Bob Hoover in his P-51D 1976

[Swiss Mustangs]

Martin

[NC_Rotorhead]

Another few shots of Bob Hoover at the CAF airshow in Harlingen TX 1976. The same flight as above.





Regards
Steve

[bipe215]

The bellied in race #81, N6519D, crashed Aug 4 1974, according to the registry it was owned by Leroy Penhall at the time. Was it leased to Rockwell at the time for Hoover's use? Because the P-51 pictured here at the CAF show (N51RH) was registered to Hoover/Rockwell starting 1971.
Did Hoover have an east coast P-51 and a west coast P-51? Were these the only two 'official' yellow Hoover birds?
Here's the NTSB report for Hinton's incident. Note he was only 22 at the time. http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=35111&key=0

Steve G

[crystal lakes]

I was told that leroy let Bob use it when his was down for maintenance. I have the original log books that showed when Steve landed on the road and slid into the woods. Duane Williams from Idaho rebuilt it before we got it.
You can see what it looks like today at www.stone-henge.net. go to the photo gallery on the aircraft.
Mike

[Randy Haskin]

NAA bought Hoover a Cavalier Mustang, N2251D, which was the "original" Ol' Yeller.

After that one was damaged in the oxygen bottle incident, Rockwell bought Hoover a second Cavalier Mustang, N51RH.

[bipe215]

Thanks Mike and Randy. N2251D was forced landed in the creek bed at Myrtle Beach AFB in 1960, then had the O2 bottles explode at Oshkosh in 1970. It was parted out and used to assemble John Baughs 'Miss Coronado'.
So that makes three 'Ole Yellers'.

Steve G

[Scotty G]

Interesting stain coming from the bottom wing root / doghouse area. It's lighter in color; wonder what it is...

It is common to run the engine breather vent out of the bottom of the R/H trailing edge wing fairing. This could have stained the paint and give it that look. Or possibly the scan altered the look. Normally green could be coolant as avgas is blue or purple for 100 oct or higher.
Originally the engine breather exited the R/H side of the cowling. You can still see the hole for it a little aft and below the exhaust
Rich

Yeah, you could be right, but I'm just not convinced... All of the tones in the image, even though it's washed out, are pretty close to normal. Exhaust looks a little dark, etc... So why the lighter color stain on the scoop side?

You would think oil would darken that area, or maybe it's been cleaned to a point that the paint is bleached?

Just plain weird I guess.

[51fixer]

Interesting stain coming from the bottom wing root / doghouse area. It's lighter in color; wonder what it is...

It is common to run the engine breather vent out of the bottom of the R/H trailing edge wing fairing. This could have stained the paint and give it that look. Or possibly the scan altered the look. Normally green could be coolant as avgas is blue or purple for 100 oct or higher.
Originally the engine breather exited the R/H side of the cowling. You can still see the hole for it a little aft and below the exhaust
Rich

Yeah, you could be right, but I'm just not convinced... All of the tones in the image, even though it's washed out, are pretty close to normal. Exhaust looks a little dark, etc... So why the lighter color stain on the scoop side?

You would think oil would darken that area, or maybe it's been cleaned to a point that the paint is bleached?

Just plain weird I guess.

I have seen certain types of paint stain. Lacquers are the worst and some clears as well. Also I have seen paint basically "air dried" when someone couldn't wait a day and the paint hasn't had a chance to cure enough to avoid staining.
I have also seen the battery jar vent moved to the wing fillet as well. With the amount of maneuvering the RA Bob did another possibility is battery acid.
Rich

[Mark Clark]

I will post on my website tomorrow some photos of the Hoover explosion that I took about 15 minutes after the accident. Looks very familiar to the last Mustang oxygen tank explosion.
Should be there by noon tomorrow and I will send the full link when it is up.

www.courtesyaircraft.com

[Mark Clark]

Here is the link to the photos--

http://www.courtesyaircraft.com/Hoover.htm

I took these on the Basler Ramp.Note the jeep with the oxygen hose on the ground.Looks just like Merlins Magic at Reno.

Mark

[51fixer]

Actually, it looks worse than MM.
Rich

[JägerMarty]

Respect and all to Bob and good to see some older pics.

But, there's NO excuse for painting a Mustang yellow, none

[mustangdriver]

Respect and all to Bob and good to see some older pics.

But, there's NO excuse for painting a Mustang yellow, none

Ever been to Reno?

[Mark Allen M]

Speaking of Bob Hoover ... or were we?


Looks to be North American test pilots gathered for a photo.


Hoover with everyone's best pal test pilot CY


North American Aviation Test Pilot Bob Hoover with the Company’s First T-28B c 1953


Hoover sitting in a P-38


Hoover sitting in his Spitfire


Looks familiar (certain F6F at Reno last year)



I like hotdogs too, no wonder Hoover and I have so much in common

[Mark Allen M]

And nope! that's not me sitting with Hoover, no idea who it is but I would bet he had a nice lunch. SDASM archive photo