Gage Vota RETIRED – Worldwide Aircraft employees work towards erecting the retired U.S. Air Force F-16 Thunderbird Jet on its pedestal in front of Union Local High School.

MORRISTOWN — After nearly eight years of planning, a retired U.S. Air Force F-16 Thunderbird jet has arrived at Union Local High School.

The jet will be displayed in front of the school after it is rebuilt by a crew from Worldwide Aircraft, whose employees delivered and assembled the aircraft from late Thursday evening into Friday afternoon.

Union Local Afterburners Committee dedication Chairwoman Taylore Frasnelly said she wants to stress that the jet came at no cost to the school or district residents.

“We’re happy to sit down with all residents and explain to them how this project came to be. The Air Force gifted the jet to the state, and the state selected Union Local Schools to be the recipient,” Frasnelly said. “The Afterburners Committee has raised a good amount of money to cover the costs of transport and any maintenance that would be needed in the future through private donations.”

She added that the committee plans to host a dedication ceremony next spring that she hopes will include Air Force service members.

“We’re really looking forward to having a dedication in the future. With operations going on in the Middle East right now, we decided that we would push that back to hopefully next spring,” Frasnelly said.

She added that a wall displaying the names of the project’s donors also will be built around the jet and is expected to be completed before the dedication ceremony.

Frasnelly expressed excitement that people traveling on either side of the highway will be able to see the jet and potentially become more aware of Union Local Schools.

“When I saw the jet exiting the highway I instantly had chills, because it’s a moment that we’ve worked eight years for, and to see it actually happen. It’s actually here right before us. It’s very exciting,” Frasnelly said. “Also when it was brought up in front of the school. The students at the elementary were getting let out at that time, so they were going by on the buses. You could hear them yelling and screaming from excitement. That also has made it all worth it, that the students have this display of jet pride.”

She added that she hopes the jet will inspire residents’ “jet pride” ahead of the May 5 primary election.

A five-year, 3-mill permanent improvement levy will appear on the May 5 ballot. It would cost the average property owner roughly $160 a year, or about $13 per month.

“My hope is that this historic moment for Union Local Schools will trigger that jet pride in people’s hearts, whether they’re alumni or just a community resident that is proud of this project, and it will make them want to vote,” Frasnelly said. “We understand that times are tough, and if it comes between people putting food on their table or the levy, we understand they have to do what’s best for their household. But hopefully some jet pride will show up on the ballot.”

Afterburners President Dirk Davis said construction of the pedestal supporting the jet began in July 2024 by Richard Pryor of Buckeye Steel. He added that it was completed later that fall with installation by John Tressel of The Tressel Co. Rich Nucci of Absolute Concrete Inc. in Morristown donated the concrete used to secure the pedestal.

“We’ve got to thank these guys, they saved us about $25,000+,” Davis said.

He added that the project’s fundraising goal was $125,000, but because of donations from the three local businesses and individuals, the project was completed with the $95,000 raised by the committee.

“Which that’s for it to be taken apart, transported to Union Local and then put back together. We didn’t pay for the jet and that was out of the $95,000 we raised,” Davis said. “We’re also going to invest into the future, to take care of the jet when it needs it, in 10 to 15 years or 20 years from now.”

Worldwide Aircraft Vice President of Operations Jay Penry said Union Local is the first school he has seen receive a retired jet for display.