. So far, the committee has raised $74,000 by sending out donation letters to alumni and local businesses.

Since Russia went to war with Ukraine, though, organizers said all F-16 fighter jets have been sent to Ukraine.

Committee President Dirk Davis said he doesn’t know when an F-16 Jet will be available, so former Bethesda police chief Pete Busak and he are making a trip to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton within the next week or so to try and find out when they will receive a jet.

“Our committee is so determined to finally get this project done,” Davis said. “And we will. We all feel we have an obligation to all the others who wanted this project accomplished. I’m sure they are still looking down on us and are still helping guide us when we need good guidance.”

Davis noted the committee may have to change the type of jet it receives. Davis said he and Busak will work to find out what other types of jets are available, such as the F-18 and F-15.

“The F-16 Jet is the jet closest to our school emblem,” he said. “This is why it was chosen.”

This is the fourth committee since 1959-60 to try to complete the project; however, the project has always stalled due to a lack of funding.

Once the committee raised $50,000, it had enough funding for construction of the base and pedestal.

T.J. Jefferis Construction, contractor John Tressel and Richard Pryor from Buckeye Steel Construction installed the pedestal for the jet on Nov. 13. Davis said the installation of the pedestal, which weighs 3 tons, was accomplished within five minutes after it was taken off of the trailer that transported it to the campus. He said crane operator Tressel lowered the pedestal into position within three minutes.

“Every school system and even colleges have an emblem that makes their schools proud,” Davis said.” We are hoping this jet will make every student who has graduated from the Union Local school system proud to have gone through our school district. The alumni and today’s students, whether you are part of any organization, such as band, athletics or academics, proud to be a jet.”

Davis said because the mascot or emblem of the jet was selected by the first graduating class of the consolidated high school in 1959-60, this jet installation is significant for the school.

He emphasized that all money for the effort is donated. No money intended for education or operation of the district is involved. He hopes with the pedestal installation, more donations will come in because people will see it’s real.

“Everyone thinks with the base and pedestal up, we are showing the donations and others that this project is happening and is going to be very accomplished,” he concluded.