Tucson’s own Air Force Thunderbird happy to be home for last show

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TUCSON, Arizona (KOLD News 13) – Every two years, thousands of southern Arizonans flood the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to watch in awe the speed and performance of military aircraft. They had to wait a little longer for the 2021 show due to a pandemic delay. But Thunder and Lightning over Arizona this weekend promises a special hometown surprise: Tucson’s Air Force Thunderbird on its final show.

Oro Valley’s own Major Jason Markzon is Thunderbird # 8. He’s the Thunderbirds advance pilot, so he came first to survey the airspace. It is a room that Major Markzon, callsign “Flack”, is already familiar with.

“Even someone from the little Oro Valley can grow up and become a Thunderbird,” Markzon told KOLD.

He grew up under the dark night sky, where he spent many hours dreaming of how he could one day get there himself. He always hoped to become an astronaut.

“There is no light pollution up there, you can see every single star – I would always look up,” said Major Markzon of his childhood in the Oro Valley.

After graduating from Canyon Del Oro High, Markzon fell in love with flying as a senior at Arizona State University. He joined the Air Force, serving in Korea and Japan, crowned by what he calls the best job of his life: Air Force Thunderbird.

This trip closed him. Now he’s saying goodbye to the Thunderbirds here in Tucson.

“This is my very last show of the 2021 season and my Thunderbird career,” said Markzon, calling his swan song “bittersweet”.

“It’s very special to start here in Tucson and to book here in Tucson.”

Markzon also has the special position of telling the maneuvers and selecting the music to match the acrobatics. So if you look at the amazing formations of the Thunderbird F-16, you will hear Major Markzon describe them.

“We made it more exciting, closer to the crowd, closer formations – a few surprises that people have never seen before,” said Markzon of the exhibition.

For Southern Arizona, the highly anticipated show is a welcome way to escape a difficult year, coupled with a dose of inspiration, courtesy of our Southern Arizonan in the sky.

“You just have to overcome all of these limits and barriers that you will encounter – and keep your dreams,” said Markzon.

Thunder and Lightning over Arizona is a free event from November 6-7 at Davis-Monthan AFB. Here you will find timetable, parking and ticket information.

Copyright 2021 KOLD News 13. All rights reserved.

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