Forever Flying

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.

Written in a direct, interesting manner, this was a very intriguing book. I grew up around the largest Air Force base in the U.S., so I know how cocky fly boys can be, but Bob is the most humble of men. Then again, those whose work speaks for itself don't have to brag. I saw him fly at an airshow when I was about 7, and I still remember it vividly. The spins and turns, the soundless moments when he'd turn off the engine, the tall man with the great hat! Even though the book is engaging, I wish he would have included more stories about his wife and children. Bob is an important person in American History, and it is amazing to think of all of the aviators he has known. What a life!

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.

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.