Forever Flying (Paperback)

~ Bob Hoover (Author) "Contrary to myth, I was not born in a nest, nor have I felt the urge to migrate with seasonal changes..." (more)
Key Phrases: aerobatic routines, experimental test pilots, other test pilots, North American, Wright Field, World War (more...)

Editorial Reviews

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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Atria (August 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 067153761X
• ISBN-13: 978-0671537616
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #47,505 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, gripping autobiography, March 24, 1998

By A Customer

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of a Kind!!, April 18, 2009

By	John R. Linnell (New Gloucester, ME United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Most Enjoyeable Books I Ever Raad, October 1, 2004

By	M. Coleman "flyboy" (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.