He flew that F-86 in a way that it was no longer a military aircraft, but a bird wheeling, vaulting, rolling, and swooping in its element. Poetry in flight.

Extraordinary pilot and wonderful man. Yeager can’t hold a candle to him. Whenever I met Chuck I always came away disappointed because his ego fills any room. Bob on the other hand lifts people up- his amazing skills in and outside the cockpit lifted the souls of men. Nothing but deep respect for this kind and generous gentleman.

I love how he does a 'dirty roll' on takeoff while bringing the gear up. Hard to beat. RIP Bob, and thanks for the memories

Most viewers don't have a full appreciation of the superb flying ability shown here. 4 rolls after takeoff with a climb preceding each one demands he have extremely precise control inputs in order to avoid a stall at the very low airspeeds he is flying at.."The feathered edge" it was once described...Flying the airplane right to the bone... I am always in awe of Bob Hoover...

I had the privilege of seeing Bob Hoover fly multiple times at the El Toro MCAS airshows. He heavily influenced my decision to join the Air Force and serve til retirement in 2011. RIP Bob, thank you, and thank God for giving us an outstanding pilot and person in Bob Hoover.

Mr. Hoover got me into flying. 13,000 hours later, I'm still trying to get to the level he was at. Not many pilots can be Bob Hoover, but, you can try and be as good as he was. R.I.P. kind sir. You were the greatest.

You get a real sense of his absolute joy in flying the plane from the way he handles it so effortlessly and fluidly. Real ballet in the skies. This is one of the most beautiful flight routines I have ever seen.

When Bob Hoover flew, it looked like the plane was made of balsa and filled with helium. Almost weightless.

If a ‘Pilot' does not choke up or push back a few tears watching this, then is he or she is not a true pilot at heart...

October 25, 2016 Rest In Peace Mr. Hoover. A true American hero and legend.

I met Bob only once, but he influenced my life. I bought and modified a Shrike Commander after attending one of Bob's air shows, was blown away by his "energy management" demo. I always remember Bob's response when asked how he managed to survive so many hairy flight situations. He replied, " Fly through the crash ". Words to live by.

"Nobody does it better" Rest easy Bob rest easy.

Without a doubt one of the greatest aircraft pilots of all time and a great man as well. A true American Patriot who loved his country with all his might and pursued his passion of flight above many obstacles in his way. The cadre of pilots that Bob Hoover knew personally over the years is so broad it spanned the greats in aviation from the beginning up to modern times. He could do things with a plane that no other person could (or at least should) do. He took corporate jets like the Sabreliner and flew them like an acrobatic plane or fighter jet showing the public (and prospective clients) the abilities far beyond what a normal pilot would fly the aircraft and displaying the unique and rugged abilities of the airplane.

Bob Hoover..one of one... Read his book..Forever Flying..Incredible stories

Great choice of music, wonderful flying, sweet airplane. Thanks for posting it. Cheers

A true flying legend who will be sorely missed, along with Captain Eric brown.

This pilot has a native gift for understanding the basic physics of his aircraft. This is so advanced compared to the infinite number of boneheaded displays in digital fly by wire afterburner (we call it reheat) displays in F18, Typhoon, F16 etc with no stores and minimal fuel. Such aircraft are INCREDIBLY EASY to fly but yes very very hard to fight which is where the mil pilot excels.

This man is a legend, a real life American hero!

As a pilot, I know he’s the Best ever!! Unbelievable skills and patience in the airplane to do it’s job!

If you watch Flying the Feathered Edge Bob talks about how he was chosen to be the X-1 Pilot instead of Yeager but he had gotten into some trouble buzzing a local civilian airport a friend had bragged he flew jets when he didn't Bob flew over the airport that guy claimed it was him. Those days only small number of pilots flew jets the airport manager complained to the base commander at Edwards they got called into see the general. That's when they told him he would be replaced by Chuck Yeager as the X-1 Pilot. Bob Hoover was one of the most respected pilots of all time.

Everytime I watch this it brings tears to my eyes how beautiful he flies that plane. The music has a lot to do with it too I'm sure. But. No other "Airshow" video of the current aircraft in inventory holds a candle to this. Every one is brute force ~ no artistry is demonstrated. As we say in motorcycles, "Anyone can go fast in a straight line." Walking it down the runway, 8 point roll, crabbing it in sideways, as Sam Hughes points out, 4 rolls on climbout ~ know that engine produced 5,900 thrust, not 25,900 ! ! I happened to be flipping channels one day, caught Bob Hoovers final performance in that flight in that Shrike on the edge. Amazing. It's here on KZfaq. I would love to see current aircraft flown beautifully and stop trying to be the "Tough Guy" in the room. Keep the enemy guessing dammit.

