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Cooley Hurd

(26,877 posts)
Tue Oct 25, 2016, 02:42 PM Oct 2016

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

Source: MN Public Radio

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.

Having been shot down over Nice, France in World War II, Hoover spent 16 months as a POW, spending much of the time in solitary confinement as punishment for two dozen escape attempts. Finally, he succeeded just before the end of the war by stealing a German fighter.

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



I used to service Bob's Shrike at Byerly Aviation in the early 90's. Met him a few times and he was just SUCH a great guy.

Soar gently, my friend!!!



Bob's rolls were perfect 1G maneuvers - he could pour tea without spilling a drop!


And, with both engines off in the Shrike, performed aerobatics!
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Bob Hoover, one of history’s greatest pilots, dead at 94 (Original Post) Cooley Hurd Oct 2016 OP
Met him once.... Adrahil Oct 2016 #1
Know him very well Dem_Bones Oct 2016 #2
He was a super class act... met him a few times at Oshkosh groundloop Oct 2016 #3
The Greatest pdxflyboy Oct 2016 #4
a life well-lived blm Oct 2016 #5
Saw his airshow act several times - really amazing! The Velveteen Ocelot Oct 2016 #6
Stick/rudder genius. FigTree Oct 2016 #7
Big hole in the world of aviation. Plucketeer Oct 2016 #8
Thank you! Dem_Bones Oct 2016 #9
My pleasure, Dem-Bones! Cooley Hurd Oct 2016 #11
A Testament to his amazing skill... Ryano42 Oct 2016 #10
Fair skies and gentle winds accompany you on your final journey, sir! LongTomH Oct 2016 #12
Motherfucker badass. Rest well, Patriot. nt msanthrope Oct 2016 #15
I remember that Shrike titaniumsalute Oct 2016 #16
One of a kind. trof Oct 2016 #17
WOW madokie Oct 2016 #18

Dem_Bones

(5 posts)
2. Know him very well
Tue Oct 25, 2016, 02:52 PM
Oct 2016

Such a sad day today because of this. Unbelievable person. Bob is like 7 or 10 people all rolled into one person. I could barely keep up with his humor, kindness, energy, knowledge. Actually, I could never keep up, but was blessed to watch and listen in awe. Ugh.

groundloop

(11,487 posts)
3. He was a super class act... met him a few times at Oshkosh
Tue Oct 25, 2016, 02:54 PM
Oct 2016

Absolutely superb pilot... I'll always remember his engine out demonstrations in the Shrike Commander.

pdxflyboy

(672 posts)
4. The Greatest
Tue Oct 25, 2016, 02:59 PM
Oct 2016

I saw him perform at an air show in Bridgeport, CT around 1979. He had no equals.

See ya on the other side. RIP, Bob

FigTree

(347 posts)
7. Stick/rudder genius.
Tue Oct 25, 2016, 03:17 PM
Oct 2016

His coordination is so light, fast and precise... Leaves us like Salieris listening to Mozart.

LongTomH

(8,636 posts)
12. Fair skies and gentle winds accompany you on your final journey, sir!
Tue Oct 25, 2016, 04:45 PM
Oct 2016

I saw Bob perform his engine-out maneuver at an airshow at Richards-Gebaur AFB here in Missouri in the 90s. His maneuver was a physics lesson as well as an aerobatic demonstration; Bob continually exchanged potential energy for kinetic energy and vice-versa.

titaniumsalute

(4,742 posts)
16. I remember that Shrike
Wed Oct 26, 2016, 12:06 AM
Oct 2016

CLEVELAND Air Show. He'd shut #1 down and do some tolls/loops and then shut #2 down, do a loop, and frigging land it like a glider. RIP.

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