—great flyer—was him do a hammerhead stall in Ogden ,Utah some years ago-—
Bob was a nice guy, he will be missed. Thank you for letting us know.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Was Bob a member of QB?
Flying with the angels.
I think it was Jimmy Doolittle that called him "the best stick and rudder man" he had ever seen.
Member, Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame, a Nashville native.
R.I.P.