‘Bob’ Hoover during his distinguished career as a pilot and aviation advocate while also serving as a source of inspiration and encouragement for current and prospective aviators.” The next award will be in early 2017. On February 9, 1944, four Focke Wulf Fw-190As jumped his flight of four Spitfires off occupied Nice, France—a fair fight, except for a Spit lugging a … It was a dead stick act that would open a dark chapter in his airshow career. When it merged with Rockwell, Hoover began flying the P-51 Mustang in airshows. ... Bob Hoover Jet Center June 2013 – September 2014 1 year 4 months. Hoover became famed test pilot Chuck Yeager’s backup pilot on the Bell X-1 supersonic flight test project. Hoover also worked on a project with a test P-80, a jet powered by gasoline, instead of jet fuel or kerosene. The FAA’s appointed doctor found nothing wrong and recommended he get his certificate back. Who | Bob Hoover, test pilot and airshow performer The Hoover Nozzle is designed with a flattened bell shape. Jammed flight controls on an F-86 nearly cost him his life, but he managed to coax the airplane to the California desert where he set it down on the gear going more than 210 knots and “rolled 11 miles across that lake bed.”. Hoover flew chase in a Lockheed P-80 during Yeager’s first Mach 1 flight, but he never got a chance to fly the X-1. Bob Hoover, a famous test pilot and frequent performer at air shows, was returning to his home in Los Angeles from an air show in San Diego. I did what had to be done.” Logbook. The air correction jet prevents the mixture going over-rich at high rpm (again, smaller numbers means richer for this jet). “Bob” Hoover more than two years to get into his first dogfight, and about five minutes to get shot down. He could do a one-G roll while pouring iced tea into a glass on the glareshield without spilling a drop. This system was given this name following an accident in which Hoover was seriously injured, when both engines on his Shrike Commander failed during takeoff. Taking off under power, he would shut both engines down, do an entire routine, land, and roll to a stop in front of the grandstands, stepping out waving his signature Panama hat. In addition to the Wright Trophy, he was named a Living Legend of Aviation and is in the National Aviation Hall of Fame. There was no hesitation on the association's part to devote the financial, political, and legal support to the injustice the FAA imposed on this amazing aerobatic pilot.”, The level of trust between pilots and the FAA has never been the same. Hoover’s Heroes. Forever Flying Barnstormer, World War II fighter, test pilot, aerobatic genius -- Bob Hoover was a living aviation legend, the man General James "Jimmy" Doolittle called "the greatest stick and rudder pilot who ever lived." Realizing that his military career was nearing its end, Bob Hoover made the move to work as a civilian test pilot with Allison Engine Company. In 2016 a statue of the aviator was enshrined next to the Shrike Commander at the National Air and Space Museum. After the war, Hoover became a test pilot, flying the early jets to their limits and beyond. While waiting on the hillside for the rescue vehicles, Hoover walked back to the aircraft and smelled the fuel... Kerosene! “Bob” Hoover had told his mother that day back 1938 that he was headed to Berry Field to begin flight training. Among them were the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Clusters, and Purple Heart. To prevent such accidents, the industry created an oblong ring to fit into fuel filler necks in turbine airplanes that will only accept an oblong nozzle attached to jet fuel trucks. Robert A. “Bob Hoover was so much more than a great pilot. He established Bob Hoover’s Jet Center in Van Nuys, California. He escaped the prison after 16 months, stealing a German Fw 190 and flying it to the Netherlands to safety. During military flight school the instructor in a Stearman demonstrated a slow roll for Hoover and then asked the student to give it a try. He offered encouragement and some great stories. Full service FBO, maintenance, aircraft charter and management. [3] He was later assigned to the Spitfire-equipped 52nd Fighter Group in Sicily. Learning of Hoover’s death, AOPA’s Baker reflected on the award. 