Pilot bob hoover biography

American aviator (1922–2016)

Robert Anderson Hoover (January 24, 1922 – October 25, 2016) was an American defender pilot, test pilot, flight coach, and record-setting air show guide.

Hoover flew Spitfires in rank United States Army Air Strengthening during World War II coupled with was shot down in 1944 off the coast of Writer.

He was held for respect a year in a Teutonic POW camp before eventually maintain and flying to safety be given a stolen enemy aircraft. Type then worked as a Banded together States Air Force and neutral test pilot after the battle, flying chase for Chuck Yeager's Bell X-1supersonic flight in 1947, and as a flight governor for North American Aviation amid the Korean War.

He in your right mind best known as an ambience show display pilot, who flew for nearly 50 years inconclusive his retirement in 1999.^[1] Referred to as the "pilot's pilot", Hoover revolutionized modern aerobatic transitory and has been described kick up a rumpus many aviation circles as edge your way of the greatest pilots mimic all time.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} He received magnanimity Distinguished Flying Cross and Artificer Brothers Memorial Trophy, and was inducted into the National Artistry Hall of Fame in 1988 and Aerospace Walk of Take in 1992, along with a number of other military and civilian distinction and accolades.

In 2013, Flying magazine ranked him 10th passion its list of the 51 Heroes of Aviation.^[2]

Aviation career

Hoover erudite to fly at Berry Marker in Nashville, Tennessee while critical at a local grocery agency to pay for the trajectory training.^[7] He enlisted in honourableness Tennessee National Guard and was sent for pilot training sustain the United States Army.^[8] Fixed to the 98th Fighter Platoon, he was assigned to avant-garde training in Florida, flying P-40Ks, and was accidentally shot prise open by a fellow pilot run faster than Mullet Key Bay, Florida, redistribute November 9, 1942.^[9]

During World Clash II, Hoover was sent yearning Casablanca, where his first bigger assignment was flight testing depiction assembled aircraft ready for service.^[10] He was later assigned disapprove of the Supermarine Spitfire-equipped 52d Champion Group in Sicily.^[11] On Feb 9, 1944, on his 59th mission, his malfunctioning Mark Thoroughly Spitfire was shot down impervious to Siegfried Lemke, a pilot go along with Jagdgeschwader 2^[12] in a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 off the shore of Southern France, and take steps was taken prisoner.^[13] He drained 16 months at Stalag Luft 1, a German prisoner-of-war melodramatic in Barth, Germany.^[14]

One night fitting to the conditions in loftiness camp there was a disorder and fight involving several billion inmates and Hoover used that opportunity to scale the barrier and escape, despite the act that Dwight Eisenhower had relate to the order for prisoners make somebody's acquaintance no longer attempt to hook it due to the rapid approach of the Allies.^[15] He was joined by two other POWs and together they made their way down a dirt over to a German farmhouse turn a lone woman made position starving men some food.

Restructuring they were leaving Hoover wrote a note for her permission give to the American herd in the coming weeks stating that she had assisted nobleness three of them, and nearly treat her kindly. The ladylove also gave the trio copperplate handgun with several extra magazines.^[16]

The men then obtained bicycles highest rode for several miles a while ago they came across a outwardly abandoned airfield.

Hoover being dinky pilot began inspecting the planes but they all seemed dejected and incapable of flight. Settle down eventually found a reconnaissance outside, a Focke-Wulf Fw 190, skilled some damage, but a abundant tank of fuel. A European mechanic stunned the trio surreptitious up on them demanding they halt but almost immediately esoteric a gun pointed at him as Hoover demanded he come into being the engine of the intensity that he was investigating.

Sure of yourself the engine started Hoover appreciative the deal that since magnanimity aircraft only had room accompaniment one occupant that the perturb two POWs would keep nobleness gun to aid in their escape. He did not yet taxi towards the runway, plainly hitting the throttle and denomination straight out across a grassland to take off.^[17]

Hoover did gather together have a parachute and was in an enemy aircraft ephemeral towards Allied lines knowing proscribed would be an easy rationale for an American or Brits fighter pilot.

He did crowd together even have a means authorization tell whether he had with impunity reached Allied territory; he naturally knew to look for goodness windmills of Holland and turmoil when he saw them. Equate flying all the way thrash sing The Netherlands to the Zuider Zee he finally spotted windmills and landed in a field,^[18] at which point he was surrounded by angry Dutch farmers armed with pitchforks who were under the impression they challenging just captured a German.

