Stein Announces Retirement | October 7th, 2025 |
 Past ICAS Sword of Excellence and Art Scholl Showmanship Award recipient and longtime ICAS member Bill Stein has announced his retirement as an active air show performer.
During his 25-year air show career, Bill performed as both a solo and formation pilot in a wide range of aerobatic aircraft, from the Boeing Stearman, Globe Swift and Pitts Special to the Edge 540 and Extra 300. He was inducted into the ICAS Foundation Air Show Hall of Fame in 2015 as a member of the Red Baron Pizza Squadron and is an honorary member of the U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds.
During his time in the air show business, Stein served as vice chairman of the ICAS Foundation; as a member of the ICAS Safety, ACE and Ethics Committees; and as a reliable source of engagement and thoughtful analysis on a wide range of air show projects and topics.
Perhaps his most enduring legacy to the air show community will be the many pilots he has trained and mentored, including a number of Scholl Award recipients and Air Show Hall of Fame inductees. Although he performed in his last air show in Chicago in August, Bill intends to continue his work as a trainer and mentor for current and aspiring air show performers. | |