Buckeye (KBXK) Airshow

Aviation related only
Post Reply
Message
Author
PHXPhlyer
Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot
Posts: 8242
Joined: Sun Jun 17, 2018 2:56 pm
Location: PHX
Gender:
Age: 69

Buckeye (KBXK) Airshow

#1 Post by PHXPhlyer » Sun Feb 19, 2023 4:38 pm

Drove D#1 to Buckeye Air Fair where she was working a booth repping her college flight school. Almost 50 miles one way.
Only consolation was avoiding parking/admission fees.
Spent the morning perusing the aircraft on display, some for sale, and the exhibitors booths. Afternoon devoted to watching the airshow.
Usual airshow faire, skydivers flag delivery for show opening, aerobatics, and aerial demos.
There were several really outstanding acts and demos.
Most impressive were performances by Eric Tucker, son of airshow legend Sean D. Tucker.
He did three acts, all in a Piper J3 Cub. First, dead-stick aerobatics from 6,000' to precision landing. Second, the "Runaway plane with non-pilot onboard", ending with a landing on top of an ambulance wit a platform atop not much longer than the plane. Third and most impressive was a full aerobatic routine performed below 200' AGL.
The aerobatic display of the BO105, loops rolls and hammerheads wat the best helo routine that I have seen.
The Subsonex fly-bys were also impressive, mostly rolls and loops, with the small size emphasizing the aircraft's speed.
Demo of water drop by a SEAT, single engine air tanker, in this case a turbine Air Tractor, dropping 400 gallon of water on each of two passes.

Had planed to go again today however a scorpion decided that my foot intruding on its spac deserved a sting, delivered to the outside of my port little toe. Pain slowly subsiding however the numbness has gone up to the top of my calf.
Only she second time that I have had one sting me in almost 40 years living in their territory.
https://www.buckeyeaz.gov/community/res ... r/air-show

2023 Airshow Performers

Jon Melby Airshows
Jon Melby first learned to fly at age 8, when he created a pile of leaves in his lawn, climbed onto the roof of his two story home, and jumped like a bird into the leaves! At the age of 12, he had the opportunity to meet the legendary airshow pilot Bob Hoover at a local airshow. Bob Hoover’s sincerity and great personality gave Jon the inspiration to pursue his dream of flying.

With the wide variety of performers and aircraft on the airshow circuit today, Jon has chosen to concentrate on flying freestyle maneuvers in a modern bi-plane. The bi-plane has a classic look, but Jon keeps the audiences attention with his aggressive performance style. He takes time prior to the show to mingle with the crowd to meet and greet them. This allows him to build a relationship with the crowd, which in turn, makes the crowd feel as if they are part of his performance and that they are his friend.
Brad Wursten Power Addiction Airshow

At the age of four, Brad Wursten had already started to realize his life long dream of flying airplanes. His initial venture was on a much smaller scale, building small remote control airplanes on their family dinner table. He became very experienced and skilled at not only building them, but flying them.

We will see Brad flying in one of the most highly sophisticated airplanes in the world, the MXS-R. It features a complete carbon fiber airframe that weighs an impressive 1100 lbs. Flying the MXS-R aerobatic aircraft, Brad brings power and performance into each airshow. Watch as he pushes the envelope of one of the most advanced aerobatic aircraft in the world today. Brad will delight and amaze the audience while remaining well within his tight margin of safety.

The Vanguard Squadron aerial demonstrationThe Vanguard Squadron

Ethanol is taking flight as America's premiere renewable fuel. The Vanguard Squadron flies a dazzling four ship formation aerobatic airshow powered by ethanol. The Vanguard Squadron has been ethanol powered since the team began flying together in 1993. Ethanol adds power and performance to the Squadron's aircraft without any major engine modifications. The team has over 3,000 flight hours and shares their love for flying and raising ethanol awareness by flying airshows across the country.

