Pilots: Legendary test pilot R.A. 'Bob' Hoover Pilots: Legendary test pilot R.A. 'Bob' Hoover Overcoming challenges to lead an amazing aviation life Overcoming challenges to lead an amazing aviation life

Listening to Bob Hoover tell the stories of his life, one is apt to wonder Is this for real? For the legendary test and airshow pilot’s stories are larger than life—just like the man. Every pilot has a favorite Hoover story: performing a barrel roll while pouring a glass of iced tea; his tanks filled with jet fuel instead of avgas leading to design of the Hoover Nozzle; his medical certificate revocation—and reinstatement; rolling and looping a Shrike Aero Commander; his famous radio call: “Gentlemen, you have a race” at Reno; teaching pilots in the Korean war how to dive bomb; and his escapades in World War II.

The young Hoover at first was so airsick when he flew, he feared his dreams of flying were over before they even started. “I loved the idea of flying since I was six or seven years old. I thought wouldn’t it be wonderful to fly. I dreamed about it,” he recalls. “I soloed at 16 after eight hours; 15 minutes each weekend. I was so worried about getting sick. But I just had to overcome it.”

Later, enlisting for World War II at the age of 18, his dream to fly in combat also was nearly dashed. “When I enlisted the physician said I hate to tell you this, but you need to read the bottom of the eye chart. I’m going to leave the room for 20 minutes. When I come back, let’s see if you can read the chart. I memorized that chart,” Hoover says. “Later he told me he’d made the best decision passing me.”

He made a daring escape from a POW camp in Germany. “I was shot down and captured February 9, 1944. I made several attempts at escape and spent time in solitary confinement,” he says. “After 16 months I escaped and flew to the Netherlands in a Fw190.”