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Bob Hoover, one of history’s greatest pilots, dead at 94
Minnesota Public Radio ^ | October 25, 2016 | Bob Collins

Posted on 10/25/2016 10:03:09 AM PDT by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.mprnews.org ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aerospace; airforce; aviation; bobhoover; history; obituary; pilot; pow; testpilot; worldwarii; wwii
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To: PilotDave

Neat demo in an F-86.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFezNQtuH5k


41 posted on 10/25/2016 11:39:25 AM PDT by rdcbn ("There is no means of avoiding a final collapse of a boom brought about by credit expansion. The alt)
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To: Moonman62

Exactly. And I enjoyed the hell out of his books as well. I have great respect for Gen. Yeager as well.

What a man.


42 posted on 10/25/2016 11:46:07 AM PDT by rlmorel (Orwell described Liberals when he wrote of those who "repudiate morality while laying claim to it.")
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To: EveningStar

Met him at Sun & Fun a few years ago.
It was a thrill.
GOD bless, Sir.


43 posted on 10/25/2016 11:53:35 AM PDT by Joe Boucher (hey Bill, rape anyone, Lately?)
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To: rlmorel

You have to know what a pain in the rear it would be to never be able to go outside without some well meaning person thinking they know you or want something.


44 posted on 10/25/2016 11:56:27 AM PDT by Joe Boucher (hey Bill, rape anyone, Lately?)
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To: EveningStar

No man ever cheated death like Bob Hoover and lived to die a natural death. His performances were breath-stopping! I saw him at numerous air shows and wouldn’t have missed it for anything. Now he is going to get his REAL wings and I imagine his best flying is still to come. RIP Bob.


45 posted on 10/25/2016 12:07:07 PM PDT by beelzepug (For English press #1; for Spanish, learn English and press #1)
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To: EveningStar

—great flyer—was him do a hammerhead stall in Ogden ,Utah some years ago-—


46 posted on 10/25/2016 12:08:10 PM PDT by rellimpank (--don't believe anything the media or government says about firearms or explosives--)
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To: EveningStar

Bob was a nice guy, he will be missed. Thank you for letting us know.


47 posted on 10/25/2016 12:10:51 PM PDT by bbulkhead
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Great story, thanks.


48 posted on 10/25/2016 12:18:40 PM PDT by PeteePie (Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people - Proverbs 14:34)
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To: EveningStar
RIP Bob Hoover.

Truly one of the greatest pilots ever.

So sad to lose such a great and accomplished gentleman at a time when our fine Country is in desperate need of role models of courage, character, and substance.

49 posted on 10/25/2016 12:34:57 PM PDT by Seaplaner (Never give in. Never give in. Never...except for convictions of honour and good sense. W. Churchill)
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To: EveningStar

I have been to many air shows, and have read many aviation magazines. I met Gregory “Pappy” Boyington several times; I do not remember if I ever met Bob Hoover.

However, I have lost track of how many times I have seen pictures of Hoover in a P-51 or some other aircraft.

He was a truly extraordinary pilot, and will be remembered.


50 posted on 10/25/2016 1:02:05 PM PDT by YogicCowboy ("I am not entirely on anyone's side, because no one is entirely on mine." - JRRT)
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To: EveningStar

In 1982 I saw this gentleman at an Air Show at the Naval Base in Corpus Christi. His flying was superbad to say the least. What really impressed me was after his flying was his interaction with the crowd. There were old war dogs and pilots and little kids. He spoke to all of them politely and honestly. He was a real gentleman and warrior.

I wish I had shaken his hand but he was busy with kids and warriors. I did not want to interrupt his good deeds with kids and warriors.

Today earth is a little bit less by his passing, heaven is a hell of a lot greater by his presence!


51 posted on 10/25/2016 1:05:34 PM PDT by cpdiii (DECKHAND, ROUGHNECK, GEOLOGIST, PILOT, PHARMACIST, LIBERTARIAN The Constitution is worth dying for.)
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To: jaydubya2
He was an incredible pilot.
52 posted on 10/25/2016 1:06:11 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: B4Ranch

awesome!!


53 posted on 10/25/2016 1:16:47 PM PDT by Thibodeaux (Exile Barack, Exile the Wookie, Exile Malia, Exile Shasha)
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To: pfflier
I attended almost every air show at Miramar until I sold my house in Mira Mesa in 2000. I was out with the Scouts on the tarmac to see the first F-14 land with the Secretary of the Navy in the RIO seat. Bob Hoover was always a great reason to be there.
54 posted on 10/25/2016 1:24:32 PM PDT by Myrddin
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To: Myrddin
We lived in Mira Mesa from 1982 to 2000, just off of Camino Ruiz where it ended with the barricade. I spent many evenings in the back yard watching the F-4s then F-14s fly circuits.

I considered it a wonderful night if an F-14 would engage stage 5 afterburner. You could read a book by that light as they passed overhead.

55 posted on 10/25/2016 2:26:26 PM PDT by pfflier
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To: PeteePie

Air & Space magazine articles about him.
http://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/r-bob-hoover-dies-94-180960903/?no-ist


56 posted on 10/25/2016 2:33:56 PM PDT by minnesota_bound
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To: Joe Boucher

Yeah. I know, which is why I kicked myself for feeling that way.


57 posted on 10/25/2016 3:21:24 PM PDT by rlmorel (Orwell described Liberals when he wrote of those who "repudiate morality while laying claim to it.")
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To: EveningStar

What a hell of an aviator, and what a wonderful role model. He never quit. He had a good run, and we all have to go someday, and most of us wish that we could leave footprints. But this guy, he was truly one of the immortals. He was to aviation as Bob Hope was to entertainment, Arnold Palmer to golf, Sir Edmund Hillary to mountain climbing, an ordinary looking man who was a true giant of his profession. He loved aviation and aviation loved him. I truly admire men like him. He left a wonderful legacy, and I am so glad that there are American men like him.


58 posted on 10/25/2016 3:26:25 PM PDT by SandwicheGuy (*The butter acts as a lubricant and speeds up the CPU)
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To: rlmorel

He was a real gentleman. A classy guy.


59 posted on 10/25/2016 4:30:31 PM PDT by PhiloBedo (You gotta roll with the punches, and get with what's real.)
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To: PhiloBedo

That was exactly how he came across to me.

Gracious. You don’t hear people described that way these days.


60 posted on 10/25/2016 5:12:27 PM PDT by rlmorel (Orwell described Liberals when he wrote of those who "repudiate morality while laying claim to it.")
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