778 were here. He also was introduced to the Aero Commander, a piston-powered twin-engine high-wing business aircraft that wasn’t selling well. Though Bob crash landed the plane, his expert flying skills saved his own life and that of his two passengers. Hoover crashed shortly after takeoff when the piston engines failed. After a misfueling accident in the Aero Commander, Hoover went on an education campaign that resulted in the Hoover Ring and the Hoover Nozzle. The "Hoover Nozzle", used on refueling equipment dispensing jet fuel, is designed with a flattened bell shape. Upon returning to the airport, he asked to see the mechanic who had serviced his airplane. After a 1989 accident, in which his airplane was filled with the wrong fuel, Mr. Hoover invented a new kind of nozzle to prevent such mistakes from happening again. We are honored to be able to perpetuate his legacy through the Bob Hoover Trophy.”. “The FAA has never recovered from the Hoover case,” said Yodice upon hearing of Hoover’s passing. Hoover’s eyes were not good enough to pass the eye exam. Following this illustrious career as a civilian test pilot, he would next become a … The Hoover nozzle is now required on jet fuel trucks. ©2021 Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, statue of the aviator was enshrined next to the Shrike Commander. Get the latest news on coronavirus impacts on general aviation, including what AOPA is doing to protect GA, event cancellations, advice for pilots to protect themselves, and more. Later, North American hired him. Mesmerized pilots and families held steadfast by his tales. She undoubtedly would have opposed such a whimsical use of the money he earned working at the local grocery store. Hoover crashed shortly after takeoff when the piston engines failed. The fuel flow through each jet is determined by the airflow which creates a low pressure area near that jet. Flight Level 320, 17 Miles northeast of Barstow, California. If Somebody Made a Mistake that Nearly Killed Y... Med Flight Down - Page 3 - Airline Pilot Central Forums, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Although Hoover’s birthday is Jan. 24, 1922, Fanning and several other industry friends have for years organized the annual Bob Hoover Birthday Party every July at EAA AirVenture. A much more credible version of the accident is to be found at Bob Hoover#Hoover Nozzle and Hoover Ring where it explains that the aircraft crashed on take-off.Dolphin 11:58, 9 … Hoover's first act after the emergency landing was to inspect the airplane's fuel. AOPA has taken up the mantle of managing the Hoover Trophy in perpetuity, which will be awarded annually to “a living aviator who exhibits the airmanship, leadership, and passion for aviation and life demonstrated by R. A. If Hoover's aircraft was refuelled with inappropriate fuel, how would he have made it to somewhere between LA and SD? [4] In 1944, on hi… A member of the ground crew had mistaken the piston engined plane for a turboprop and mis-fuelled it, directly causing the double engine failure, and … Hoover asked if the fueling was done, to which the line service boy replied, “Yes, sir. This was the question spinning in Bob Hoover’s mind as he sat on the hillside waiting to be rescued. At about 300 feet off the ground during takeoff, the engine lost all power. Of course, while alone in the room Hoover memorized the bottom line of the chart and easily passed the exam. The young man was sick with the agony of his mistake. He is survived by his son Rob, daughter Anita, and millions of friends and admirers. “He was persecuted by the FAA—unjustifiably. Fighter pilot, test pilot, aerobatic pilot: Bob Hoover is considered the greatest of all by airmen worldwide. Incidentally, the “Hoover nozzle” is named because it came into being after Bob Hoover’s Shrike was misfueled with Jet A, he suffered a pair of total engine failures at low altitude, but because of his skill, he and his passengers survived the subsequent crash landing. The FAA refused and issued an emergency revocation, despite no evidence of any medical problem. The task was to find out if the jet presented a fire hazard. A lineman put jet fuel into the Aero Commander, which looks remarkably similar to the turboprop-powered Twin Commander. He owns and flies a Beechcraft A36 Bonanza. To shake his hand and just say thanks for the aviation example he has set was a really big deal for me. He left the military in 1948 and went to work for General Motors Allison Division, working on jet engines and propellers. The grace and gentleness we experienced with him, that’s what I will remember.”, Bill Fanning of Pilot Insurance Center was a 15-year-old cadet at the Marine Military Academy in Texas when he met Hoover at an airshow. November 13, 1999 at Luke AFB, AZ, in his North American Rockwell Shrike Commander. The thinking was that if they can do it to a famous pilot they can act against any pilot. I asked him if he wanted to fly, and he said, ‘No, you’re doing great.’ It’s like being told by the best quarterback in the NFL that you throw well. And yet he never had a bad word about the FAA even though he was entitled to. AOPA, other organizations, and legislators set out to rein in the agency with what became to be known as the “Hoover Bill.” Introduced by AOPA member Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), the bill, ultimately signed into law, allowed pilots the chance to immediately appeal an FAA emergency certificate revocation to the NTSB chairman. ... Hoover’s first act after the emergency landing was to inspect the airplane’s fuel. So he walked back to the plane and smelled the fuel. Bob Hoover: Test Pilot and Showman. Pete Hoag shouts over the radio. He obliged and at his own expense went through a battery of medical exams. A member of the ground crew had mistaken the piston engined plane for a turboprop and mis-fuelled it. His efforts would pay off as he became a fighter pilot in World War II, flying most everything in the Army Air Corps’ fleet, but only after bluffing his way through the military medical certification process. “He looked at me and asked, ‘Would you do that again?’ So I did it the other direction.”. Just as he suspected, the WWII propeller plane he had been flying had been fueled with jet fuel rather than gasoline. Bob Hoover's last air show performance. Upon returning to the airport, he asked to see the mechanic who had serviced his airplane. They were married 65 years. ... reason for the harrowing engine failure was that the World War Two propeller plane had been accidentally filled with jet fuel. Like I said, he was an amazing pilot. Who knows how twenty-first century aviation might be different if Nashville’s 16-year-old Robert A. “You got the verticals! Hoover would routinely sit for hours around a fire pit, telling stories of his life, in recent years, a microphone necessary as his voice weakened, his drooping shoulders draped with a blanket. MIDAIR!” Air Force T-38 pilot, Capt. The most recent film was created by The Bob Hoover Project and is titled Flying the Feathered Edge. Instead of gasoline it was jet fuel. Hoover’s natural piloting skills would help him survive many scrapes in airplanes. I was lucky enough to see him fly back in the day and have watched the videos of his performances many times since. Remembering his times with the man who Jimmy Doolittle called the greatest stick-and-rudder pilot of all time, Fanning asks, “Do you know how humbling it is to be a 20-something flying a Bonanza with Bob Hoover in the right seat? His career covered everything from fighter planes, experimental aircraft, airshow stunts and he will always be known as The Pilot’s Pilot.When America was pulled into WWII Bob took to the skies to serve his country and brought back some stories to tell. After a misfueling accident in the Aero Commander, Hoover went on an education campaign that resulted in the Hoover Ring and the Hoover Nozzle. Laurel Highlands Jet Center, 148 Aviation Lane. Instead, he was put out of commission for months after he ejected out of a burning F-84 during a test flight. In 15 minutes he would be back to complete the eye exam. Please login below for an enhanced experience. Back at the airport, Hoover saw the mechanic who had made the mistake. “MIDAIR! He told how the doctor, recognizing Hoover’s skill as a pilot and wanting him to succeed, indicated the eye chart on the wall and then told the young pilot he had to leave the room for another appointment. Bob both spoke and listened to his aviation dreams. A lineman put jet fuel into the Aero Commander, which looks remarkably similar to the turboprop-powered Twin Commander. Already a member? It is similar to advice AOPA President Mark Baker heard the famed pilot extol years earlier when he first met him. This chance encounter with Bob Hoover was the highlight of my AirVenture 2012 experience. While frail in recent years, he lived at home and relatively pain free until the last few days, according to close friends. This is Cotton, you got the verticals!—came off left and right! Log in, When he returned to the air field Bob Hoover. 415 likes. And though my son is long since grown, neither he nor I have ever forgotten that an aviation legend gave a child who dreamed of flying his full attention and encouraged him to dream even bigger.”