In the Cockpit with Bob Hoover (Passion for Flight Book 2)

In the Cockpit with Bob Hoover is the second volume in a series of short biographies (20,000 words or less) regarding notable pilots whose passion for flight inspires young and old alike to take to the skies. Di Freeze interviewed Bob Hoover for this short biography, and filled in facts with his autobiography, Forever Flying, with his permission. Hoover reviewed and approved this approximately 11,000-word bio for accuracy. This is not meant to be a comprehensive history of Bob Hoover's life, but it contains the major milestones in his aviation history.

Bob Hoover became infatuated with aviation when Charles Lindbergh made his historic transatlantic flight in 1927. Years later, he would meet Lindbergh and inspire people with his own aviation feats.

Bob joined the Tennessee Air National Guard on his 18th birthday, and was eventually assigned to the 4th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Group. He was shot down on Feb. 9, 1944, and spent 15 months as a prisoner of war. After several escape attempts from Stalag Luft 1, he finally succeeded, eventually making his way to an abandoned Luftwaffe air base and stealing a Focke-Wulf 190, which he flew to Holland.

Hoover was later assigned to Wright Field and served as backup pilot to Chuck Yeager on the Bell X-1. He left the military in December 1948, joined General Motor’s Allison Division as a test pilot, and later tested and demonstrated airplanes for North American Aviation/Rockwell International and flew its aircraft at air shows. He served as the official starter for the first Reno National Championship Air Races and Air Show, and continued that role for more than three decades. He also flew popular aerobatic demonstrations in airplanes including a Shrike Commander 500S and well-known P-51. In more than 50 years of flying, Hoover performed aerobatics in more airplane types, events and countries, and before more people, than anyone in the history of aviation.