http://blogs.mprnews.org/newscut/2016/10/bob-hoover-one-of-nations-greatest-pilots-dead-at-94/
94 years old. One of the best pilots of all time. What a loss, but what a life.
http://blogs.mprnews.org/newscut/2016/10/bob-hoover-one-of-nations-greatest-pilots-dead-at-94/
94 years old. One of the best pilots of all time. What a loss, but what a life.
The greatest stick and rudder man that ever lived. I am fortunate to have seen him fly his routine in the Shrike and to have shook his hand.
NOOOOOOooooooo... Damn, who's next, Chuck Yeager or Bud Anderson?
Wow, that is truly sad news. One of my fondest airshow memories was watching Bob Hoover in the twin at Sun-N-Fun. One year I went to get his autograph when I was a young boy, and despite having just climbed from the cockpit and being drenched in sweat, he smiled and gladly wrote me a nice note. I'll have to dig it out now.
Appleseed wrote: The greatest stick and rudder man that ever lived. I am fortunate to have seen him fly his routine in the Shrike and to have shook his hand.
Me as well. A high point of my young life. RIP, old airman.
Back when the FAA had a vendetta against him in the early 90s, I actually wrote my congressman about it. I wanted so bad to see him fly again.
I’ve hardly, if ever, chimed in on one of these threads but I’ll make an exception for Mr. Hoover.
As others here have indicated, he was truly one of my role models.
He demonstrated, in jaw dropping fashion, what can be accomplished with efficiency and elegance of purpose as opposed to the ham-fisted, hit it with a BFH approach that’s far too common today.
If you're faced with a forced landing, fly the thing as far into the crash as possible.
Bob Hoover
Cousin_Eddie wrote: If you're faced with a forced landing, fly the thing as far into the crash as possible. Bob Hoover
I use that credo in every aspect of my life.
I don't think I possess any skill that anyone else doesn't have. I've just had perhaps more of an opportunity, more of an exposure, and been fortunate to survive a lot of situations that many other weren't so lucky to make it. It's not how close can you get to the ground, but how precise can you fly the airplane. If you feel so careless with you life that you want to be the world's lowest flying aviator you might do it for a while. But there are a great many former friends of mine who are no longer with us simply because they cut their margins to close.
—Bob Hoover
Greatest stick and rudder man of all time. He was my little brothers hero for quite a while. Best air show act I have ever seen.
Javelin wrote: Wow, that is truly sad news. One of my fondest airshow memories was watching Bob Hoover in the twin at Sun-N-Fun. One year I went to get his autograph when I was a young boy, and despite having just climbed from the cockpit and being drenched in sweat, he smiled and gladly wrote me a nice note. I'll have to dig it out now.
I remember seeing him as a kid both at Dayton's big air fair, and the Idaho Falls one, too. My mom (a pilot) idolized him, too.
Times like this I always remember what Patton said: It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
After an impromptu and highly un-authorized dogfight with Chuck Yeager after Yeager was bounced by Bob Hoover at Muroc Air Base:
Yeager, "Man, that was great flying! I didn't know a P-38 swap ends like that!"
Hoover, "I didn't either, until I tried it!"
He was awesome! When I used to fly he often discussed in conversations at the FBO.
WildScotsRacing wrote: After an impromptu and highly un-authorized dogfight with Chuck Yeager after Yeager was bounced by Bob Hoover at Muroc Air Base: Yeager, "Man, that was great flying! I didn't know a P-38 swap ends like that!" Hoover, "I didn't either, until I tried it!"
Ho-lee-crap that make me laugh out loud.
First time I ever saw him fly was back in the 80's at Mt Comfort air show. He did his routine, the shut the engines down and finished the routine, landed and rolled to his pad spot without ever turning the engines back on. That one lesson in energy conservation clicked for me. Saw him a few times at Sun-n-Fun and I believe Oshkosh. Helluva pilot.
Will wrote: Times like this I always remember what Patton said: It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
Amen.
What a loss!
But I suppose there is nothing to be sad about, being a pilot and living to 94. Such an interesting guy.
Talking about managing energy: https://youtu.be/eTYprpGJTkY
Bobzilla wrote: First time I ever saw him fly was back in the 80's at Mt Comfort air show. He did his routine, the shut the engines down and finished the routine, landed and rolled to his pad spot without ever turning the engines back on. That one lesson in energy conservation clicked for me. Saw him a few times at Sun-n-Fun and I believe Oshkosh. Helluva pilot.
Regarding said energy conservation skills; I have occasionally wondered what kind of road racer he would have made, had he chosen to pursue it even as a hobby.
Saw a story about him this morning that when he was delivering his Shrike to the museum where it sits today, he taxied the plane into position right between the priceless historical aircraft to the horror of all the museum staff, who wanted to push/tow it in. Some tried to throw chocks in front of his wheels to stop him, but he dodged them 
WildScotsRacing wrote:Bobzilla wrote: First time I ever saw him fly was back in the 80's at Mt Comfort air show. He did his routine, the shut the engines down and finished the routine, landed and rolled to his pad spot without ever turning the engines back on. That one lesson in energy conservation clicked for me. Saw him a few times at Sun-n-Fun and I believe Oshkosh. Helluva pilot.Regarding said energy conservation skills; I have occasionally wondered what kind of road racer he would have made, had he chosen to pursue it even as a hobby.
In my later years I thought the same. Put him into a Honda Fit and let him go. Probably would have put half the field on the trailer.
Only ever saw him once, at the York PA airport back in the 80's. Fantastic show at a very small airport.
A damn good man and a great pilot. I never have heard any other pilots speak ill of him, that is rare indeed.
In reply to Bobzilla:
Hah, put him in a Honda Fit and he prolly could out-lap a Z06... at VIR Grand West...
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