Safford Airport seeks sponsors for air show

Photo Courtesy City of Safford: Jeff Boerboon, a Safford native and member of the US Unlimited Aerobatic Team, is one of the many aeronautical performers scheduled to fly in the air show at the second annual Safford Air Fair on Nov. 9.

Photo Courtesy City of Safford: Jeff Boerboon, a Safford native and member of the US Unlimited Aerobatic Team, is one of the many aeronautical performers scheduled to fly in the air show at the second annual Safford Air Fair on Nov. 9.

Staff Reports

SAFFORD – After a successful inaugural air fair last year, the Safford Regional Airport/1LT Duane Spalsbury Field will expand this year’s event to feature an air show at the second annual Safford Air Fair on Nov. 9. 

The 2024 Air Show is slated to have a variety of planes and helicopters that will perform aerobatic maneuvers for the Gila Valley. One of the scheduled pilots, Jeff Boerboon, is originally from Safford. He is a member of the US Unlimited Aerobatic Team and holds a second-place title from the US Aerobatic Championships in 2021. Since 1999, he has flown the Airbus A320 for Delta Airlines. 

The program also features the “Desert Rats Warbird Formation Team”, Greg Sembower’s P-51D Mustang, John Melby, of Phoenix and his “Fear Boss” plane, Wester Pilot with an Air Tractor AT-802 Single Engine Air Tanker to demonstrate fire-fighting tactics and much more. Participants also may have the opportunity to take a ride in a historic Army Air Corps C-47 or a retired U.S. Army Cobra attack helicopter. Read more about the scheduled performers here.

The airport is seeking sponsors for the airshow, and any businesses or individuals who are interested can read more about the sponsorship levels here.  

The inaugural Safford Air Fair last year saw roughly 3,000 attendees who were treated to a free pancake breakfast, airplane rides, historic airplanes on display, and wildfire tanker and drone demonstrations. 

The second annual Safford Air Fair is scheduled for Nov. 9 and the airport hopes to draw more than 10,000 attendees.