Legendary fighter pilot, test pilot and airshow pilot R.A. Bob Hoover was honored last week in an extravagant event at the entrance to the Paramount Pictures Studios in Hollywood, California, where a fiberglass replica of Hoover’s P-51 “Ole Yeller” acted as the centerpiece. Nearly 500 people, including many aviation executives and celebrities, had a chance to view the premier of “Perfecting Flight: Bob Hoover” — a documentary of Hoover’s accomplishments shown at the Paramount Theatre. The event also introduced the inductees to the Bob Hoover Hall of Honor, which will be on permanent display at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
A general theme in speeches made by actor and aviation advocate Harrison Ford, General Lloyd W. “Fig” Newton, former chairman and president of EAA Tom Poberezny and others, was the description of Hoover as an extraordinary pilot with a commitment to excellence, perfection and humility. Dan Birman, who produced the documentary, described how Ford, who also narrated the movie, encouraged him to create the film.
