Bob Hoover - sponsored for a while by Evergreen Airlines. I must have gotten ten phone calls at 3 am when he was uplifting fuel using an EIA sponsored credit card
Full Bore and More! Had the pleasure of meeting him after I got my private license and before heading to AOCS. Had my girlfriend ( later wife of 44 years and counting) and my roomie -also a pilot - and his gal. Bob had flown the Shrike Commander routine with a large hat and a sport coat! Standing in line to shake his hand my girlfriend asked "can you do all that in your airplane (Cessna 182 RG)?" Bob overheard and said "there was nothing that I did that most any airplane can't do". When my gal said she'd love to do loops and rolls I knew she was the one for me.
10 months later Maj Beck, USMC, VT-6 T-28 Stan Officer was my off wing instructor for Acro 1. He had a Joy squeeze bottle filled with water and a styrofoam coffee cup. He told me about Hoover doing a roll and loop while pouring tea (I think) and telling the camera "nothing comes out because it is a 1 G maneuver". So Maj Beck said "aileron roll and if I get wet you get soaked". The flight line had a good laugh when we both got out of the Mighty Trojan looking like we had just showered.
"Back then, he said, short pilots were likely to go to fighter training, and taller ones to bombers and transports. At six feet, two inches, Hoover definitely had a problem. After graduating from advanced training, a visit with a sergeant in the personnel office who handled all the assignments changed his course in life.
“I took a fellow with me who was short; he wanted to go to transports and he had a fighter assignment,” he said. “I slipped a 20-dollar bill into the hands of this technical sergeant, and I said, ‘He wants transports and I want fighters.’ I knew he liked booze; I said, ‘Why don’t you go get some spirits for you and just switch those names, and everybody will be happy.’ He said, ‘You got a deal.’ That’s how I became a fighter pilot.”"
Why yes, I am. 182 RG and North American T-28 - with a tailhook! But the 182RG was a great airplane. The flight line motto at Owens Field was "if it fits in, it will fly". The RG gave it another 12 knots. Not quite as comfy as the War Lance, and I really didn't like the high wing thingie in the pattern. Altho at Fly-Ins the Cessnas always won the flour bombing contest.
I was 17 when the FBO I worked at sold two of the first RG's in mid-'78. I've also been fortunate enough to get a few minutes of stick time with a T-28F. If I were to buy a warbird my first choice would be to fully restore a T-28 to O SMOH status cost as no object. Superb airplane.
It would outclimb a P-51 to 10,000 ft! My first solo the tower at North Whiting called and said "Navy 7E-262 are you solo?" to which I affirmed "Yes Ma'am. Why?". She followed with "Navy 262 you're on fire. Cleared to land any runway.". WhaT!!!! The ARC-27 radio in the baggage compartment had caught on fire and was spewing nice black/gray smoke. So down over the golf course I turned to RTB, to a nice landing in front of the vulture row, and into the chocks. Get another A/C and off I go to solo. I got a nice "attaboy" from the CO. It was a ripping aircraft.
Or the single tall tree a homeowner let grow, so the planes couldn't fly low over his house. Great opportunity to practice short field approach and landing.
Fullbore. Papa Scoobs went through the USN flight training pipeline in the mid-1950s with a number of allied nation students - some of which had some very interesting prior service during WW2. One of his favorites was a portly West German Navy LT who was prior Luftwaffe FW-190 driver on the Western Front - and had a couple of B-17 kills to his credit!
With the A-5 Vigilante being a North American product, Bob used to bring his Mustang and Shrike down to Sanford for the annual Air show. I loved sitting in that Mustang!
I didn't know of his escape until years later.
The airplane escape written into the movie Great Escape is said to be an homage to this incredible story.
His deadstick routine in the Shrike was simply epic.
thankyou, Sir. always a great way to begin a Friday.
Bob Hoover - sponsored for a while by Evergreen Airlines. I must have gotten ten phone calls at 3 am when he was uplifting fuel using an EIA sponsored credit card
I’m a big fan of Bob Hoover. Never heard that story! Thank you!
Great....now there is a fraking DVD I need to buy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO8GyU8asEI
Full Bore and More! Had the pleasure of meeting him after I got my private license and before heading to AOCS. Had my girlfriend ( later wife of 44 years and counting) and my roomie -also a pilot - and his gal. Bob had flown the Shrike Commander routine with a large hat and a sport coat! Standing in line to shake his hand my girlfriend asked "can you do all that in your airplane (Cessna 182 RG)?" Bob overheard and said "there was nothing that I did that most any airplane can't do". When my gal said she'd love to do loops and rolls I knew she was the one for me.
