Aviation Legend Bob Hoover to Receive Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy

Dec. 2, 2014

It’s been quite a year for aviation legend Robert A.“Bob” Hoover. After receiving NBAA’s prestigious Meritorious Service to Aviation Award during the recent NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA2014) in Orlando, FL, Hoover is set to receive the 2014 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy from the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) during the Aero Club of Washington’s annual Wright Memorial Dinner on Dec. 12 in Washington, DC. The theme of this year’s dinner is“Flying the Feathered Edge.”

The Wright Brothers Trophy is presented to a living American for “…significant public service of enduring value to aviation in the United States,” and is considered one of the most significant aerospace awards.

In announcing the choice, NAA Chairman Jim Albaugh said:“There are very few people in the world that capture the history, progress, importance and sheer excitement of aviation and aerospace like Bob Hoover. For 70 years he has set the standard for skill, leadership and bravery.” NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen was on the selection committee that selected Hoover for the honor and NBAA’s Mike Nichols, who serves on the Aero Club of Washington’s Board of Governors, is co-chairing this year’s Wright Memorial Dinner.

At 92, Hoover ranks among the most respected pilots in aviation history, having personally met numerous other industry icons, including Orville Wright, Eddie Rickenbacker, Charles Lindbergh, Jimmy Doolittle, Chuck Yeager, Jacqueline Cochran, Neil Armstrong and Yuri Gagarin.

Bob Hoover is a war veteran, test pilot, airshow performer, and inspiration to a generation of pilots. Hoover enlisted in the Tennessee National Guard at the outset of World War II, and later entered United States Army Pilot Training. He served in England and North Africa, where he flight-tested aircraft. As a member of the 52nd Fighter Group stationed in Sicily, Hoover flew 58 successful missions before being shot down off the coast of Southern France.

He was captured by the Germans and spent 16 months in a prison camp before commandeering a German fighter and escaping. In recognition of his outstanding military service, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Soldier’s Medal for Valor, the Air Medal with Clusters, the Purple Heart and the French Croix de Guerre.

After World War II, Hoover was assigned to flight test duty at Wright Field in Dayton, OH where he served as Chuck Yeager’s backup pilot in the Bell X-1 program and flew the chase plane for Yeager during his Mach 1 flight. Following his military career, he flew as a civilian test and demonstration pilot for North American Aviation.

Hoover’s exceptional piloting skills earned him recognition as the world’s greatest air show pilot. He is believed to have performed in more air shows, in more types of aircraft, in more countries and before more spectators than any other pilot in the history.

Hoover is the subject of a documentary by award-winning director Kim Furst, titled Flying the Feathered Edge: The Bob Hoover Project. A 15-minute preview of the documentary was shown at NBAA2014. Watch a video of Furst discussing the film.

NBAA congratulates Bob Hoover on this honor. Tickets to attend the black-tie Wright Memorial Dinner are available for sale online via the Aero Club of Washington.