Product Description

A barnstormer, World War II fighter, pioneering test pilot, and aerobatics artist shares his personal story, describing the spectacular stunts and death-defying exploits that contributed to his legendary status. Reprint. K. "

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23665 in Books
• Published on: 1997-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780671537616
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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From Publishers Weekly
No less an authority than Jimmy Doolittle considers Hoover "the greatest stick and rudder pilot who ever lived," and in this autobiography, Hoover provides ample evidence that he has been as skilled a pilot of jets as he was of earlier aircraft. Born in 1922, he soloed at age 16 and went on to become a fighter pilot in WWII, during which he was shot down and served more than a year as a German prisoner of war. In 1950, he became one of the chief test pilots for North American Aviation and, subsequently, for the merged NAA-Rockwell. Although he became an executive in that corporation, he frequently climbed into the cockpit to demonstrate its products, even defying corporate orders by joining in some bombing missions during the Korean War. Hoover retired from the industry in 1986 but continued appearing in air shows until 1992, when, at the age of 70, his license was pulled by the FAA. After a three-year legal battle led by F. Lee Bailey, his license was reinstated last year. Shaw (Down for the Count) has helped him tell his exciting story, including anecdotes about Orville Wright, Charles Lindbergh, Yuri Gagarin and Neil Armstrong, all of whom he knew personally. Author tour.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Hoover is one of the nation's premier airmen, probably best known to the public for his spectacular airshow routines. During the course of a half-century spent in numerous cockpits, he has gone from barnstorming in prop planes to dogfighting Germans to testing Supersopnic jets and done them all well. Along the way he has flown with?and frequently against?many of the legendary names in American aviation. His book is not so much a formal autobiography as a chatty memoir of the aviation community. Writing with the swagger he has justly earned, Hoover breezes past the mundane details of career, training, and family life in favor of an unending series of flying stories and reminiscences that are full of nifty details. Casual readers as well as airplane buffs will be fascinated. For popular collections.?Raymond L. Puffer, U.S. Air Force History Prog., Edwards AFB, Cal.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Hardly any aviation buff will not have heard of Hoover, and none will fail to be fascinated by his autobiography. Learning to fly in the late 1930s, Hoover went on to be a decorated fighter pilot in World War II and to survive captivity in Nazi Germany. After the war, he was one of America's leading test pilots for 10 years, and after that, he enjoyed a 40-year career as one of the all-time masters of acrobatic flying. He is best known as a P-51 pilot, but his 30,000 hours of flying have been in more than 100 different aircraft. He also met most of the other important aviators of the last 60 years, which well enables him to offer vivid portraits of the flyers as well as the machines. Thoroughly enthralling from beginning to end, this should be considered a mandatory addition to any self-respecting aviation collection. Roland Green

Customer Reviews

Excellent, gripping autobiography
I greatly enjoyed this candid autobiography by one of the great pilots of all time. The writing style may not be great art, but the authentic, gritty stories gave you a clear sense of some of the most exciting adventures you could imagine. I gained great respect for the man and found myself laughing out loud at many of his tales. I recommend it highly, and not just for pilots or aviation enthusiasts.

One of a Kind!!
R.A. "Bob" Hoover is a Living Legend of Aviation and a true American hero! His greatest contribution to the world of aviation has most likely been as a test pilot. Test pilots are a rare and brave breed. They are paid to put their lives on the line so that pilots who follow them, as well as passengers, do not.

There is an saying that "There are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots." Hoover comes very close to disproving that piece of wisdom, but in fact what appears to be boldness on his part is usually the result of careful analysis and planning. He understands the limitations of what he can accomplish and he does not accept what he considers to be an unacceptable risk. Because of that he has lived into his eighties and become a legend among those of us who revere the world of flight.

His is a life well lived and he has seen them all at one time or another from Charles Lindberg, Roscoe Turner, and Amelia Earhart to Jimmy Doolittle, Chuck Yeagar, Neil Armstrong, Wally Schirrah and a host of other well known aviation names.

His autobiography is somewhat unassuming, although there is certainly an element of pride and awe in his description of what he has accomplished, not the least of which was a very trying and near fatal experience as a prisoner of war, during WW2 which had nothing to do with flying and everything to do with being a man of integrity.

Oh, does he have stories to tell and he does it with the same enthusiasm he brought to his profession. He is simply an American icon and this book is a real treasure.

One of the Most Enjoyeable Books I Ever Raad
I never realized how connected Bob Hoover was to the fabric of aviation as well as the United States. This was a book I could not put down. The stories of his early test pilot days, WWII and later test piloting were rivoting. It was amazing how he was remarkably able to recover some from very nasty situations. He has crashed more planes than I have flown.