THE GENERAL AVIATION SOCIAL NETWORK

Spending Time with an Aviation Icon....Who Would You Choose?

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Comment by Timothy L. Dura on November 19, 2013 at 8:56pm: Yeager, I already got to fly with him and the conversation was fascinating.

Comment by Harold Steffee on November 19, 2013 at 9:36am: While all of the are great men, I would choose Yeager, because of his flying skills developed in combat and flying aircraft that were ahead of their time. All of them are heros in my eyes, but General Yeager is at the top of the list.

Comment by James E Herrington on November 6, 2013 at 3:18pm: Bob Hoover, of course! I know of no one that can match his flying ability; and yes, he leaves his ego on the ramp.

Comment by Joe Beatty on October 31, 2013 at 11:13am: I had not thought about it until seeing this title, but I have been lucky to meet all three of these men. Yeager at an airshow dinner for performers, Glenn by chance in the Moscow Radisson early breakfast cafe, and Hoover at Houston airshow sitting on bumper of fuel truck talking for 40 minutes.

Hoover would be the best to learn from. He knows as much (probably more) than the other two, but a much better communicator, real guy. That day in Houston he had done his dead stick demo in the twin Aero Commander.

Comment by Tom Cleaver on October 30, 2013 at 6:06pm: Hoover for sure since he's the better pilot. Having once gone flying with Yeager 30 years ago, there was barely room for me to squeeze in, once he and his ego were strapped in.

Comment by James E. Ellis on October 23, 2013 at 5:34pm: Bob Hoover for sure. He is probably the most capable pilot of the three (although Yeager is nearly equal), and has the reputation of being a much nicer person. As an astronaut, Glenn was also one of the most vocal in opposing Jerrie Cobb and the other 12 Mercury 13 women, effectively killing the program (and many of them were just as qualified to fly in space as he was). His political career, including political deals to become the oldest astronaut when he was not most qualified (that would have been Storey Musgrave), also sully his reputation,

Comment by Stanley D Waite on October 23, 2013 at 1:29pm: I had the pleasure of driving Bob to the air show from the commercial airport he landed at, ORL. I was impressed and awed that I have actually met him and was able to converse with him, one on one. At the air show site I further got to talk with him and some of the other air show partisipants, Gene Soucy, "Eagle team",. In the ensuing weekend I was very proud to be the "PEON" that actually washed and cleaned the plane before the show,( P-51). this was one of my most awe inspiring times of my aviation career. Thank you Mr. Bob Hoover for your kindness. Mr. Hoover is at the very top of my list. I believe it took spirit and bravery for Yeager and Glenn, but Bob hoover was outstanding time after time, an idol to my own career you might say!!

I might add, that I was able to fly the Golden Knights in the opening ceremony, with my helicopter at the same air show.

Stash Waite

Comment by Lynn Long on October 23, 2013 at 12:57pm: No one but Hoover. His ability speaks for him. A humble icon. Can't say the same for the other two.

Comment by Lee N. Robinson on October 17, 2013 at 7:12am: Definitely Bob Hoover. Chuck and John were great military and space adventurers, but neither of them have anywhere near the expertise in GA. I couldn't qualify for the AF as I wore glasses. I have over 5k hours GA experience, in about 50 different types of planes, including a Commander 560F but know I could learn more valuable stuff from Bob I hope I never stop learning! Lee Robinson W. Palm Beach.

Comment by Mike on October 16, 2013 at 9:41pm: No doubt, Bob Hoover, the airman's airman! Met Bob at Sun-N-Fun this past April, I was working as a volunteer acft safety at the Warbird Line. Met him as he got out of a private jet to participate in the show, (not fly), he looked frail but alert. I had to shake this great mans hand and as I did I thanked him for all the great performances over the years and you know what; HE THANKED ME for volunteering at the show!!! Can you believe it!! I was poleaxed, this great man, so humble being kind to a groundling. Man I'd fly with that man, fix his plane, hell wash his plane if I could just get one hour of his thoughts! No contest!!