A legend passes. Bob Hoover.

[Pappy!]

If any of you have ever seen this man fly or just appreciate airplanes and flying you will know who Bob Hoove was. What you may not know is some of the amazing history he created and experienced.
A true legend and one of the last. I was fortunate to watch his last engine out performance at Sun N Fun, in Lakeland, Fla. in one of his Shrikes.

http://blogs.mprnews.org/newscut/2016/10/bob-hoover-one-of-nations-greatest-pilots-dead-at-94/

[John Schmidt]

Sorry to read that, the man was one of a kind. Got to meet him in person at Sun 'n Fun some years ago, actually spent a few minutes chatting with me. Seems the FAA kinda screwed him over a few years back, pulled his ticket for a while. Never did quite know the reasons behind it.

[solo1]

He was mentioned a lot in Yeager's autobiography.  A great pilot with none of the ego that Yeager had, from what i can tell.

An eight point roll with no engines, Wow!

[Pappy!]

Both Yeager and Hoover were test pilots out of the same facility for a long time. Hoover flew the chase plane when Yeager broke the record in the Bell X1. Hoover took the photos.

[Pappy!]

Sorry to read that, the man was one of a kind. Got to meet him in person at Sun 'n Fun some years ago, actually spent a few minutes chatting with me. Seems the FAA kinda screwed him over a few years back, pulled his ticket for a while. Never did quite know the reasons behind it.

He failed a medical. Took a concerted effort by thousands of pissed-off pilots around the country and world to get the FAA to reverse course and re-instate his license.

[Flat6Valk]

I met him on several occasions at the Reno Air Races in the mid 80's.  Great Man!!

[Wizzard]

He was a legend. Articles about him all the time in AOPA magazine  RIP Bob

[solo1]

Along the same lines, what's with Yeager these days.  Is he still around. He was having some nasty problems with his kids after "Glamorous Glennis"  died.

I read his book.  He certainly had a lot of faith in himself, in other words, a massive ego.

[Willow]

Great man.  Great pilot.

Something to think about.  He was a twenty-two year old young man when he was shot down and captured.  He was only twenty-three when he escaped stealing a German Focke-wulf and flew it to Holland.

What a life. What a man.  

[The emperor has no clothes]

Great man.  Great pilot.

Something to think about.  He was a twenty-two year old young man when he was shot down and captured.  He was only twenty-three when he escaped stealing a German Focke-wulf and flew it to Holland.

What a life. What a man.  

That is quite a life. Someone should make a movie about it. 

[Jess from VA]

Yes a true legend.  My understanding was he publicly thumbed his nose at stupid FAA rules and regs enough that they went after him personally.  (sound familiar?)

Private (general) aviation has been disappearing (expensive), and the majority of those left are old guys.  The G has never been exactly friendly to private aviation (just like the 2d A).  But apparently the rules regarding physicals has recently relaxed, to everyone's relief.

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2016/july/15/medical-reform-becomes-law

[Patrick]

Yep, sad. Mr Hoover was a great man and accomplished much in his life.  And he was a hell of a pilot.

As for Yeager, I believe he is alive. Don't know about his health or family life though.

The pilots I know all have ego's [ except for this writer of course  ] and they come thru differently on everyone.  Some pilots believe their survival depends on their skill, I happen to feel that luck has a place in that too.

[baldo]

  Some pilots believe their survival depends on their skill, I happen to feel that luck has a place in that too.

Don't forget top quality maintenance.....

[Grumpy]

Met him at Sun & Fun a few years ago, one of the greatest pilots around.  May he rest in peace.

[John Schmidt]

The pilots I know all have ego's [ except for this writer of course  ] and they come thru differently on everyone.  Some pilots believe their survival depends on their skill, I happen to feel that luck has a place in that too.

Yeah Patrick, skill and luck always played a part in my practice sessions. I used to go through quite a list of maneuvers except stalls. I always made sure my ex was with me when I practiced those....and "accidental" spins(on purpose). I swear you could hear her scream if you were on the ground.  She was also licensed but I could never figure out how she got her ticket.

