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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Chuck in Indiana on October 25, 2016, 03:55:25 PM

Title: Face the West and raise a glass
Post by: Chuck in Indiana 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/
Title: Re: Face the West and raise a glass
Post by: 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 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7R7jZmliGc)
Title: Re: Face the West and raise a glass
Post by: acogoff on October 25, 2016, 04:48:22 PM: Sorry to hear, they don't come any better.
Title: Re: Face the West and raise a glass
Post by: Chuck in Indiana 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 (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. (!!)
Title: Re: Face the West and raise a glass
Post by: Testarossa on October 25, 2016, 04:57:45 PM: They say there are no old, bold pilots. They're wrong.
Title: Re: Face the West and raise a glass
Post by: Chuck in Indiana 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.
Title: Re: Face the West and raise a glass
Post by: Roebling3 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~
Title: Re: Face the West and raise a glass
Post by: Gliderjohn 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:
GliderJohn
Title: Re: Face the West and raise a glass
Post by: Shorty 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!
Title: Re: Face the West and raise a glass
Post by: ohiorider on October 25, 2016, 07:40:59 PM: Being a Rockwell retiree, I remember him well. RIP.

Bob
Title: Re: Face the West and raise a glass
Post by: Zoom Zoom 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
Title: Re: Face the West and raise a glass
Post by: Rough Edge racing 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.
Title: Re: Face the West and raise a glass
Post by: JJ on October 26, 2016, 10:14:04 AM: R.I.P. Bob Hoover...and Godspeed...

(http://thumb.ibb.co/cZA93v/Screen_Shot_2016_10_26_at_8_12_07_AM.png) (http://ibb.co/cZA93v)
Title: Re: Face the West and raise a glass
Post by: rboe 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: