Aviation Legend Bob Hoover Dies at 94

[gray eagle]

http://www.flyingmag.com/aviation-le...ver-dies-at-94

[roger-wilco-66]

Just heard the news. This is very sad.

Tom Stovall and I had the chance to meet him recently in Ohskosh. I think I have read his book 10 times or so.

What a great man, what a life.



Mark

[Tom Clayton]

"There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are no old bold pilots."

Well, except for Bob Hoover...

[Terry]

"There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are no old bold pilots."

Well, except for Bob Hoover...

And General Yeager.

[Dev One]

He did a lot for the Aerocommander with his dead stick aerobatics, amazing displays. Blue skies Bob.

[PhantomTweak]

Mr. Hoover was indeed a legend in aviation! A man born with wings on his back. A truly instinctive flyer, and a magnificent entertainer. When I was young, my father took me to Reno every year for the Nationals. Mr. Hoover was the high point of the event, IMO.
I went back for their 30th Anniversary, hoping to see Mr. Hoover fly, but he had lost a friend in the qualifying on Friday and didn't fly that weekend. A sad time for him, and a loss to all of us. Not just the man dieing, which is horrible enough, but the loss of Mr. Hoover's incredible flying. I really missed his aerobatics in the Aero Commander, and not having him start the Unlimited in his inimitable style, then doing aerobatics above the race in his P-51, ready to assist in any way he could.
I watched one year during the Unlimited a plane blew an oil line. A common event with the Unlimited planes, apparently. The windscreen was completely covered. He pulled up and declared a mayday, and before he finished, Mr. Hoover's plane appeared as if by magic on the man's wing and talked him all the way down to a perfect landing. He never varied his position an inch off the man's wing. Amazing display of airmanship.

Mr. Hoover will be very missed. Lousy way to put it, the best way I can think of. There is no way to express my, nay OUR, gratitude for all you did during your amazing career. Fair skies and light winds, Mr. Hoover, and may your last flight be your best of all...
Pat☺