Officials say the final clear coat is on a Skyhawk II plane in front of Cumberland County High School.

The next step is to remove the shelter built to protect the plane.

The final step will be to repair and improve the landscape around the plane.

School officials thank students from TCAT in Crossville for their hard work on this project.

Curt Watson was instrumental in bringing the Blue Angel plane to the school.

In 1952, Douglas designer Ed Heinemann proposed the Navy’s newest attack plane be smaller, lighter, and faster than others. Starting in 1956, the Skyhawk flew with Navy and Marine units, including flying combat missions during the Vietnam War. The Skyhawk had one of the longest production runs of any American combat aircraft, with 2,960 built over 26 years. It would later be part of the iconic planes of the Blue Angels in the 1980s.

Photos courtesy of Jon Hall.