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WEST VALLEY VIEW NEWS | FEBRUARY 16, 2022
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Air Fair host turns up the excitement BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSK West Valley View Executive Editor
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eff Overby had just moved to the Valley when he was introduced to the breakfast fly-in at Buckeye Municipal Airport. An air show host, Overby was asked to bring a sound system and describe some of the participating planes for visitors. “I told them they could have great attendance if they had a proper air show,” said Overby, who lives in Cave Creek. “I made that comment to the airport coordinator, John McMahon, at the time. He said he always wanted to have an air show in Buckeye. Two weeks later, he was killed in an airplane crash.” Soon thereafter, the city emailed Overby, canceling any future fly-ins. “He (McMahon) was such a fixture in putting this together,” Overby said. “I called everyone and told them about the last conversation we had. We needed to grant him his wish.” The Buckeye Air Fair took flight and returns Saturday, Feb. 19, and Sunday, Feb. 20, to the airport, 3000 S. Palo Verde Road. This year’s event includes a new air show, STOL Drag Racing, the Copperstate Fly-In and Expo, Arizona SciTech Festival and a VIP experience for a front-row view. “We had a very special inaugural
event,” he recalled. “We went from 4,000 people, then 8,000, then 13,000 and then pushing 40,000 attendees in such a short time. The backing of this community is just outstanding, It’s been amazing to see this thing blossom.” “This year, we’re going to have a variety (of activities),” he said. “We’ll have very patriotic, Lee Greenwood-type music and then some Jason Aldean for the Vanguard Squadron. We’ll have performers like three-time national acrobatic pilot Jeff Boerboon, who flies this extra 330 SC, which is one of the dominating high-performance acrobatic aircrafts in the world today.” Boerboon, who also lives in Cave Creek, will perform to “good old classic rock music,” Overby said. “It’s going to be quite a variety of not only the performers and the types of planes, but the kind of energy from the music and the audience.” Overby has long been into flying. He “got the bug” after attending a fly-in pancake breakfast in his home state of Wisconsin. A pilot took him for a ride and that inspired him to get his pilot’s license in 1997. “I then participated in every kind of extreme motor sport — anything with wheels or wings,” he said with a laugh.
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“My wife purchased a ride for me in an acrobatic plane, and that fueled the fire for acrobatic flying. “I had been wanting to be the next world champion acrobatic pilot. Just as I was learning the sport, the coach asked me if I would announce shows back in the Midwest for them. I knew every maneuver they were doing. It turned out that the crowd really seemed to enjoy it. I got my wife involved, we added music to the maneuvers, and it just took off from there and I drifted more toward the announcing side.” Now, Overby balances his full-time job owning Overdrive Tech Group with announcing. He wouldn’t have it any other way. “Although I do have a day job, this is my fun job for sure,” he said. “It can vary anywhere between eight to 12 shows a year. Jeff Overby is an air show host. (Submitted photo) It’s great.”
If You Go...
WHAT: Buckeye Air Fair WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 19, and Sunday, Feb. 20 WHERE: Buckeye Municipal Airport, 3000 S. Palo Verde Road, Buckeye COST: Free admission; VIP tickets available for $50 one-day pass, $85 two-day pass INFO: buckeyeairfair.com
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