Pietsch, Reider To Be Inducted into Air Show Hall of Fame

Alfred C. Pietsch and Rob Reider will be the newest members of the ICAS Foundation Air Show Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 12 at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel during the 2024 ICAS Convention.

A World War II veteran and active air show pilot from 1968 through 1995, North Dakota-based Al Pietsch performed throughout the U.S. and Canada in his Stolp Starduster Too, a homebuilt biplane. In addition to performing at hundreds of shows throughout North America, Al was deeply involved as an event organizer, helping to plan and conduct a number of air shows in North Dakota and Saskatchewan during his time in the business. During the latter stages of his air show flying, he performed with his two sons, Kent and Warren, creating a multi-ship, multi-act flying circus. Pietsch was a founding member of the International Council of Air Shows, a member of the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame and an honorary member of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. He was killed in an aviation accident in 1995.

After working for many years in local television in the Cincinnati area, Rob Reider began his career as a professional air show announcer in the 1990s, initially in the Midwest, but quickly expanding his work throughout the United States and Canada. During the last three decades, Reider has established himself as both a top air show narrator and a tireless advocate for the air show business. Each year for nearly three decades, he has helped to train the new narrators for the Golden Knights, Blue Angels and Thunderbirds. He has been a key member of the audio-visual production team for the ICAS Convention since the late 1990s. And Rob is an honorary member of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and was presented with the prestigious ICAS Sword of Excellence in 2007 for his contributions to and passion for the air show business.

Pietsch and Reider become the 75th and 76th inductees into the ICAS Foundation Air Show Hall of Fame, joining a group of industry leaders, pioneers and innovators that includes Bob Hoover, Paul Poberezny, Duane Cole, Charlie Hillard, Leo Loudenslager, Jimmy Franklin, Art Scholl and Curtis Pitts.