SAFFORD — The Safford Airshow continues to get bigger each year, and organizers anticipate even more growth in the future.
Cameron Atkins, manager of Safford Regional Airport-1Lt Duane Spalsbury Field and organizer of the Airshow, said the event drew nearly 5,000 people, almost double the attendance of last year.
“I’m extremely impressed with both the turnout we had, with the performers that we were able to put together and with the response from the community. It was, honestly, amazing,” Atkins said, adding the event can accommodate up to 10,000 attendees in the future.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
The challenge this year was the ongoing federal government shutdown, which prevented active-duty military aircraft from participating. However, Atkins was able to fill the gap with a number of retired military aircraft owned and flown by private pilots.
He said he will pursue booking the military aircraft for next year, “and then also next year try to, maybe, get one big headline performer that’s nationally known.”
While the event proved successful from both tourism and economic development aspects, Atkins said a byproduct was exposing to the residents of the Gila Valley to everything the airport has to offer.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
The Safford Airshow opened with a parachute team flag drop and immediately went into wide variety of aircraft events, including fly-bys, formation flying, an air race, an exhibition of a downed pilot rescue by a pair of Vietnam-era helicopters, and aerobatic exhibitions by Anthony Oshinuga’s Pitts Special and Torrey Ward’s Subsonex.
Sponsors of the Safford Airshow included Rutledge Airborne, United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties, Freeport-McMoRan, CMI Quick Copy, Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center, Bowman Consulting Group, Taco Bell, Lloyd Construction Group, Dibble and White Brothers Aviation.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
