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Paying It Forward

The Bob Hoover Academy catalyzes Sean Tucker's second act.

[Credit: Jeff Berlin]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Aerobatic legend Sean Tucker retired from his solo performing career, donating his Oracle Challenger III biplane to the Smithsonian, to dedicate his efforts to his passion project.
  • His primary focus is now the Bob Hoover Academy, a nonprofit he co-founded in honor of his mentor, providing flight training and character development for underserved high school students in Salinas, California.
  • The academy serves as an approved graduation path, helping at-risk youth earn a private pilot certificate and instilling values like tenacity and excellence, inspired by Tucker's own transformative experience with aviation and mentorship.
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Aerobatic star Sean Tucker knew that he wanted to give back what he had learned from decades of flying. That’s one reason the performer launched Every Kid Can Fly, an after-school program, in 2014 with his son Eric. And starting in January 2016, the Tuckers began the transformation of that program into the Bob Hoover Academy—in honor of Sean’s mentor and aviation legend Robert A. “Bob” Hoover.

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

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