Contact: Dave Ivey Vice President Wilson Air Center Phone: 901-345-2992 Email: [email protected]

Wilson Air Center Hosts Legendary Bob Hoover As Timeless Voice of Aviation

Memphis, Tennessee – April 27, 2007 –Wilson Air Center treated aviation enthusiasts to a rare and memorable evening for “Timeless Voices of Aviation.” Bob Hoover, a notable pilot, champion and aviation icon spoke during the week of April 8th, drawing in pilots, airport officials, and professional aviators to all three Wilson Air Center locations in Memphis, Charlotte and Houston.

Aviation enthusiasts listened intently as the legend told unique stories from his life and infancy of aviation. Hoover spoke of his flying and time spent as a POW in WWII, the Cold War, and the X-1 program. Audience members waited eagerly to have a chance to speak one on one with Hoover after the event, where he autographed pictures and copies of his book, Forever Flying.

Hoover, born in 1922, was a World War II combat . Captured and made a prisoner of war, he escaped from a German prison camp by “liberating” a Luftwaffe Focke-Wulf and flying it to safety in the Netherlands.

He is better known for being a and performer. He’s flown more than 300 types of aircraft and performed at more than 2,500 civilian and military air shows. His flying performances are legendary in the air show circuit. Hoover spoke of these experiences at Wilson Air Center, Houston on April 10, Memphis, April 11, and Charlotte, April 12.

“Timeless Voices of Aviation” comes on the heels of founder and president of Wilson Air Center, Robert A. Wilson’s donation of the Wilson Theater-Timeless Voices of Aviation, at the EAA Museum in Oshkosh, WI. This generous gift allows EAA to preserve the stories of human accomplishments that mark aviation history. EAA recorded 440 video and oral history interviews covering nearly all aspects of aviation.

These video histories share first-person recollections of key individuals who have participated in aviation during its first hundred years. Histories have been, and will continue to be collected from all areas of aviation. The motto of the program is “let no story go untold.”

“With this thought in mind, Bob Wilson decided to ask aviation legend, Bob Hoover, to visit our customers, friends, and fellow aviators for an evening of fun, stories and histories,” says Dave Ivey, Vice President, Wilson Air Center. “Bob, through Wilson Air Center, wanted to bring Hoover to each of our FBO’s cities for all to enjoy.”

Wilson was delighted to have his friend Bob Hoover speak for friends and customers. “I probably had the most fun of all,” says Wilson. “I got to spend four days and nights with an American icon, listen to different stories from world aviation history in three different cities and even got to fly him as my passenger!”

With locations in Memphis TN, Charlotte NC and Houston TX, Wilson Air Center FBOs are renowned for their innovative approach to customer service and satisfaction that originated from roots within the hospitality industry. The Memphis location is the home to one of the world’s largest aircraft canopies, and is touted by the aviation industry as among the top fixed base operations in the for the quality of its services and the comfort and design of its facilities.

Wilson Air Center – Memphis was recently named as the #1 FBO in the 2007 Aviation International News, making them the only FBO ever to be consecutively named #1 for eight years. They claimed this honor for years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Wilson Air Center was also named #1 FBO Chain in Professional Pilot’s PRASE Survey, the first FBO to be named #1 in both industry surveys in the same year. Wilson Air Center – Charlotte was named #8 FBO in the U.S. by Professional Pilot’s PRASE Survey after only two years of operation. For more information on Wilson Air Center or the services we offer, please call 901-345-2992 or visit www.wilsonair.com. -30-