[Rams]

As a former Army helicopter test pilot, I can attest to how important excellent maintenance  and how important checklist and proper QC is.    More than once I've pre-flighted an aircraft only to send it back to finish the job.   As far as luck goes, I believe the "luck factor" plays a far greater role, the less one practices "emergency procedures".    Some things the pilot, crew and maintenance folks have little or nothing to do with.   "Stuff" happens but, if proper training and emergency procedures are followed, there's normally a happy landing.

I can say that due to eight  engine failures without a single bent skid or banged up A/C.   Needless to say, I practiced auto-rotations to the ground frequently.  One never knows.  

There's also that old saying:  There are old pilots and there are bold pilots but, there are very few, old bold pilots.

[Willow]

...  She was also licensed but I could never figure out how she got her ticket.

The day I took the ride for my ticket (at the base level) I did okay until we did the part under the hood.  At the end of the ride the examiner told me it was a grueling ride and that he was going to pass me not because I was that good but because he didn't want to endure that ride again.  He told me I should definitely get some instrument instruction.

I guess examiners are human too.

[Wizzard]

I was part owner in a cherokee 180 for 20 years. When I was a student and  doing a solo one day I was at about 5k feet practicing stalls and accidentlally did not keep the rudder coordinated. Went into a flat spin and lost about 1500 ft before I knew what happened and recovered. Went straight back to the airport and landed. Told my instructor and we went out and purposely put the plane in flat spins and practiced recovery. It got kinda fun after awhile but the first one sure scared me.

[RP#62]

  Some pilots believe their survival depends on their skill, I happen to feel that luck has a place in that too.

Don't forget top quality maintenance.....

Its been said, God made aircraft mechanics so that pilots could have heroes too.


-RP

[baldo]

That happened right after [ 20 min] exhaust manifold replacement in solid IMC while taking some folks to Boston.  After an instrument approach to a safe emergency landing at a different non-manned airport  I was going to arrange another plane to continue the flight. But the passengers had other ideas on their minds. After they calmed down and stopped screaming and crying they opted to finish the trip by bus.  

There wasn't  any choice and had to violate one of my rules. I always want to test fly alone after any repair especially when  instrument conditions are going to be involved.

I've seen that before...Did he also replace a cylinder? It looks like the skirt was still intact.

There were a few exploding cylinders on the DC3's and Martins. The cylinder would usually crack somewhere in the middle and in some cases the top of the jug would come right through the cowl....






How long did it take to get the seat cushion removed?

[Rams]

Its been said, God made aircraft mechanics so that pilots could have heroes too.


-RP

First rule I learned in Test Pilot School was, always take the guy that worked on the aircraft I'm about to test fly on the flight.

Two reasons, #1, he deserves the flight time and #1, he may not like me.   

[Oldfishguy]

As a former Army helicopter test pilot, I can attest to how important excellent maintenance  and how important checklist and proper QC is.    More than once I've pre-flighted an aircraft only to send it back to finish the job.   As far as luck goes, I believe the "luck factor" plays a far greater role, the less one practices "emergency procedures".    Some things the pilot, crew and maintenance folks have little or nothing to do with.   "Stuff" happens but, if proper training and emergency procedures are followed, there's normally a happy landing.

I can say that due to eight  engine failures without a single bent skid or banged up A/C.   Needless to say, I practiced auto-rotations to the ground frequently.  One never knows.  

There's also that old saying:  There are old pilots and there are bold pilots but, there are very few, old bold pilots.

Did our paths cross?

Me
AH1- Cobra  Crewchief Sgt
1980 - Ft. Hood
1981-83- Katterbach West Germany

[Rams]

Did our paths cross?

Me
AH1- Cobra  Crewchief Sgt
1980 - Ft. Hood
1981-83- Katterbach West Germany

Unfortunately not, I ended my relationship with the US Army in late 78.    Flew OH 58As, Cs and Super A.   UH-1 and AH-1s.   My favorite A/C was the Super A.   
Doesn't mean we can't or won't cross paths though.    I love to travel and do so at every opportunity.    An open invite to you if you ever find yourself in Central KY also.

