28,000 Flight Hours Lead Bill Eyster to Indiana Aviation Hall of Fame

For over four decades, the name Bill Eyster became entirely synonymous with general aviation across Northeast Indiana, anchoring a family legacy that began long before he ever climbed into a cockpit.

After being discharged from the Army in 1956, Bill and his young family returned to Indiana, where he went to work with his brother, Jim, who managed the Tri-State Airport in Angola, according to the Indiana Aviation Hall of Fame. The Tri-State Airport itself was originally founded by their father, Paul, back in 1930.

Within just four months of his return, Bill took over as the airport manager, setting off decades of steady growth that turned the modest local airfield into a thriving general aviation hub for the region. Under his leadership, Tri-State Aviation evolved into a complete Cessna Service Center offering flight instruction, aircraft sales, maintenance, and charter flights, operating a fleet of twin-engine Cessnas that included 310s, 414s, and 421s.

William Eyster induction video

Bill stayed hands-on in every single aspect of daily operations. As a certificated airframe and powerplant mechanic, he fixed airplanes when they broke, while as a certificated flight instructor, he taught fledgling pilots how to fly and helped them secure advanced ratings.

As a charter pilot, he flew customers to destinations throughout the United States and hauled freight for numerous businesses, alongside spending warm summer months giving local plane rides over Northeast Indiana’s numerous lakes.

Beyond his maintenance hangar and flight line, Bill gained his widest renown as a long-tenured Federal Aviation Administration designee. During his decades-long service as a pilot examiner, he administered over 1,200 flight tests in Angola and across much of Indiana.

In his retirement years, Bill transitioned into an active snowbird in Southern Florida, where he spent his time flying for an organization dedicated to tracking panthers.

Over the course of his long and distinguished career, Bill Eyster accumulated more than 28,000 flight hours while establishing himself as a passionate advocate for aviation throughout Indiana. He personally took thousands of people on their very first airplane ride, guiding many local pilots toward successful careers in commercial and military aviation—a path that notably included two of his own grandsons.

In recognition of his decades as an aviation entrepreneur, FAA designated examiner, and tireless industry advocate, Bill Eyster is officially inducted into the Indiana Aviation Hall of Fame.