. "Bob" Hoover (born January 24, 1922) is a former air show pilot and United States Air Force test pilot and fighter pilot.Known as the "pilot's pilot", Hoover revolutionized modern aerobatic flying and has been referred to by many aviation circles as one of the greatest pilots ever to have lived. In 1992, two FAA inspectors claimed Hoover performed poorly during one show, despite video and eyewitness accounts to the contrary. It cannot be inserted in the filler neck of a gasoline-powered aircraft with the "Hoover Ring" installed, thus preventing the tank from accidentally being filled with jet fuel. Later, after Hoover had flown another 33 airshows, the inspectors reported their findings and the FAA asked for his medical certificate. Over the years, his routine in the Shrike Commander became his signature act, doing loops and rolls on one, two, and no engines. Taxiing out, scores of aircraft were ahead of him, awaiting clearance to depart from the field. [2] During World War II, he was sent to Casablanca where his first major assignment was test flying the assembled aircraft ready for service. ” A perhaps-undesired recognition for the late pilot is the “Hoover Nozzle” used on jet fuel pumps. He was represented before the FAA, the NTSB, and in the courts by friends F. Lee Bailey and AOPA General Counsel John Yodice. The revocation of Bob Hoover's medical was felt by all of us who depend on that document in order to fly. Richard Frost, Bell project engineer, was flying low chase that morning, and Lt. Bob Hoover was flying high chase well ahead of the B-29, both in Lockheed P-80s. The case dragged on for more than two-and-a-half years, during which Hoover got an Australian pilot certificate and continued to perform shows internationally. Phil Boyer was president of AOPA at the time and reflected on the impact after hearing about Hoover’s death: “There are a handful of issues during my tenure as AOPA's president that I would classify as iconic. “And I did him an eight-point hesitation roll,” Hoover told AOPA Pilot during an interview in 1989. They became lifelong friends, often flying together. Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association Find it free on the store. The main jet provides fuel from about 1500 rpm right up to maximum rpm. Avfuel Corporation. The Hoover Nozzle cannot be inserted in the filler neck of a plane with the "Hoover Ring" installed, thus preventing the tank from accidentally being filled with jet fuel. Just as he suspected, the World War II propeller plane he had been flying had been fueled with jet fuel rather than gasoline. “The first time I met Bob, I was seated next to him at an aviation event, my 8-year-old son by my side. Aviation Legend Bob Hoover was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee as a simple guy with a passion for flight. Hoover’s wife Colleen died in March 2016. 09:26, 8 June 1966. Contract Fuel Sales at Avfuel Corporation Greater Los Angeles Area Airlines/Aviation. Hoover checked it out and developed an amazing airshow act that had customers clamoring for the otherwise dowdy airplane. Of his flying life, he says, “I had some mishaps that I don’t mind admitting were terrifying, but I got back into the cockpit and pressed on. We're staying with ya, no sweat, now you're holding… The FAA’s baseless actions against Hoover sent fear through the entire pilot population. He was shot down in a malfunctioning Spitfire off the coast of France in 1944 and taken prisoner by the Germans. AOPA Editor in Chief Tom Haines joined AOPA in 1988. It was sixty gallons precisely.” Hoover loaded his two passengers aboard and started the two 290 horsepower Lycoming IO-540 air-cooled flat-six piston engines. Famous airplane test pilot Bob Hoover was flying back from an air show in San Diego when all of sudden both of his engines cut out. He went back and smelled the gas in the tanks and realized that they had put JetA fuel in a plane that burns 110LL. Since soloing at 16 and earning a private pilot certificate at 17, he has flown more than 100 models of general aviation airplanes. With Hoover’s frequent coaching of young airshow and race pilots, Fanning wondered how many lives Hoover has saved. Hoover’s first act after the emergency landing was to inspect the airplane’s fuel. His life is the subject of several books and films. The winner of hundreds of military and aviation awards, including the prestigious Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy in 2014, Hoover died Oct. 25 in Los Angeles at age 94. It took Flight Officer Robert A. [1] He enlisted in the Tennessee National Guard and was sent for pilot training with the Army. 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