There appears to be a shiny steel aircraft taking off right next to the entrance to Fort Dodge Regional Airport.

No, some hotshot pilot did not decide to use the airport’s parking lot and driveway as a runway. The big metal structure is the centerpiece for what will soon be a new entrance sign for the airport.

It is a sculpture entitled ”Lift” that was created by Tom Riefe, of Davenport.

At nine feet tall and 24-feet long, ”Lift” is eye-catching. It will be even more so once lights and lettering are added to its base. When the arrangement is completed, people will have no doubt that they have arrived at the local airport.

From 1974 until the day last week when ”Lift” was hoisted into place, the airport had a basic, functional and very plain sign at the entrance.

In recent years, the airport’s terminal has been renovated, and its interior includes a large mural made of tiles. With the terminal looking sharp, airport officials decided it was time to get something a bit more attractive to mark the entrance.

In October 2020, the airport received a grant from the Catherine Vincent Deardorf Charitable Foundation to pay for the sculpture. That means no taxpayer money was used to pay for it.

Members of the Airport Commission and Rhonda Chambers, the airport’s director of aviation, then worked with Riefe on the design.

The sculpture was fabricated at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. It arrived in Fort Dodge on Nov. 9. The 133rd Test Squadron of the Iowa Air National Guard, which is based just south of the airport, helped to install the statue.

We appreciate all the hard work that was put into this project.

”Lift” is a neat addition to our community. We look forward to seeing the completed version with lights and lettering.