Last Friday, friends of legendary pilot Bob Hoover, 92, gathered with him at Paramount Studios Theater in Los Angeles to celebrate his “Lifetime of Achievement,” which includes many awards as both an airshow and military pilot (the Distinguished Flying Cross is his highest military honor).
“It was an earlier legendary pilot, General James ‘Jimmy’ Doolittle, leader of the Doolittle Raid into China in World War II and of 1930s air racing fame, who anointed Bob Hoover as the greatest stick and rudder man who ever lived. It means he really knew how to handle an airplane and an acknowledgment such as this only happens when a real gift is discovered, honed, and played out over a lifetime. . . . Admittedly, many other skilled pilots have had remarkable careers so why is Bob Hoover so respected by his peers and beloved by the aviation community? It is the combination of his extraordinary flying skills, a diverse and enduring aviation career, and his interest in and commitment to people of the aviation community. Beyond the instructional and flight test efforts, beyond his practical knowledge of the art of flying and his intuitive aeronautical problem solving, is his genuine enthusiasm for his craft, his life, and people.”
Click here to read the full post from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Click here to read more about Bob Hoover at the National Aviation Hall of Fame website.
