By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/aviation-world-remembers-greatest-stick-rudder-pilot-bob-hoover Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Aviation world remembers ‘greatest stick-and-rudder’ pilot Bob Hoover Nation Oct 25, 2016 4:02 PM EDT Legendary military, air show and test pilot Robert “Bob” Hoover, who survived more than his share of close calls, died Tuesday at age 94 near his home in Southern California. Among other things, Hoover was famous for being the chase pilot for Chuck Yeager, who set an aviation record by breaking the sound barrier in 1947. Hoover went on to set his own transcontinental and “time to climb” speed records. Gen. Jimmy Doolittle, himself a pioneering pilot and famed World War II military strategist, called Hoover the “greatest stick-and-rudder man who ever lived.” As an 18-year-old Tennessee Air National Guardsman, Bob Hoover trained as a tail gunner in Douglas O-38 observation craft. Photo courtesy of the Air Force Flight Test Center History Office During World War II, Hoover’s Spitfire was shot down and he was taken to a German prison camp. He escaped by stealing a German Focke-Wulf FW 190 and flying to the Netherlands. He flew test flights for the F-86 Sabre, among other aircraft, and he shared his tricks with pilots during the Korean war. Hoover performs aerobatics in the Shrike Commander. Video by YouTube user kideuce From the 1960s through the 1990s, Hoover flew in hundreds of air shows in a canary yellow P-51 Mustang and the Shrike Commander, which he put through rolls and loops. He wowed the crowds with his show closer — cutting both engines, flying a loop and touching down on one tire, then the other. His enduring advice to fellow pilots was, “When faced with a forced landing, fly the airplane as far through the crash as possible.” He should know, as he explained in this 2010 talk at the National Air and Space Museum: Bob Hoover describes some of his harrowing flying experiences. His Shrike Commander is on display at the National Air and Space Museum’s annex, the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. According to NASM’s director Gen. John Dailey, Hoover taxied it right into the hanger. We mourn the passing of our friend Robert A. “Bob” Hoover, "The Greatest Stick and Rudder Man Who Ever Lived.” pic.twitter.com/RNElnHfoMP — SmithsonianAirSpace (@airandspace) October 25, 2016 I'm genuinely and deeply sad to hear of Mr Bob Hoover's passing. Blue skies, tailwinds and I hope he's pouring iced tea inverted up there https://t.co/72NU8qhmSi — Mark Mannering-Smith (@mmsBA) October 25, 2016 So sad to hear about the passing of Bob Hoover. He was an amazing pilot and wonderful person. Thank you for your contributions to #aviation pic.twitter.com/XTpDu5dgmF — Aviation Times (@AviationTimes) October 25, 2016 By — Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko Larisa Epatko produced multimedia web features and broadcast reports with a focus on foreign affairs for the PBS NewsHour. She has reported in places such as Jordan, Pakistan, Iraq, Haiti, Sudan, Western Sahara, Guantanamo Bay, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Turkey, Germany and Ireland. @NewsHourWorld
Legendary military, air show and test pilot Robert “Bob” Hoover, who survived more than his share of close calls, died Tuesday at age 94 near his home in Southern California. Among other things, Hoover was famous for being the chase pilot for Chuck Yeager, who set an aviation record by breaking the sound barrier in 1947. Hoover went on to set his own transcontinental and “time to climb” speed records. Gen. Jimmy Doolittle, himself a pioneering pilot and famed World War II military strategist, called Hoover the “greatest stick-and-rudder man who ever lived.” As an 18-year-old Tennessee Air National Guardsman, Bob Hoover trained as a tail gunner in Douglas O-38 observation craft. Photo courtesy of the Air Force Flight Test Center History Office During World War II, Hoover’s Spitfire was shot down and he was taken to a German prison camp. He escaped by stealing a German Focke-Wulf FW 190 and flying to the Netherlands. He flew test flights for the F-86 Sabre, among other aircraft, and he shared his tricks with pilots during the Korean war. Hoover performs aerobatics in the Shrike Commander. Video by YouTube user kideuce From the 1960s through the 1990s, Hoover flew in hundreds of air shows in a canary yellow P-51 Mustang and the Shrike Commander, which he put through rolls and loops. He wowed the crowds with his show closer — cutting both engines, flying a loop and touching down on one tire, then the other. His enduring advice to fellow pilots was, “When faced with a forced landing, fly the airplane as far through the crash as possible.” He should know, as he explained in this 2010 talk at the National Air and Space Museum: Bob Hoover describes some of his harrowing flying experiences. His Shrike Commander is on display at the National Air and Space Museum’s annex, the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. According to NASM’s director Gen. John Dailey, Hoover taxied it right into the hanger. We mourn the passing of our friend Robert A. “Bob” Hoover, "The Greatest Stick and Rudder Man Who Ever Lived.” pic.twitter.com/RNElnHfoMP — SmithsonianAirSpace (@airandspace) October 25, 2016 I'm genuinely and deeply sad to hear of Mr Bob Hoover's passing. Blue skies, tailwinds and I hope he's pouring iced tea inverted up there https://t.co/72NU8qhmSi — Mark Mannering-Smith (@mmsBA) October 25, 2016 So sad to hear about the passing of Bob Hoover. He was an amazing pilot and wonderful person. Thank you for your contributions to #aviation pic.twitter.com/XTpDu5dgmF — Aviation Times (@AviationTimes) October 25, 2016