Page 4 - Aerotech News and Review, October 29, 2021

A Pilot’s Pilot — Bob Hoover

wouldn’t be feasible. stationed at Edwards Air Force Base. controls and never spilled a drop of Men of Mach One commemoration.
by Cathy Hansen
special to Aerotech News While perusing some of our old In 1947, he was a chase pilot for tea! When the new Flight Test Museum
Air Race programs, I came across an Chuck Yeager in the Bell X-1, and Hoover passed away Oct. 25, 2016. is completed it will house the Society
I have met so many people through article about a good friend to Mojave was flying a P-80 when Yeager broke He was honored by the Flight Test of Experimental Test Pilots archives,
the years who talk about the history Airport and one of my favorite pilots, the sound barrier. Museum Foundation during the 1993 oral histories and artifacts in the Bob
of Mojave — the L.A. Aqueduct, Robert Anderson “Bob” Hoover. Hoover became a test pilot for Gathering of Eagles, and the 1997 Hoover Library.
Southern Pacific Railroad, the gold Described by all who love flying General Motors and North American
and silver mines and of course, as a “pilot’s pilot,” Hoover served Aviation, demonstrating flight
Mojave Airport. It is always fun to his country in war and peace as a characteristics in the P-51 Mustang,
share the rich history of Mojave! fighter pilot, test pilot and master of F-86 Sabrejet and the T-39 Sabreliner.
I have heard comments and aerobatics. Jimmy Doolittle called Hoover “the
questions like: “I didn’t know that In 1937, Hoover taught himself greatest stick-and-rudder man who
Mojave Airport had been a Marine basic aerobatic maneuvers at Berry ever lived.”
Corps Air Station,” or “Why don’t we Field in Nashville, Tenn. He joined Hoover is remembered by
hold the air races at Mojave Airport the Tennessee Air National Guard, millions of people as the premier
anymore?” which became part of the U.S. Army air show performer in the world.
Mojave Airport was constructed Air Corps in 1940. After the start He is renowned for the Energy
by Kern County in 1935 and the dirt of World War II, he wanted to fly Management Maneuver, where he
strip was used by aircraft that hauled in combat and was sent to Europe, shuts down both engines of his
the gold and silver from local mines flying 58 missions before being shot Rockwell Shrike Commander and
in Mojave. In 1942, Gen. William down. He was flying a Spitfire Mk performs a loop, eight-point roll, a
J. Fox chose Mojave Airport to be V and was shot down by a FW-190. 180-degree turn to a landing, then
an auxiliary flight training base for When you think of the exciting taxis in before the crowd without
the U.S. Marines. MCAS Mojave things movies are made of, Hoover’s ever restarting the engines! Hoover
(Marine Corps Air Station) was one World War II experiences come to has flown before more people, in
of five bases for the Marines. Santa mind. He spent nearly 16 months more countries, in more aircraft than
Barbara was another. in the Stalag Luft 1 prison in Barth, any other pilot in history.
The Mojave Air Races were really Germany, before escaping. He then Another maneuver, captured on
fun and exciting. Dan Sabovich, commandeered a Focke-Wulf FW- film, demonstrated his superb pilot
visionary founder of Mojave Civilian 190, the same type of aircraft that skills in both the Commander and the
Flight Test Center, first brought air shot him down, and flew it to Holland Sabreliner. At altitude, he set a glass
racing to the airport in 1969; the — and freedom! on top of the instrument panel and
last races were flown in 1978. The I can see all of his daring escapades poured iced tea into the glass from
flight test programs conducted at on the big silver screen in my mind a pitcher in his right hand, using
Mojave Air and Space Port today — hope my dream comes true! his left hand to completely roll the Courtesy photograph
are so complex, exclusive and After the war, Bob continued to aircraft. He combined centrifugal
proprietary that holding air races serve in the U.S. Air Force and was force with smooth handling of the From left: Neil Armstrong, Bob Hoover and Chuck Yeager.

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