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Okay, I guess NOW they can have Bob's medical certificate.
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Saw his routine as a kid 1979ish. To young to totally understand what I was watching. Godspeed sir.
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One of the many great ideas that turned out not to be so great. Seriously, thank you guys for picking up that article. It's the second-most-viewed post I've written this year and for the longest time yesterday, it was the only news organization site in the US (and that includes you, NY Times) to carry anything about Bob's passing. I'm not sure why it is, although I think not having enough aviators in the business is a big part of it. Hoover, as you all know and they don't, is right there with Orville Wright, Eddie Rickenbacker, Charles Lindbergh, Jimmy Doolittle, Jackie Cochrane, Chuck Yeager, and Neil Armstong, all of whom he met in his life. Think about that. The comments that people are sharing on that page are really great (how often do you hear THAT on the Internet). Anyway, now I'm rambling, but I wanted to thank you again for your nod. At my age, I get up in the morning and go to work and I honestly don't know what the point is of doing what I'm doing or whether anyone is out there are gives a d*****. Yesterday was not one of those days and it was a real honor to provide a tribute to the likes of Bob Hoover. [ edit to add: Oh, I wanted to add this observation. I have a hard time walking up to people and introducing myself (I know. I know.). I just assume that people have more important things to do. I got into the editing business largely because of Lou Grant. So when Ed Asner came into the newsroom one day for an inteview (not with me), I couldn't bring myself to meet him. I've got a hundred "could have beens and could have mets" just like that. Sadly, one of them is Bob Hoover. I had plenty of opportunities at Oshkosh. But it was Bob Hoover and who the heck am I? So these stories that people have been posting about the time they met Bob Hoover are tremendously pleasing to me and also tremendously sad because they all remind me of missed opportunities. I'll keep working on that -- I have many issues and that's on the list -- but just wanted to reaffirm not only how lucky we were to live in the time of Bob Hoover, but also how lucky you were to know him, if even for a moment, on a more personal level. ] |
Moments
Bob once in a while we get lucky. When I was stationed at Zweibrucken AB GE in the 80's I briefly met Adolf Galland at a Dedaelion dinner at Ramstein AB. I was a 20 something USAF know nothing pilot.
General Galland chose poorly in the 30-40's but what were his options? He like Bob Hoover was a gentleman. I would hate to have had either of them behind me in another airplane.. Two common threads of both men, gentlemen and the courage of a lion. Bet they are shooting down their watches about right now! Oh well who needs time.. Regards Howard |
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Bob Hoover was my hero. When he passed on last week, I got thinking it would be fun to do a short video tribute. I think he would have been amused.
https://vimeo.com/189574781 PS...it's tea. |
Nice tribute Dan. Im not a drinking man, but that was cool. I admired Bob since he had to fight the FAA years ago.
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Well done Mr. Horton!!
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Bob Hoover tribute
Spot on Dan. Excellent!!
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Awesome.
What a great (and well executed) tribute, Dan.
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Great Video DAN...
Really like it!! Nice Tribute....and pretty roll too... |
That's an awesome video... Someday you'll need to post the out-takes! :)
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Dan, you truly are THE MAN!!
Awesome video! |
My Memory
1997 in a crowded Burger King at McCarron Airport I could not help but tap him on the shoulder because he was directly in front of me with his tray. I couldn't think of anything better to open the conversation than "Jimmy Doolittle said you were the best Stick and Rudder Man who ever lived." He gave a wide smile and the conversation ensued. He invited me to his table where it was one-on-one for the next 30 minutes over two Whoppers, talking about everything aviation. I asked for his autograph as we parted and he said "I'll do one better." He wrote my address on a napkin and I received a box of Bob Hoover Memorabilia one week later. It even included his business Card to Enstrom West and a note that said, "stay in touch." What a Gentleman.
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I've previously told the story about Patti calling around to see about obtaining an autographed copy of Forever Flying. She left a number with someone, and then more or less forgot about it. Days later the phone rang in the kitchen. It was Hoover, calling personally to ask how she would like the book inscribed. He stayed on the phone with her for 45 minutes, just talking. Did she like to fly? What sort of airplane did we have? Did she like Oshkosh? Patti said he was sincerely interested, and absolutely charming. There are lots of guys who are very good sticks. Not many of those guys, at the peak of their profession, would take the time to call, just so a wife he had never met could obtain a birthday present for her husband. And how many would want to hear her airplane stories? Mr. Hoover may or may not have taught me about flying, but he did teach me something about being a man. |
Every time I think there's no hope for the human race -- this is a side effect of being in the news business -- someone tells a Bob Hoover story.
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Nice one, Dan.
Dave |
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how does one approach a legend
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Seems he was there for hours. I remember pacing back and forth in front of his plane trying to work up the nerve to introduce myself. Like Bob Collins I too was too shy and star struck to strike up a conversation w/him. I've always regretted that and wish I could go back and replay that one a bit differently. |
I had the pleasure of shaking Bob Hoover's hand at OSH one year, and I'm not kidding, some must have rubbed off - my landings were so much better after that. Super guy, someone to emulate.
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Seems like Bob Hoover touched a lot of people in a personal way. He was that kind of human. Always friendly and available with good spirit.
I sat next to him in first class on a TWA 727 flight from OKC to LAX for a few minutes many years ago. The flight was nearly empty and he was only pax up front, we took turns going back to visit with him. He was very amicable, humble and just nice guy. Usually when such was the circumstance with celebrities, they invited themselves up front to jump seat. Bob Hoover did not. I knew he was life long friend of Bevo Howard, the owner of the USAF contract school I attended as an aviation cadet. We talked about the accident that killed Bevo Howard, he was adamant the NTSB had it all wrong blaming pilot error. He insisted he was killed by black widow spiders, there were bite marks all over his neck that were ignored. The airplane had sat on ground for six weeks before the last flight. Anyway, he was a very special person and will be missed by all of us. |
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