Robert A. “Bob” Hoover (born 1922) is a former air show pilot and United States Air Force test pilot. His personal trademark is a wide-brimmed straw hat and wide smile.Bob Hoover is best known for his air show career, which started when he was hired to demonstrate the capabilities of Aero Commander’s Shrike Commander, a twin-engined piston business aircraft which had developed a rather staid reputation due to its bulky shape. Hoover showed the strength of the plane as he put the aircraft through rolls, loops, and other maneuvers which most people wouldn’t associate with executive aircraft. As a grand finale, he shut down both engines and executed a loop and an eight-point hesitation slow roll as he headed back to the runway. He touched down on one tire, then the other, before landing. After pulling off the runway, he would start engines to taxi back to the parking area. On airfields with large enough parking ramps (such as the Reno Stead Airport where the Reno Air Races take place), Hoover would sometimes land directly on the ramp and coast all the way back to his parking spot in front of the grandstand without re-starting the engines.
A few years after starting the show, he began carrying passengers during the show — after all, he reasoned, the Shrike Commander carries six passengers in comfort (though perhaps not as much comfort when upside down.) These passengers became known as “Hoover’s Heavers” due to the number who became airsick during the maneuvers.
With the advent of camcorders, Hoover added a flourish to the act by pouring a cup of tea from a Thermos, while performing a slow barrel roll (a 1G maneuver). Video of this has been widely distributed, to the pleasure of Aero Commander enthusiasts.
The Tupolev Tu-154 is a Russian built medium-range trijet airliner. The mainstay of Russian airlines for several decades, the Tu-154 has carried about half of all passengers flown by Aeroflot and its subsidiaries, or approximately 137 million passengers per year, and has been exported and operated by at least 17 foreign airlines. Join the crew as they perform a landing. The video is in Russian but I think the captain is trying to say ” Stop messing with the stick boy, this plane can fly without you! “. 
The Dassault Mirage 2000 is probably one of the best looking planes in the world. Admire its stunning beauty in this great French Air Force video showcasing the qualities of their jet fighter.
Low pass performed by a Merlin helicopter.
Taking a jet down on the deck guarantees an adrenalin rush like no other. The aircraft feels tight, close to the ground you realize just how fast you are going, your body fills with joy and the feeling becomes addictive. They say speed is life. To know what speed really is just push the throttle forward, go low and feel the rush. It is quite amazing!
Ever wondered what it would be like inside an Apache attack helicopter? Ride along these guys as they follow a river somewhere in Iraq. The gunner doesn’t really seem to be too impressed by this… guess this is just another day at work.
Step inside the cockpit as this helicopter performs a low level fly by over the fields. Gotta love the helicopter for giving its pilot the possibility to entertain himself from time to time with some low level action I think this helo is a Robinson R-22 but I’m not really sure.
It’s a very hot day and this Russian Ilyushin Il-76 Candid is full and ready for a 3000 kilometer trip. As it reaches the holding point, the pilots prepare this monster for a very long takeoff run. And boy, it’s gonna be a really long one… the plane takes off right at the end of the runway barely lifting its weight into the air giving traffic controllers quite a thrill.
This Russian pilot comes in to land at the Innsbruck Airport, missing the touchdown point and finally touching down 2/3 of the runway later. Guess some days are better that others…
The French really do know how to make good videos. I’ve said this for quite a long time now. Anyway, check out these cool pilots and their Pumas doing some really crazy stuff over the deserts of Chad. That low pass over those three soldiers is really scary. I bet if I were in their shoes, I’d shit myself in fear. Enjoy!