Bob was the best stick and rudder man that will ever be !!!!

Flying the Feathered edge! RIP to the greatest aviator of all time Bob Hoover. Majestic almost astonished how good that is although I have watched it 150 times. Consider as well that this was a visit to see his best friend Chuck Yaeger. If Bob hadn't buzzed that tower well history would be different. Bob no doubt would still be the same. This jet was the dog of the flight line as well the one nobody wanted to fly. Bob Hoover you fantastic man!

i was in aviation 34 years saw a lot of pilots saw bob hoover the best pilot i ever saw.he flew so smooth one with the airplane

Bob Hoover, second to none. RESPECT

Gear up and gone. RIP, fly high and forever, Bob.

I watched Mr. Hoover Flight Demonstration of the Rockwell Aerocomanders Piston and Turbo Props in the Early 80s in Manila AirportTwice When I was a young boy. This Guy is Good. Very Good. RIP Sir Bob Hoover. 😑 ✈✈✈✈ Keep on Flying up There. 😇

Excellent demonstration of energy conservation

Hoover defines "The Right Stuff" America is not the same without him!

It looks like he is having a wonderful, fun time of it, just soaring and twisting like a bird who lives for flying; who is born to be in the air.

I hope this is what heaven is like for bob

Who's the best pilot you ever saw? You're lookin' at him! R. A. "Bob" Hoover.

A master without equal

I remember my first airshow, seeing Bob and the Blue Angles. What I remember most was Bob twirling a Shrike Commander, POWER OFF like a Timberdoodle and setting it down on the numbers.

Bob Hoover, RIP, Oct 2016, age 94

RIP Bob! We miss you! Thank you for being pure CLASS!!!!

Bob Hoover flew the Aero Commander 500U Shrike as a falcon and the F86 Saber as a King Fisher. Pure skills! No one ever came close to him.

They should make a movie about how he escaped and stole the FW 190 !

I love Mr. Hoover. I last saw and talked with him at EAA2015. He was born in Nashville, TN and learned to fly at Berry Hill, now the Nashville International Airport. Please help me to encourage those in power to name the Nashville International Airport the “ R.A. Hoover International Airport”, or, .the “Bob Hoover International Airport.” Thank you.

The world population is divided in two. Those poor unfortunate creatures who never saw Bob Hoover fly, and those fortunate and blessed ones who did.

KZfaq finely figured out who wrote that song it's Murray Munro "Call of the wild"

30,000 hours in more than 300 different aircraft types, escaped a prisoner of war camp, stole a German FW-190 fighter with German instrument markings. Had never been in one. Escaped to Belgium. Crash Landed it and went home. A supreme gentleman, the best flyer to date PERIOD.

Then a Plane rolls off an assembly line, it wishes it could be flown by Bob Hoover.

Did you ever notice that all the truly great achievers are decent, humble men ?

Thank you for reposting this. Where did original go?

Great pilot.

Never met Yeager, but everything I've ever heard about him echoes what you just said.

R.I.P. Bob Hoover...................................

His favorite plane

Nice,,,,awesome landing

RIP Sir.

lord of the air!

The camera cuts it off / or the film editor, notice the 8 point roll coming down the runway L to R ?

It was rare to see him fly level for more than 30 seconds up at Reno/Stead. The exception was when he flew pace plane for the unlimited races.

Anyone know where the Hoover interview video went? Not the "Feathered Edge" the one before that. There is a portion where Bob and Chuck sit down and talk at the place where Pancho's once stood. I can't find it anywhere!

I have no respect for Bob Hoover. He always got to fly the planes that the laws of physics did not apply to while everyone else got stuck with normal planes. We miss You Mr.Hoover, touch the Face of God.

And did you notice he did his gear retraction during the first barrel roll after take-off?

A barrel roll half roll and then a barrel roll the other way just on climb out

FYI I asked the original poster for the music source and he didn't know. Fed it to search engines, they did not know either.

Next, Bob will kill the engine and do it all over again.

Looks like some great flying, but it`s such a pity most of it is way out of focus.

Too bad about the video quality!