10 months later Maj Beck, USMC, VT-6 T-28 Stan Officer was my off wing instructor for Acro 1. He had a Joy squeeze bottle filled with water and a styrofoam coffee cup. He told me about Hoover doing a roll and loop while pouring tea (I think) and telling the camera "nothing comes out because it is a 1 G maneuver". So Maj Beck said "aileron roll and if I get wet you get soaked". The flight line had a good laugh when we both got out of the Mighty Trojan looking like we had just showered.
I love this part about how he got a fighter pilot slot. Full bore all the way. http://airportjournals.com/bob-hoover-a-calm-voice-in-the-face-of-disaster-part-i/
"Back then, he said, short pilots were likely to go to fighter training, and taller ones to bombers and transports. At six feet, two inches, Hoover definitely had a problem. After graduating from advanced training, a visit with a sergeant in the personnel office who handled all the assignments changed his course in life.
“I took a fellow with me who was short; he wanted to go to transports and he had a fighter assignment,” he said. “I slipped a 20-dollar bill into the hands of this technical sergeant, and I said, ‘He wants transports and I want fighters.’ I knew he liked booze; I said, ‘Why don’t you go get some spirits for you and just switch those names, and everybody will be happy.’ He said, ‘You got a deal.’ That’s how I became a fighter pilot.”"
182RG? You really ain't that old are you?
Why yes, I am. 182 RG and North American T-28 - with a tailhook! But the 182RG was a great airplane. The flight line motto at Owens Field was "if it fits in, it will fly". The RG gave it another 12 knots. Not quite as comfy as the War Lance, and I really didn't like the high wing thingie in the pattern. Altho at Fly-Ins the Cessnas always won the flour bombing contest.
I was 17 when the FBO I worked at sold two of the first RG's in mid-'78. I've also been fortunate enough to get a few minutes of stick time with a T-28F. If I were to buy a warbird my first choice would be to fully restore a T-28 to O SMOH status cost as no object. Superb airplane.
It would outclimb a P-51 to 10,000 ft! My first solo the tower at North Whiting called and said "Navy 7E-262 are you solo?" to which I affirmed "Yes Ma'am. Why?". She followed with "Navy 262 you're on fire. Cleared to land any runway.". WhaT!!!! The ARC-27 radio in the baggage compartment had caught on fire and was spewing nice black/gray smoke. So down over the golf course I turned to RTB, to a nice landing in front of the vulture row, and into the chocks. Get another A/C and off I go to solo. I got a nice "attaboy" from the CO. It was a ripping aircraft.
Great solo story.
Is that Owens Field Columbia SC? CUB
I had my first solo flight there, N6164K, C-152.
Brings back a lot of memories.
One and the same! I also took my solo flight in 64K, Ray Ford was my instructor. Hated the power lines at the end of the runway with the train track!!
Or the single tall tree a homeowner let grow, so the planes couldn't fly low over his house. Great opportunity to practice short field approach and landing.
Nice pull CDR. For those not privileged to see his routine in the underpowered 500S.
https://youtu.be/bQWXMLtR-LA?feature=shared
Fullbore. Papa Scoobs went through the USN flight training pipeline in the mid-1950s with a number of allied nation students - some of which had some very interesting prior service during WW2. One of his favorites was a portly West German Navy LT who was prior Luftwaffe FW-190 driver on the Western Front - and had a couple of B-17 kills to his credit!
If you want a real story that would not be believed as a movie script read "Fly for Your Life: The Story of Robert Stanford Tuck"
The man who later became Godfather to Adolf Gallands son.
With the A-5 Vigilante being a North American product, Bob used to bring his Mustang and Shrike down to Sanford for the annual Air show. I loved sitting in that Mustang!
I didn't know of his escape until years later.
The airplane escape written into the movie Great Escape is said to be an homage to this incredible story.
His deadstick routine in the Shrike was simply epic.
Here he is making it all look easy...
https://youtu.be/W2-9BL7sllk?si=kLe3z0D90NgkPm3I
...while wearing a suit and tie.
And his trademark straw hat. His last few active years were marked by a feud with the FAA over his fitness to fly. I tend to believe him over the FAA.
Bravo Zulu! Another great story from the greatest generation!
I have seen photos of a captured FW-190 that was being evaluated by the USN. FW-190s look cool in tricolor, with big stars and bars!
Since I always rant about Seamanship...or lack thereof...just met Cole Brauer...
This accomplishment many may not have heard of, is worthy of its own FbF...
I bring it up here because she is carrying on the American Maritime tradition.
http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2024/03/14/cole-brauer-right-place-right-time-right-person/
At 29 she is the youngest woman and first American to sail solo around the world nonstop.
Absolutely charming young lass!
https://youtu.be/CxT6B6U5snM?si=2RbiuEXguGPwIPII