Hoover is my favorite. An "ultimate expression of the possible" is a
good way of describing it.

Second that.

Another would be the old "Flying Perfesser" (?) who did amazing stunts in
a
J-3 Cub (haven't seen that one in YEARSSSS.)

OTOH, the TB's and BA's are not only demonstrating flying skills, but
aircraft performance at the other end of the scale.

I've seen them all, from Cole to Hoover to Tucker, to the late Bobby
Younkin. They were/are all incredible pilots.

The best I've *ever* seen, however, bar none, was an old guy at the annual
Stearman Fly In (in Galesburg, IL) three years ago. He was old as dirt,
totally unknown (I wish I could remember his name) -- and did things with
that Stearman that had me jumping up and down, first in terror, then in
glee.

I truly thought he was going to hit the ground on any of a dozen maneuvers.
During some maneuvers he actually went BELOW ground level, as he flew in the
drainage ditch alongside the runway! From our ground-level vantage point,
he looked like he had impacted the ground -- a completely unnerving sight.

Best part was that it was all done in super slow-motion (a Stearman has no
other speed), RIGHT in front of us. What an amazing stick.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"