AZeats and the Scottsdale AirFair
A Digital Partnership in Arizona Aviation History

The Airshow That Wasn't — A Tale of Two 15ths

During the early 2000s, AZeats was expanding rapidly—building restaurant websites, promoting local dining, and helping Arizona businesses establish their presence on the emerging Internet. But our work didn’t stop at food and hospitality. Through Event Promotions, AZeats also contributed to major statewide events, including one of Arizona’s most beloved aviation gatherings: the Scottsdale AirFair.

A Community Aviation Tradition

By 2000, the Scottsdale AirFair had become a signature event at Scottsdale Airport. Families came to see military aircraft, historic warbirds, flight demonstrations, and hands‑on aviation exhibits. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association later described the AirFair as a model airport open house—non‑aerobatic fly‑bys, military participation, and strong community engagement.

For AZeats, the AirFair offered a new kind of challenge. Instead of promoting individual restaurants, they were building a digital home for an entire aviation festival. In the early Internet era, event websites weren’t yet standard—they had to be designed from scratch, updated manually, and carefully structured to serve both marketing and public‑information needs. AZeats built the official AirFair website, helping the event reach a wider audience and giving visitors a central place to learn about attractions, schedules, aircraft, vendors, and activities. The above image shows the homepage.

The 2001 AirFair: Scheduled as the 15th Annual—But Never Held

In 2001, organizers announced what was officially branded the 15th Annual Scottsdale AirFair, scheduled for November 9–11. Promotional materials were printed, sponsors confirmed, and the website—built and maintained by AZeats—was fully active. AZeats was also listed as an event sponsor, supporting the food court and online presence. Click Here to view

But the national landscape changed abruptly on September 11, 2001.

Following the attacks, the FAA and Department of Homeland Security suspended non‑essential aviation events, airshows, formation flights, and military demonstrations. Scottsdale Airport complied with federal directives, and the AirFair—despite being fully planned—was canceled.

The cancellation froze the event’s numbering. The 2001 show had already been branded the 15th Annual, but it never occurred. No AirFair would be held again for more than a decade.

A Decade‑Long Hiatus

From 2002 through 2010, the AirFair remained dormant. Organizers dissolved, military participation rules changed, and Scottsdale Airport shifted away from large public aviation events. For eleven years, the AirFair existed only in memory—and in the archived website AZeats had built.

The 2011 Revival: Once Again the “15th Annual” AirFair

In 2011, the Scottsdale AirFair returned. The Civil Air Patrol Southwest Region’s Fly‑By magazine documented the revival and explicitly referred to the event as the “15th Annual Air Fair.” Photorecon Aviation Magazine covered the show’s highlights, including the arrival of VX‑9 China Lake F/A‑18 Super Hornets, the Deer Valley Warbirds formation team, and the Commemorative Air Force Red Tail P‑51 Mustang.

The numbering was intentional. Organizers chose to continue the sequence from 2000, effectively reusing the “15th Annual” title that had been assigned—but never used—for the canceled 2001 show.

Thus, both 2001 and 2011 carried the same designation: the 15th Annual Scottsdale AirFair—one planned but canceled, the other revived and completed.

AZeats’ Place in the AirFair Story

AZeats’ involvement in the AirFair reflects the company’s broader evolution during the early Internet era. The skills we developed building restaurant websites—design, content organization, digital marketing—translated seamlessly into event promotion. Our work on the AirFair website helped modernize the event’s public presence, and our sponsorship of the scheduled 2001 show became part of the historical record of the AirFair’s final pre‑hiatus year.

Even though the 2001 event never took place, AZeats’ contribution remains woven into the story of an aviation tradition that connected Arizona families, pilots, and history for decades.

Bibliography

Primary Event Materials

• Event Promotions & Scottsdale Airport. Scottsdale AirFair 2001 Promotional Packet. Scottsdale, AZ, 2001. (Includes sponsor listings, AZeats food court partnership, and “15th Annual West Coast Air Spectacular” branding.)
• AZeats / Event Promotions. Scottsdale AirFair Official Website (2001). Archived pages documenting attractions, schedules, aircraft lists, and sponsor information.
• Event Promotions website

Cancellation & Hiatus Documentation

• Federal Aviation Administration. Post‑9/11 Temporary Flight Restriction Notices and National Airspace Security Directives. September–November 2001. (Mandated suspension of non‑essential aviation events and airshows.)
• City of Scottsdale / Scottsdale Airport. Internal Communications Regarding Event Suspension. 2001–2002. (Confirms cancellation of the 2001 AirFair and suspension of public aviation events.)

2011 Revival Sources

• Willard, David (2nd Lt.). “Scottsdale Air Fair Returns.” Fly‑By: Civil Air Patrol Southwest Region Magazine, January 2012. (Documents the 2011 revival and identifies the event as the “15th Annual Air Fair.”)
• Photorecon Aviation Magazine. “Scottsdale Air Fair 2011.” November 2011. (Covers VX‑9 China Lake F/A‑18 Super Hornets, Deer Valley Warbirds, and CAF Red Tail P‑51 Mustang.)

Independent Reporting

• Scottsdale Trails. “Scottsdale Air Fair Returns After More Than a Decade.” 2011–2012. (Confirms long hiatus and revival context.)
• Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA). Airport Open House Profiles. (Describes the Scottsdale AirFair as a model non‑aerobatic fly‑by event.)