a truly sad day for aviation

[oz rb fan]

it's hard to beleive but the news came through this morning the the great RA"Bob" Hoover had past away overnight at the age of 94.
http://blogs.mprnews.org/newscut/2016/1 ... ead-at-94/
loosing him and Eric "winkle"Brown in one year.

[Cap'n Wannabe]

I saw Bob perform many years ago...it was truly amazing to watch. Clear skies and tailwinds, Bob.

[hrtpaul]

[Adam the Akrodude]

Yes we can be sad, but I also think we can celebrate this great aviators life. Hoover had a VERY full life and he lived through and was very much part of some of the greatest aviation achievements in the 20th Century. Hoover could have been killed a hundred times over - probably more. One thing I think separates the greats from the average is coolness under extreme stress. In his book, Hoover wrote about the time when demo'ing his Ol' Yella Mustang at a air show at Reno, his harness broke when he was doing a knife edge to knife edge pass with a tuck under roll in between. This of course pinned him to the top of the canopy when he was inverted. Hoover was 100' above the runway totally out of the seat pinned against the canopy. He was somehow able to reach the throttle and stick and had just enough leverage to push forward keeping the nose up and rolled back upright when high enough. He referred to this as a living nightmare and surely one of the closest episodes to departing this planet prematurely in a most spectacular way. It was Hoover's coolness and experience to think and work through this issue in the few seconds he had available that saved his life - that and being a tall and lanky kinda guy!

I was once lucky enough to speak to him over the phone. A friend years ago was doing PR for Avalon and was doing a interview with Hoover when I rang her (me trying to get free tickets of course!). Anyhoo, she says "Want to speak to Bob Hoover?". I think I may have momentarily blanked out with that question! When I finally came to my senses, I said "Sure". So on came Hoover - "Hi there, it's Bob Hoover here". I think I stammered out something embarrassing like "Wow! I can't believe I'm talking to you sir, I've read your book, how do you like Australia? I'm now cringing at my childish attempt at communicating with the aviation Demigod! Bob replies with " Well, ah'm freezing mah fanny off here on the tarmac, have a nice day". I later watched his amazing Shrike Commander do its engine out, 16-point roll routine - mind blowing.

So, Mr. Hoover, thank you sir for all your contributions to aviation sir. If your spirit is out there in the ether somewhere, I hope you've got a yellow Mustang to zoom around some towering silver lined puffy cumulus!

[tor lives]

On behalf of all aerosexuals I say thanks and fair skies. RIP Bob.

TOR