International Air & Space Hall of Fame Gala adds special tributes to Bob Hoover and Bill Gibbs

Following their recent passing, International Air & Space Hall of Fame inductees Bob Hoover and Bill Gibbs will be remembered during a special ceremony on Nov. 17 at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.

Hoover and Gibbs are both members of the International Air & Space Hall of Fame.

San Diego, CA – Aviation legends R.A. “Bob” Hoover and Bill Gibbs will be honored during special tributes by the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at its annual celebration Gala on November 17, the San Diego Air & Space Museum announced today.

Hoover, a 2007 inductee into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame, passed away at age 94 on October 25. Gibbs, a 2011 inductee into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame, passed away at 106 on October 29.

Bob Hoover

Bill Gibbs

“The International Air & Space Hall of Fame is honored to pay special tribute to two of America’s aviation legends in Bob Hoover and Bill Gibbs,” said Jim Kidrick, President & CEO of the San Diego Air & Space Museum. “Bob walked in the same circles of so many of the world’s aviation Hall of Famers, including Orville Wright, Charles Lindbergh, Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle, Neil Armstrong, Yuri Gagarin, Chuck Yeager and Jaqueline Cochran – the list goes on and on. Bill and Gibbs Flying Service are true San Diego aviation institutions. The Gala will be a remarkable and appropriate opportunity to celebrate both of their lives as eight new inductees join them in the International Air & Space Hall of Fame.”

In addition to Hoover and Gibbs, the Distinguished Class of 2016 of the International Air & Space Hall of Fame will be honored on Nov. 17, including: The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the world’s largest pilot community is dedicated to making flying safe, fun and affordable; Al Worden, Command Module Pilot to for Apollo 15 and the first man to conduct a spacewalk in deep space; The Boeing Company, which in 2016 is celebrating 100 years as one of the world’s elite aircraft and aerospace pioneers; Coast Guard Aviation, which for 100 years has been a vital element of everything the Coast Guard does; Dale Myers, whose remarkable career spanned developmental work at North American, through the successful landing of Apollo 11 to the Space Shuttle program; the “Non-Skeds” which developed successful airlines from surplus WWII airplanes; ORBIS International Flying Eye Hospital, a nonprofit development organization dedicated to saving eyesight worldwide; and America’s Aviation Family of Excellence: The Maloneys and Hintons, Warbird and Air Racing Legends.

Tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime event are selling out fast! To learn more and to purchase tickets, visit http://sandiegoairandspace.org/calendar/event/2016-hall-of-fame-celebration.

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The San Diego Air & Space Museum is California’s official air and space museum and education center. The Museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and it was the first aero-themed Museum to be accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Now showing: Da Vinci: The Ultimate Innovator, a special exhibition showcasing more than 90 robotics, machines and artworks from the greatest inventor of all time. The Museum is located at 2001 Pan American Plaza, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101. The Museum and gift store are open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with admissions until 4:30 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.