RIP Bob Hoover
- Thread starter grampi
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Thanks for that link Grampi, shared to FB.
I have a cuz in the USAF.
I have a cuz in the USAF.
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another of the greatest generation, gone. RIP
I've seen him at a few airshows. Great pilot and patriot.
One amazing individual. If you haven't seen his aerobatic performances, go look them up, many are on Youtube. I think the most amazing was what he used to do with the Shrike Commander... because it was such an ordinary airplane doing such extraordinary things. Like the multiple dead-stick passes starting at about 3:40...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhkmY3rELeY
And of course pouring tea with one hand and rolling the aircraft with the other...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9pvG_ZSnCc
Just another afternoon in the "office..."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7R7jZmliGc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhkmY3rELeY
And of course pouring tea with one hand and rolling the aircraft with the other...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9pvG_ZSnCc
Just another afternoon in the "office..."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7R7jZmliGc
The inverted coke filling glass in the dash. RIP, great aviator.
The passing of Bob Hoover is an unfortunate loss to the aviation community. He will be sorely missed, may he rest in peace.
Remember seeing him with my dad as a kid. He had this p-51 that he used to do an impressive aerobatics show.
Then he got into a twin engine aerocommander and did the same show. With the engines off.
I understand that he sold quite a few Aerocommanders that way.
Then he got into a twin engine aerocommander and did the same show. With the engines off.
I understand that he sold quite a few Aerocommanders that way.
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew -
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .
Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew -
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.
I watched him at the airshows many times with my dad. Just unbelievable stuff he could do with the P-51. Another great one was D. Greenamier flying the RARE BEAR at the air races. Ed
I had the honor of seeing him at an event at the Reno races in '09. He was inn his late 80's, but still working the crowd, shaking hands, touring the aircraft on display and having a great time. His story is an inspiration, his guidance life saving "...know your margins", and he will be missed.
I just saw this today on aviation news, What a man!!
I linked the article to my dad, who was a Navy fighter pilot for years, flew off the Kitty Hawk during the Vietnam war, was posted at Miramar for a while, etc.. and got a pretty darn cool response:
"Back in the 1960's when [Name redacted] and I were young lieutenants at NAS Miramar in San Diego, we were assigned as Bob Hoovers escorts during an Air Show he performed in."
I gotta say, pretty cool.
"Back in the 1960's when [Name redacted] and I were young lieutenants at NAS Miramar in San Diego, we were assigned as Bob Hoovers escorts during an Air Show he performed in."
I gotta say, pretty cool.
Quote:
Shot down over Germany in World War II, he was a POW for 16 months before he escaped near the end of the war by stealing a German fighter.
I still can't get over this. I've heard of stealing cars to get away, but stealing a plane to fly away... no less one with all the writing in the wrong language, to boot. Then to brush it off as no big deal.
Quote:
Hoover said he did not consider his actions in escaping to be heroic. “I was no hero. I didn’t do anything but be stupid,” he chuckled. Hoover said, “It’s a stupid story. For about a year and a half I wouldn’t tell anyone that story.” But word got out years later at an air show, and Hoover acknowledged his feat, albeit with disarming self-criticism.
Amazing.
Shot down over Germany in World War II, he was a POW for 16 months before he escaped near the end of the war by stealing a German fighter.
I still can't get over this. I've heard of stealing cars to get away, but stealing a plane to fly away... no less one with all the writing in the wrong language, to boot. Then to brush it off as no big deal.
Quote:
Hoover said he did not consider his actions in escaping to be heroic. “I was no hero. I didn’t do anything but be stupid,” he chuckled. Hoover said, “It’s a stupid story. For about a year and a half I wouldn’t tell anyone that story.” But word got out years later at an air show, and Hoover acknowledged his feat, albeit with disarming self-criticism.
Amazing.
Bob Hoover is my favorite of all famous pilots. I enjoyed his absolute mastery of flight and he seemed humble about it.
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