 

[Pappy!]

Love it! Seems there are a bunch of flyers in here as well. The only one that didn't have a ticket was my sister and she was a Pan Am flight attendant. Other than that my Mom got her ticket in the 40's. My Dad flew the big 4-engine Sikorsky flying boats out of Dinner Key for Pan Am in Miami and flew the Burma Hump during WWII. Also had his A&E. I have both my A&P and licensed up to instrument and multi-engine but never got my commercial due to the Vietnam guys coming out about the same time I was trying to get into the airlines. My Uncle flew anything that had wings for the Airforce. His first love was for the P-61 Black Widow followed by the P-38 J model. He flew the latter under the Golden Gate twice during testing for Northrop. I grew up in a family with planes so no way was I not going to fly.
Watching Bob Hoover in Lakeland was an event that will last in memory forever. He was an amazing pilot who's precision was pretty much unmatched for his time. When he did his low pass down the runway, if you were on the runway there was no way you would be standing. Only laying down would have been safe, he was that low. Watching the engine out segment was amazing. The whole time you would think that there was absolutely no way that airplane was that clean or could hold that much residual energy to do what it did before touching down.

[baldo]

Love it! Seems there are a bunch of flyers in here as well. The only one that didn't have a ticket was my sister and she was a Pan Am flight attendant. Other than that my Mom got her ticket in the 40's. My Dad flew the big 4-engine Sikorsky flying boats out of Dinner Key for Pan Am in Miami and flew the Burma Hump during WWII. Also had his A&E. I have both my A&P and licensed up to instrument and multi-engine but never got my commercial due to the Vietnam guys coming out about the same time I was trying to get into the airlines. My Uncle flew anything that had wings for the Airforce. His first love was for the P-61 Black Widow followed by the P-38 J model. He flew the latter under the Golden Gate twice during testing for Northrop. I grew up in a family with planes so no way was I not going to fly.
Watching Bob Hoover in Lakeland was an event that will last in memory forever. He was an amazing pilot who's precision was pretty much unmatched for his time. When he did his low pass down the runway, if you were on the runway there was no way you would be standing. Only laying down would have been safe, he was that low. Watching the engine out segment was amazing. The whole time you would think that there was absolutely no way that airplane was that clean or could hold that much residual energy to do what it did before touching down.

This really is fantastic!

I've seen Bob Hoover perform, but never met him. He was absolutely the best, most precise pilot there ever was....his champagne beverage flights were unbelievable....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7R7jZmliGc

[Oldfishguy]

Did our paths cross?

Me
AH1- Cobra  Crewchief Sgt
1980 - Ft. Hood
1981-83- Katterbach West Germany

Unfortunately not, I ended my relationship with the US Army in late 78.    Flew OH 58As, Cs and Super A.   UH-1 and AH-1s.   My favorite A/C was the Super A.   
Doesn't mean we can't or won't cross paths though.    I love to travel and do so at every opportunity.    An open invite to you if you ever find yourself in Central KY also.

 

I'm assuming you were a Vietnam era guy as well.  I would fly in the front seat of the Cobra quite a bit, espically in Germany where more training time seemed to be allotted.  I had about 150 hours of fixed wing time before that point so I knew a bit about flying.  What  I realized though was the Vietnam guys wore those machines like a tight pair of pants, they had an absolute master of the machine and wore it.  It was impressive to watch.  Though, being a spit shined soilder . . . not so much in general; they knew what would keep them alive though.

That was the first time I'd seen pilots with that kind of feel for the machine; great role models.

[Firefighter]

Back when the CAF was still here in Harlingen Bob Hoover would put on a show with a Aero Shrike Commander. First he would carry a glass of water with him into the aircraft then fly his aerobatic routine which he would do all the rolls and loops, then climb high and dive for speed, shut off both engines and loop, roll and turn around and land and roll to a stop at show center in front of the crowd. Then get out and show us the water and drink in down. Better pilot than me!