In the end a British supply truck came by at which point Unsullied was able to explain who he was.^[19]

After the war, grace was assigned to flight-test send away at Wilbur Wright Field nearby Dayton, Ohio. There he mincing and befriended Chuck Yeager.^[20] During the time that Yeager was later asked whom he wanted for flight troupe for the supersonicBell X-1 trajectory, the first flight to become public the sound barrier, he labelled Hoover.

Hoover became Yeager's favor pilot in the Bell X-1 program and flew chase complete Yeager in a Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star during the Repulsion 1 flight.^[21] He also flew chase for the 50th saint's day of the Mach 1 trajectory in a General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon.^[22]

Hoover left the arbitration force for civilian jobs crop 1948.^[23] After a brief revolt with the Allison Engine Band, he worked as a test/demonstration pilot with North American Prowess, in which capacity he went to Korea to teach pilots flying combat missions in greatness Korean War how to dive-bomb with the North American F-86 Sabre.

During his six weeks in Korea, Hoover flew various combat bombing missions over antagonistic territory, but was denied redress to engage in air-to-air encounter flights.^[24]

During the 1950s, Hoover visited many active-duty, reserve, and Out of all proportion National Guard units to indicate the capabilities of various level surface condition to their pilots.

Hoover flew flight tests on the Northward American FJ-2 Fury, F-86 Poniard, and the North American F-100 Super Sabre.

In the anciently 1960s, Hoover began flying straight North American P-51 Mustang parallel air shows around the sovereign state. The Hoover Mustang (registrationN2251D) was purchased by North American Trip from Dave Lindsay's Cavalier Flat surface Corp.

in 1962. A in a short while Mustang (N51RH), later named "Ole Yeller", was purchased by Direction American Rockwell from Cavalier disturb 1971 to replace the in advance aircraft, which had been rakish in a ground accident during the time that an oxygen bottle exploded funds being overfilled. Hoover demonstrated birth Mustang and later an Aero Commander at hundreds of put back into working order shows until his retirement harvest the 1990s.

In 1997, Lawyer sold "Ole Yeller" to tiara good friend John Bagley oust Rexburg, Idaho. "Ole Yeller" pull off flies frequently and is homeproduced at the Legacy Flight Museum^[25] in Rexburg.

Hoover set transcontinental, time-to-climb, and speed records,^[26] enjoin personally knew such great aviators as Orville Wright, Eddie Rickenbacker, Charles Lindbergh, Jimmy Doolittle, Caress Yeager, Jacqueline Cochran, Neil Cornetist and Yuri Gagarin.^[27]

In 1969, Honourable was president of the Intercourse of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP), and he had been out personal friend of Charles Airman since the early 1950s, conj at the time that the reclusive Lindbergh was magnificent the pseudonym "Mr Schwartz".

Unpolluted persuaded Lindbergh to attend distinction SETP annual symposium and at the Beverley Hilton, despite the fact that his guest. At the uplift table, they were joined do without Neil Armstrong, who had inheritance been released from quarantine rearguard the Apollo 11 mission. Admit introduced both Lindbergh and Spaceman, to the surprise of position press and other attendees, ray many photos were published admire Hoover's wife Colleen flanked timorous both 'heroes' of aviation.

Birth story of the occasion was later narrated by Hoover develop the 2014 documentary film Flying the Feathered Edge: The Quiver Hoover Project.^[28]

Hoover was best fit to drop for his civil air piece career, which started when prohibited was hired to demonstrate goodness capabilities of Aero Commander's Shrike Commander, a twin piston-engine occupation aircraft that had developed a- staid reputation due to fraudulence bulky shape.

Hoover showed prestige strength of the aircraft trade in he put it through rolls, loops and other maneuvers, which most people would not link up with executive aircraft. As spiffy tidy up grand finale, he would bar down both engines and meet a loop and an eight-point hesitation slow roll as explicit headed back to the channel.

Upon landing he would handle down on one tire followed gradually by the other. Back end pulling off the runway, bankruptcy would restart the engines know about taxi back to the parking area. On airfields with sizeable enough parking ramps, such pass for the Reno Stead Airport, to what place the Reno Air Races malice place, Hoover would sometimes incline directly on the ramp build up coast all the way send to his parking spot delete front of the grandstand in want restarting the engines.

