The Iowa City Airport Commission’s April meeting was full of community members hoping to save the historic F-86 Sabre Jet on display at the Iowa City Municipal Airport on Thursday. Around 50 veterans and supporters took to the meeting to share memories and history surrounding the aircraft.

The jet, which acted as an interceptor aircraft, meaning it would intercept bombers during wartime, was originally dedicated to honoring foreign war veterans in the Iowa City area and is important to Iowa City veterans, resulting in strong opposition to the potential relocation, according to the commission’s agenda packet. 

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According to the commission’s meeting agenda, the costs of maintaining the jet have gotten higher than they can afford. Since the jet is no longer maintained on an annual basis, the cost of maintenance has reached $10,000 to $15,000. In response to this, community members are rallying to find the funds.

The commission began considering relocating the jet since conducting a terminal space needs study in 2024, evaluating the airport parking, entry drive, and frontage area, which would potentially include moving the jet.

A 2024 meeting agenda states that the commission was not approved for a grant from the Federal Aviation Administration that was needed to complete these projects, but they still continued to consider relocating the jet after the Clinton Municipal Airport in Clinton, Iowa, approached them in 2025.

The commission’s agenda also states that they reached out to the Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, University of Iowa ROTC detachments, and other contacts about relocating the jet. The commission received two differing responses, one in favor of the move and one from the Iowa City Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3949 that was against it. 

The post had several follow-up questions to their message, so the commission offered to meet with them and gave them the opportunity to speak at their March meeting.

According to the commission, the last time the jet was refurbished was in 2015, costing approximately $10,000.

Andrew Miller, a resident of Johnson County, posted a video to Facebook to bring awareness to the possible relocation of the jet, which sparked much support within the community. He also spoke at the meeting, asking the commission to stave off their vote on the jet’s relocation for four months, so that the community could put together the funds to restore the jet. 

“I am not a veteran, but my father is, and both of my grandfathers are,” Miller said. “I will fight to the day I die to make sure that this thing stays here and is well maintained and well taken care of.”

He said that he spoke to dozens of people over the last two weeks who are willing to donate money to restore the jet, including business owners and concerned citizens.

“Give us an opportunity to prove to you that we can take over this thing and that we can do what’s right for it, please, that’s all I ask,” Miller said.

Robert Dane, a veteran from Iowa City, asked for a verbal commitment from the commission that they are dedicated to memorializing veterans at the airport. He said that once they do that, they can then consider asking the community for funds and resources.

“Just to know that the Airport Commission is interested in having a veterans memorial on the property, as it has been for years and years, would take this group a long way to the next step of going out and getting the funding,” Dane said.

He said that the Johnson County Military Affairs Committee has funds set aside that could be used to help restore and maintain the jet.

“Everybody is going to have anecdotes and stories to tell about how much it means to them, but you cut to the chase, the commission will say, ‘Yeah, we want it,’ and we’ll figure out how we get down the road,” Dane said.

Dan Wilson, the group’s director, said he appreciated the commission for explaining the situation well. He also said that he is sure the community would be able to provide funding for the jet.

“For every one of us that showed up tonight, there’s gotta be 500 to 1,000 in this community who share our sentiments, opinions, and feelings about this,” Wilson said.

He said his father trained in the same type of jet as the one residing on the grounds of the airport. Wilson clarified for the public that the jet was used as an interceptor, so it did not drop bombs during any wars.

“This wasn’t an offensive weapon,” Wilson said, “I think that’s important to be said and speaks to the character of what this plane stands for.”