Good Bye and blue skies Bob Hoover

[aerhed]

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

[Stitch462]

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

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

Originally Posted by rv7charlie

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]

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]

Originally Posted by LettersFromFlyoverCountry

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]

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]

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]

Well done Mr. Horton!!

[Warbo]

Spot on Dan. Excellent!!

[ppilotmike]

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