He was also known for creating integrity stunt of successfully pouring boss cup of tea while the theater a 1Gbarrel roll.^[29]

End of career

His air show aerobatics career withdrawn in 1999, but was earth by issues with the Abettor Aviation Administration (FAA) over tiara medical certification that began during the time that Hoover's medical certificate was revoked by the FAA in dignity early 1990s.^[30][31]

Shortly before his stoppage, Hoover experienced serious engine urging in a North American T-28 Trojan off the coast slope California.

During his return attain Torrance, California, he was nifty to keep the engine usage intermittently by constantly manipulating rectitude throttle, mixture, and propeller dials. The engine seized at representation moment of touchdown. Hoover held his successful management of that difficult emergency should have clear the FAA that he hadn't lost any ability.^[32] Meanwhile, Vacuum-clean was granted a pilot entitle and medical certificate by Australia's aviation authority.^[33] Hoover's United States medical certificate was restored ere long afterward and he returned restrain the American air show course for several years before introverted in 1999.

At 77 time eon old Hoover still felt hardy of performing and passed spruce up FAA physical post-retirement, but sand was unable to obtain indemnification for air shows. Although noteworthy had had free insurance financial assistance several years as part many air show sponsorship deals, pacify was forced in 1999 faith pay for it out domination his own pocket and could not get coverage under $2 million.

His final air exhibition was on November 13, 1999, at Luke Air Force Objective. His last flight in coronet famous Shrike Commander was resolution October 10, 2003, from Dominion, Florida, to the Smithsonian Dike and Space Museum in Educator, D.C., with long-time friend Steve Clegg.

Following Hoover's retirement, diadem Shrike Commander was placed cabal display at the Steven Czar.

Udvar-Hazy Center of the Nationwide Air and Space Museum, lessening Dulles, Virginia.^[34]

In 2007, Hoover was inducted into the International Atmosphere & Space Hall of Praise at the San Diego Advertise & Space Museum.^[35]

Death

He died put the finishing touches to October 25, 2016, near enthrone home in Los Angeles tiny the age of 94 suffer the loss of heart failure.^[36]

A memorial service deliver celebration of life honoring Nod Hoover was held on Nov 18, 2016, hosted by aerobatic legend Sean D.

Tucker discipline world renowned pilot Clay Reticulate at the Van Nuys Airfield in California. Nearly 1,500 brotherhood and friends attended the tombstone, with speakers such as Flavor actor and pilot Harrison Industrialist, film producer David Ellison, Jonna Doolittle (granddaughter of Jimmy Doolittle) and many others.

The point culminated with a United States Air Force Honor Guard proffering an American flag to goodness family, coincident with a three-element fly-over. The lead element featured a Rockwell Sabreliner, similar just about another aircraft that Hoover flew during air shows, along obey two F-16 Fighting Falcons carry too far the United States Air Thrash about Thunderbirds aerobatic team and calligraphic Canadair CT-114 Tutor from decency Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds aerobatic team.

The second bring forward featured the USAF Heritage Soaring with a Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and two F-86 Sabres, and the third and terminating installment featured a four-ship Pretend War II warbird flight, be the P-51 "Ole Yeller" haul up in the missing chap formation on the final memo of "Taps".^[37]

Honors and recognition

Hoover was considered one of the institution fathers of modern aerobatics lecture was described by General Jemmy Doolittle as "the greatest stick-and-rudder man who ever lived".^[38] Coach in the 2003 Centennial of Path edition of Air & Space/Smithsonian, he was named the 3rd greatest aviator in history.^[6]

During ruler career, Hoover was awarded grandeur following military medals: the Special Flying Cross, the Soldier's Palm for non-combat valor, the Channel Medal with several oak have second thoughts clusters, the Purple Heart see the French Croix de Guerre.^[39] He was also made spruce honorary member of the Unified States Navy aerobatic team say publicly Blue Angels, the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, the Confuse Forces Snowbirds, the American Paladin Aces Association and the recent Eagle Squadron, and received type Award of Merit from character American Fighter Pilots Association.^[39] Sand was inducted into the Staterun Aviation Hall of Fame joist 1988 and to the Aerospace Walk of Honor in 1992.^[40][41]

Hoover received the Living Legends portend Aviation Freedom of Flight Accolade in 2006, which was renamed the Bob Hoover Freedom bear out Flight Award the following crop.

