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Author Topic: Face the West and raise a glass  (Read 1825 times)

Online Chuck in Indiana

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Face the West and raise a glass
« on: October 25, 2016, 03:55:25 PM »
Bob Hoover has gone West. One of the greatest aviators the world has ever known. Aviators never die, they just fly into the sunset..
http://blogs.mprnews.org/newscut/2016/10/bob-hoover-one-of-nations-greatest-pilots-dead-at-94/
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Chuck in (Elwood) Indiana/sometimes SoCal
 
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Offline tiger_one

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Re: Face the West and raise a glass
« Reply #1 on: October 25, 2016, 04:27:52 PM »
I saw him fly the Areo Commander two years at Osh Kosh, very impressive.

Probably the same one as in this youtube clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7R7jZmliGc
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Online acogoff

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Re: Face the West and raise a glass
« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2016, 04:48:22 PM »
   Sorry to hear, they don't come any better.
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Online Chuck in Indiana

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Re: Face the West and raise a glass
« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2016, 04:54:03 PM »
Quote from: tiger_one on October 25, 2016, 04:27:52 PM
I saw him fly the Areo Commander two years at Osh Kosh, very impressive.

Probably the same one as in this youtube clip.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7R7jZmliGc

I saw him at Cleveland back in the day. (60s) The weather was lousy, low ceilings and wind..the crowd was leaving. He went out and did a routine. You only saw him when he came down out of the clouds at the bottom of a loop, but you could *hear* him doing his routine on instruments. (!!)
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Chuck in (Elwood) Indiana/sometimes SoCal
 
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Re: Face the West and raise a glass
« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2016, 04:54:03 PM »

Offline Testarossa

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Re: Face the West and raise a glass
« Reply #4 on: October 25, 2016, 04:57:45 PM »
They say there are no old, bold pilots.  They're wrong.
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Online Chuck in Indiana

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Re: Face the West and raise a glass
« Reply #5 on: October 25, 2016, 05:01:01 PM »
Quote from: Testarossa on October 25, 2016, 04:57:45 PM
They say there are no old, bold pilots.  They're wrong.

I was just thinking this.  :smiley: He's pushed the limits all his life, and lived to a ripe old age. He obviously had skills that ordinary mortals can only dream about.
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Chuck in (Elwood) Indiana/sometimes SoCal
 
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Offline Roebling3

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Re: Face the West and raise a glass
« Reply #6 on: October 25, 2016, 06:18:02 PM »
Raise a glass, indeed. Watched him 2 times. Knew a few stunt pilots, one very well. Being an avid bystander the thrills last a lifetime. Hoover's life experiences will always put him at the top. This is a good time to show what mutual respect means.  R3~ 
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Offline Gliderjohn

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Re: Face the West and raise a glass
« Reply #7 on: October 25, 2016, 07:12:10 PM »
I was able to see him preform several times, both in the Aerecommander and a P-51. Great pilot and personality. Also had to have a pair of big ones to escape and steal a FW-190 successfully. Imagine stealing a foreign high performance fighter without killing yourself, very gifted and skilled. :bow:
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Offline Shorty

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Re: Face the West and raise a glass
« Reply #8 on: October 25, 2016, 07:16:20 PM »
A member of the OX5 Pioneer club took me to Latrobe to see Bob there.  Bob did his Commander show, and later flew the Mustang so low he was out of sight  in the gulley between the runways there. I was in awe  :thumb: What a master he was. Salute, sir!
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Offline ohiorider

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Re: Face the West and raise a glass
« Reply #9 on: October 25, 2016, 07:40:59 PM »
Being a Rockwell retiree, I remember him well.  RIP.

Bob
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Offline Zoom Zoom

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Re: Face the West and raise a glass
« Reply #10 on: October 26, 2016, 05:05:48 AM »
Really sad to hear about this. I too was lucky enough to see him perform a few times over the years. He is certainly a part of aviation history.

John Henry
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Re: Face the West and raise a glass
« Reply #11 on: October 26, 2016, 05:14:25 AM »
 I just read his book about a week ago.... I don't see it as sad, I see a man took what he could do best to the limit..And lived a long life.
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Online JJ

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Re: Face the West and raise a glass
« Reply #12 on: October 26, 2016, 10:14:04 AM »
R.I.P. Bob Hoover...and Godspeed...



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Offline rboe

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Re: Face the West and raise a glass
« Reply #13 on: October 26, 2016, 04:43:47 PM »
We knew this day was coming and at 94 he held on longer than most. But damn, the world is less with him gone.  :embarrassed:
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