Gene Soucy is an American aerobatics pilot. The son of two pilots, he grew up in Kentucky and soloed in a glider at age 14 and in a regular airplane at 16. He began flying professionally in airshows in 1968.
In 1972, Soucy qualified for a place on the U.S. aerobatics team at age 22, making him the youngest competitor flying at the World Championships in England that year. He placed 6th overall and contributed to the U.S. team winning the World Championship for the first time. He became a three-time U.S. National Aerobatic Champion and a three-time Canadian National Aerobatic Champion.
In 1971, Soucy partnered with Charlie Hillard and Tom Poberezny to form the Red Devils Aerobatic Team, flying the Pitts Special. In 1979, the team switched to the Christen Eagle aircraft and renamed themselves the Eagles Aerobatic Team. The Eagles flew together for more than 25 years and over 1,000 performances, setting a record for the longest-running aerobatic team with the same members.
During his career with the Eagles, Soucy developed a modified Grumman Ag Cat cropduster for a wing-walking act, naming it the Showcat. His partner Teresa Stokes performs as the wing walker. The Showcat is also configured with pyrotechnics for nighttime aerobatic shows. After the Eagles disbanded in 1995, Soucy began performing solo aerobatics in an Extra 300S in addition to his Showcat performances.
Soucy has flown as a stunt pilot for motion pictures and TV movies, including Aces: Iron Eagle III and The Pancho Barnes Story. He has also been a pilot for Delta Air Lines.
In 2002, Soucy developed kidney disease and underwent a kidney transplant in 2003, with Teresa Stokes as the donor. He returned to flying at airshows three months after the operation. He has received numerous awards, including the ICAS Sword of Excellence, the Bill Barber Award for Showmanship, and the Art Scholl Showmanship Award.