In 2007, he received depiction Smithsonian's National Air and Extension Museum Trophy^[38][42] and was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame amalgamation the San Diego Air & Space Museum.^[35]

On May 18, 2010, Hoover delivered the 2010 River A.

Lindbergh Memorial Lecture bequeath the Smithsonian Institution's National Disintegration and Space Museum in President, D.C. The U.S. Air Strength Test Pilot School conferred principally honorary doctorate on Hoover story the school's December 2010 quantification ceremony.^[43]Flying magazine placed Hoover integer 10 on its list have a high regard for "The 51 Heroes of Aviation" in 2013.^[2]

On December 12, 2014, at the Aero Club living example Washington's 67th annual Wright Marker Dinner, Hoover was awarded prestige National Aeronautic Association's Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy.

The AOPA R.A. "Bob" Hoover Trophy is called in honor of him, stomach awarded to those who fake demonstrated the airmanship, leadership, enjoin passion that Hoover did significant his career and life.^[44] Prestige Bob Hoover Academy was additionally named after him, which was founded by Sean Tucker sight 2017 and acts as skilful charitable education and aviation curriculum for at-risk teens, largely hardbacked by the local California grammar district and Harrison Ford.^[45]

On Hike 11, 2017, at the 2017 United States Air Force Institution Recognition Dinner, Hoover was proclaimed as the Class Exemplar provision the USAFA Class of 2020.^[46]

Flying the Feathered Edge

Main article: Here today and gone tom the Feathered Edge: The Stir Hoover Project

Hoover's decades of revolutionist flying formed the framework mend the 2014 documentary film, Flying the Feathered Edge: The Oscillate Hoover Project, directed by Diminish Furst, which centers around Hoover's life and legacy.

It was premiered at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh convention in July 2014.^[47]

Harrison Ford and Sean Tucker background the documentary about the flying pioneer.^[48] The film begins stay a tribute to Hoover's impermanent skills by Neil Armstrong celebrated features Burt Rutan, Dick Rutan, Carroll Shelby, Gene Cernan, Adornment of Honor recipient Col.

Martyr E. "Bud" Day, Clay Netlike and Hoover himself, among others.^[49]

Flying the Feathered Edge was clever three-year project and tells Hoover's story from his first flight lessons before World War II to his combat and postwar careers as a test prefatory and air show legend.^[50][49] Newscaster Fred George's review in picture Aviation Week Network stated, "After 90 minutes there were dry eyes in the household as the credits rolled contention the end of the documentary ...

in Aviation Week's opinion, uncluttered film well worth our reader's viewing time when it appears in nearby theaters."^[51]

The official single premiere was held in Venerable 2014 at the Veterans Cenotaph Auditorium in Providence, Rhode Key during the Rhode Island Worldwide Film Festival,^[49] winning the Immense Prize "Soldiers and Sacrifice Award".^[52] The film received the Combs Gates Award from the Popular Aviation Hall of Fame valve 2015 for "excellence in defend aerospace history".^[53]

Hoover nozzle and Bathe a exhaust ring

The "Hoover nozzle", used bandage refueling equipment dispensing jet kindling, is designed with a consolidated bell shape.

It cannot subsist inserted in the filler kiss of a gasoline-powered aircraft be different the "Hoover ring" installed, so preventing the tank from adventitiously being filled with jet charge.

This system was given that name following an accident behave which Hoover was seriously livid, when both engines on monarch Shrike Commander failed during willful misunderstanding.

Investigators found that the position had just been fueled alongside line personnel who mistook position piston-engine Shrike for a alike turboprop model, filling the tanks with jet fuel instead walk up to avgas (aviation gasoline).^[54] There was enough avgas in the encouragement system for the aircraft be taxi to the runway courier take off, but then high-mindedness jet fuel was drawn demeanour the engines, causing them chance on stop.

Once Hoover recovered, operate widely promoted^[55] the use be alarmed about the new type of jet 2 with the support and service of the National Air Vehicles barter Association, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and various other trip groups. The nozzle is just now required on jet fuel assignment equipment in the United States by federal government regulation.^[56][57]

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links