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-   -   Good Bye and blue skies Bob Hoover (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=143096)

aerhed 10-26-2016 09:38 AM

Okay, I guess NOW they can have Bob's medical certificate.

Stitch462 10-26-2016 11:28 AM

Saw his routine as a kid 1979ish. To young to totally understand what I was watching. Godspeed sir.

LettersFromFlyoverCountry 10-26-2016 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rv7charlie (Post 1121665)
I'd just like to say thanks to Bob for the article, and that I really think we should make his Fantasy Legislature project a success.

Charlie
[obligatory ;-) here]


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. ]

hrhodes2@comcast.net 10-26-2016 05:05 PM

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

springer 10-26-2016 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LettersFromFlyoverCountry (Post 1122050)
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?

Bob, I know exactly what you mean. Mr. Hoover was at Williams AFB checking out in the F-5E to demo it later that year at the '73 Paris Air Show. He was in front of me in the lunch line at the O'Club and as a lowly 2Lt, I did not have the nerve to say hello I was in such awe.

DanH 10-30-2016 09:58 PM

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.

rockwoodrv9 10-30-2016 10:15 PM

Nice tribute Dan. Im not a drinking man, but that was cool. I admired Bob since he had to fight the FAA years ago.

Ironflight 10-30-2016 10:47 PM

Well done Mr. Horton!!

Warbo 10-31-2016 07:20 AM

Bob Hoover tribute
 
Spot on Dan. Excellent!!

ppilotmike 10-31-2016 11:51 AM

Awesome.
 
What a great (and well executed) tribute, Dan.

LettersFromFlyoverCountry 11-01-2016 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanH (Post 1123037)
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.

Well done. Added to my obituary piece (which has now become THE most viewed page of the year on our entire website. Yes, bigger than even the death of Prince)

Bob Martin 11-01-2016 07:52 AM

video
 
Great Video DAN...
Really like it!!
Nice Tribute....and pretty roll too...

Snowflake 11-01-2016 08:03 AM

That's an awesome video... Someday you'll need to post the out-takes! :)

RVbySDI 11-01-2016 08:24 AM

Dan, you truly are THE MAN!!

Awesome video!

ExtraKatana 11-01-2016 09:19 AM

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.

DanH 11-01-2016 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVbySDI (Post 1123398)
Dan, you truly are THE MAN!!

No. Mr. Hoover was the man...a truly fine man.

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.

LettersFromFlyoverCountry 11-01-2016 12:41 PM

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.

David Paule 11-01-2016 05:27 PM

Nice one, Dan.

Dave

Neal@F14 11-01-2016 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanH (Post 1123037)
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.

Pure awesome! Bob is not only smiling at this, he is cheering at the old " imitation is the grestest form of flattery" thing.

bwestfall 11-01-2016 11:36 PM

how does one approach a legend
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by LettersFromFlyoverCountry (Post 1122050)
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?

I'll add to this... In the late 90's, not sure the exact date I saw Bob's routine in the Shrike at the Hillsboro Airshow in Oregon. After his routine his plane was parked back in the static section and he would stand in front in his straw hat to answer any questions.

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.

rv8ch 11-02-2016 12:27 AM

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.

David-aviator 11-02-2016 07:49 AM

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.

keen9a 11-07-2016 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanH (Post 1123037)
PS...it's tea.

Because neither you or Bob Hoover would risk good whiskey!


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