Blue Skies, Bob Hoover

I only had an occasion to speak with Mr. Hoover twice, both times I was an oil covered mess. Regardless he treated me as if I was golden, which is how he treated everyone he met, a true southern gentleman. Stick and Rudder, God Bless.
 
Hacker15e said:
Anyone else out at the Bob Hoover Celebration Of Life out in Van Nuys yesterday?

Hosted by Danny Clisham and Sean Tucker, it was the very image of a "celebration" rather than a "memorial". The guest list was a who's-who of the military, industry, warbird, racing, and airshow crowd (although there were some folks not there whom I very much expected to see....here's lookin' at you, Mr Yeager).

If I remember from reading his book, Gen. Yeager doesn't attend funerals, regardless of who it is.
Click to expand...
 
Hacker15e said:
Video of the ceremony.

Click to expand...

Thanks for posting this vid!
Wow. I haven't talked to Clay Lacy in about a year. Apparently, that year has not been good to him. Yikes.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Crop Duster said:
Thanks for posting this vid!
Wow. I haven't talked to Clay Lacy in about a year. Apparently, that year has not been good to him. Yikes.
Click to expand...

I was very surprised at how much he has physically deteriorated in the year or so since I saw him.
 
Hacker15e said:
I was very surprised at how much he has physically deteriorated in the year or so since I saw him.
Click to expand...
He has to be in his mid 80's these days, he certainly does seem to have aged a great deal since I last spent any time with him. Sure does stir up a bit of a hornets nest every time his name is brought up here, and I suppose understandably so. There was a time when jobs at KVNY for mechanics were scarce, and when I was in need the company hired me. I made a lot of life long friends and gained a ton of experience, and Clay was never anything but a gentleman to me. I won't defend his actions during the strike, but the company he built has had a positive effect on my career.
 
knot4u said:
He has to be in his mid 80's these days, he certainly does seem to have aged a great deal since I last spent any time with him. Sure does stir up a bit of a hornets nest every time his name is brought up here, and I suppose understandably so. There was a time when jobs at KVNY for mechanics were scarce, and when I was in need the company hired me. I made a lot of life long friends and gained a ton of experience, and Clay was never anything but a gentleman to me. I won't defend his actions during the strike, but the company he built has had a positive effect on my career.
Click to expand...
He's either 88 or 89 depending... he's using daylight aging time. Started his career a year older to get in early. Then backdated the medical to get out late. Last time I flew with him I checked the shoulder belt lock before he took his seat on the chance I might need it to prevent him collapsing onto the yoke. Many have never forgiven him for breaking the line (understandable). Many others think he's crusty and uppity (those are the nice words). But he's really a nice guy if you avoid sycophancy and just act normal with him. I always called him "The Igloo" after the Far Side cartoon where the polar bear is taking a bite out of an igloo with the thought bubble... "I love these things! Crunchy on the outside, soft in the middle."
 
Crop Duster said:
He's either 88 or 89 depending... he's using daylight aging time. Started his career a year older to get in early. Then backdated the medical to get out late. Last time I flew with him I checked the shoulder belt lock before he took his seat on the chance I might need it to prevent him collapsing onto the yoke. Many have never forgiven him for breaking the line (understandable). Many others think he's crusty and uppity (those are the nice words). But he's really a nice guy if you avoid sycophancy and just act normal with him. I always called him "The Igloo" after the Far Side cartoon where the polar bear is taking a bite out of an igloo with the thought bubble... "I love these things! Crunchy on the outside, soft in the middle."
Click to expand...
I can understand the negativity towards him. There's been lot's of stories of him bringing SIC candidates to tears on check rides, I doubt the veracity of these stories, too much mythical mumbo jumbo. As a mechanic you were well advised to know why you were doing what you were doing to one of his airplanes, simply telling him because you were told to was not acceptable. I was always fairly certain of my work and a suprise visit by Clay normally ended with no hard feelings. The scab thing is permanent, and I wonder if he'd do it differently if given the opportunity.
 
I flew with a retired United airlines guy and he wouldn't even use the FBO at BFI because it said Clay Lacey on the side. He was visibly upset and going on about scabs. I can see why someone would get so upset. But it made an otherwise nice day and easy 135 trip a real hassle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
knot4u said:
I can understand the negativity towards him. There's been lot's of stories of him bringing SIC candidates to tears on check rides, I doubt the veracity of these stories, too much mythical mumbo jumbo. As a mechanic you were well advised to know why you were doing what you were doing to one of his airplanes, simply telling him because you were told to was not acceptable. I was always fairly certain of my work and a suprise visit by Clay normally ended with no hard feelings. The scab thing is permanent, and I wonder if he'd do it differently if given the opportunity.
Click to expand...
I once had to do one of those check out flights with him. It was, er, "unusual", to say the least. Lear 23 off 16L (you know...the short one. 16R was closed). Only two major mechanical issues after T/O. So back in onto the ~2600ft 16L. (Hooray Part 91 :eek:!) After fixing everything, we launched again for a whole variety of weird stuff including, strangely, steep turns during which CL rolled back first the in-turn engine, then the out-turn engine. I suppose someday, somewhere, an engine might flame out during a 60° bank turn, but I can't imagine remaining banked while restarting it. I also can't imagine that just as you got the first one back up and running, the second one would suddenly quit. :rolleyes: That said, I, personally, always found him tough, but fair and pleasant. He was terrific company at the Airtel bar, Oshkosh, and Pine Mt. Lake. The stories I could tell if this weren't the internet are priceless. I like the man. I don't like some of his actions.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top