Bob Hoover died yesterday, October 25. I won’t bother to tell you who Bob Hoover was — but will say that the great Jimmy Doolittle, a stellar pilot himself — described Hoover as being “the greatest stick-and-rudder man who ever lived.”
Does the aviator live who doesn’t have a favorite Bob Hoover story? Hoover will live on through those memories, those stories. Here are two of mine…
I once spoke at an aviation convention for a breakfast meeting of a Hoover sponsor. Being well aware that Hoover worked long days and late nights at such conventions, I feared he wouldn’t make it. Hoover showed up on time, sat on the very front row and proceeded to be one of the world’s greatest audience members. He laughed at all the right places, slapped his leg and hooted. Afterwards he hopped right up, shook hands, and told me how terrific I was. Do I remember Bob Hoover? Yessir, and I’ll never forget that particular memory.
Another story I didn’t witness, but did read.
Hoover attended one of the great European air shows. The communist countries were there, of course, with a brand new aircraft. Everyone wanted Hoover to fly it, but the communists said “nyet.”
Eventually, they agreed, but insisted there be no aerobatics whatsoever. Hoover climbed into the strange airplane, with directions written in a language unknown to him. On takeoff, Hoover did an eight-point roll, then proceeded to fly one helluva a show.
The communists were apoplectic, and jumped on Hoover en masse. Hoover seemed very confused at first, then said, “I thought you said do aerobatics! I thought you wanted aerobatics!”
Everyone who saw Hoover fly will never forget him. He was truly one of a kind.
