Bob Hoover, one of history’s greatest pilots, dead at 94

Minnesota Public Radio ^ | October 25, 2016 | Bob Collins

[EveningStar]

One of the greatest pilots in the history of aviation died this morning, according to reports.

Bob Hoover, a World War II fighter pilot, a former Air Force test pilot, and the chase plane pilot for Chuck Yeager when he broke the sound barrier for the first time, was 94.

[EveningStar]

Wikipedia

[EveningStar]

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[Fiddlstix]

Thanks for the Ping

[rdcbn]

No, please say it isn’t so.

RIP to a great man

[Myrddin]

That's sad news. One of his signature demos was putting a long stem wine glass on the console of his cockpit and doing an inside loop without spilling a drop. His stunt flying in the Iron Eagle movie was excellent. I had the pleasure of watching him fly at a few air shows. RIP Bob.

[Red Badger]

He now has permanent wings..........

[Renegade]

Saw him fly a STOL at Transfair in Atlantic City,NJ in1977.

[rlmorel]

I had the pleasure of meeting him out at Oshkosh a few years back. My friends and I got to speak with him for about 10 minutes, and my impression of him was that he was one of the most gracious, friendly celebrities I have ever met.

Down to earth.

I got him to sign his book for me, which, oddly enough, I just pulled out and looked at on Sunday night for some reason. Don’t know why. Maybe now I know.

RIP Mr. Hoover, and thank you for everything...your service to your country, your thrills in your airshow, and your personable manner.

[PeteePie]

The story at the link says; “Having been shot down in World War II, he escaped near the end of the war by stealing a German fighter.” What? I gots to do me some research on that one.

[MCF]

Eric Brown back in February now Bob Hoover. They lived a true man’s life.

[Army Air Corps]

Blue skies, Bob.

[rlmorel]

I made the mistake of comparing that personal encounter I had with Hoover to a personal encounter I had with Chuck Yeager, where Yeager was very unfavorable in comparison, and I voiced that to people on this very forum.

I wish I hadn’t.

I should have taken Yeager’s circumstances into account. He was much more of a celebrity, and for much longer in his life than Hoover was. Granted, Hoover is a celebrity at Oshkosh, but most people wouldn’t know him if they passed him in a supermarket.

Yeager apparently had it much differently. Celebrity has sat on his shoulders in a very different way, being more of a burden to him. He never wanted it, but Hoover seemed quite at home with it, at least at his level of celebrity.

[rockvillem]

An absolute LEGEND of aviation. What a life he led. RIP

[rlmorel]

Yeah. Stole a FW190 from an airfield...crazy!

With young American pilots just scouring the landscape for any German plane in the air, that would have been a hazardous undertaking indeed.

Though any young pilot who took him on might have had his hands full...

[zerosix]

Really loved the guy.

Saw him a number of years ago at the Reno Air Races.

Got his book and glad I did!

[PLMerite]

Had this kit as a child.

[NonValueAdded]

The Right Stuff!!! Rest In Peace, brave aviator, and may our prayers be with your loved ones.

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.

[Haiku Guy]

I loved his power-off aerobatic demontrations. Amazing.

[RckyRaCoCo]

An airshow favorite years ago.

Tailwinds and Blue Skies...