The team of four Vans RV-3 airplanes demonstrates formation flying at its finest, including: formation loops and rolls. Flying formation aerobatics requires intense dedication and practice and the Vanguards bring a wealth of experience to the show with over two decades of airshow experience!


Our precision aerobatics thrill airshow crowds across America as our two Russian warbirds perform exciting displays of breathtaking maneuvers. Our aviation professionals put on crowd-pleasing shows in big Russian Yak 50 airplanes with unmistakable radial engine sound, smoke, tight formation flying and jaw-dropping solo maneuvers.

Karl Gashler and Barry Hancock will please crowds with their stunning show. Between the two pilots they have over 22,000 hours of flying time with over 40 aircraft types.

Aerial Extreme Skydiving Team
Formed in 1998 the Aerial Extreme Skydiving Team is one of the busiest parachute demonstration teams in the country. Performing over 30 times a year in the United States and abroad, the team has over 1,000 shows to its credit. Extreme Skydiving has performed in over 20 countries with a total of 40,000 skydives.

The team was started by its team Captain, former Army Officer, Tom Talbott. After his time in the military, he set out to put together a world class performance team that is made up of former special operations soldiers and world class skydivers. Together they hold numerous national and world records in the sport. Over the years the team has developed and pioneered several of the lighted suits, smoke and pyrotechnic devises used by skydiving teams throughout the world.

Mini Jet Airshow
Tom caught the flying bug from his father, who became a pilot shortly after Tom was born. While in high school, Tom started flying radio control airplane models and then at the age of 19, he earned his pilot's license in only 62 days! After he received his pilot's license Tom joined the military and flew different type of aircraft. Over the years Tom has logged over 10,000 flying hours in 57 types of aircraft.

The Subsonex is only 16 feet long and 18 feet wide. It weighs under 500 pounds and yet has a top speed of 300 miles per hour!

Tuckers Air Patrol landing on a fake ambulance
Tucker's Air Patrol
Eric Tucker will be performing three acts in his 1941 Piper J3 Cub as a throwback to the barnstorming days of aviation. Since he was 12-years-old, Eric dreamed of performing comedy acts at airshows. Now, 25 years later, he takes to the skies! This the fulfillment of the dream that started in the barn of one of his mentors, Jimmy Mynning. At age 12, Eric spent a couple weeks flying a Super Cub, learning to stand on the seat with his upper body outside of the sunroof and controlling the aircraft with his feet. This is all your fault Uncle Jimmy!

Additionally, Eric treasures his experiences growing up in the airshow industry and wanted to create the same kind of opportunities for his two sons.

Pylon Aviation Helicopter flying upside down

Pylon Aviation
With over 30 years of aviation experience and more than 10,000 flight hours, Pylon Aviation’s owner Scott Urschel is currently one of only three FAA licensed helicopter aerobatic pilots flying the Airbus BO105 Helicopter in airshows. Scott is also one of International Council of Airshows Aerobatic competency evaluators. When not flying helicopters, Scott also fly’s the P51 Mustang and other World War II fighters and corporate jets.

Jeff Overby, Buckeye Air Fair Announcer
Jeff Overby became hooked on aviation in 1996 after attending local fly-in. He was offered a ride and that is all that it took to get him hooked on aviation. He enjoys the unlimited freedom, speed and feeling of G-Force as he regularly takes to the skies.

He has owned several airplanes from Cessna’s, Float & Ski equipped Piper Super Cub, and several aerobatic models including Extra, Pitts and Harmon Rockets. While attending an airshow with his aerobatic flight instructor he was asked to be the announcer and the crowd enjoyed his high energy and knowledge of the sport.

Jeff now travels from his home base of Phoenix, AZ with wife Melissa and two children Trevin and Lindsey, entertaining crowds at some of the largest airshows in the United States. He is honored to be a part of the Buckeye Air Fair and hopes to meet you at an airshow soon.

PP

Post Reply