flightCLUBPLANE CRAZY PLANE CRAZY
SEND US YOUR EVENT NEWS. GO TO... www.loop.aero
JILL RUTAN HOFFMAN
Aviation in the blood N
Growing up surrounded by aviation experts and married to a military test pilot, aviation author and pilot Jill Rutan Hoffman, knows a thing or two about flying
OT only is Jill Rutan Hoffman famous because of her father and uncle (Dick and Burt Rutan, in case the name wasn’t a giveaway), she is well known in her own right. Author of two books (Oshkosh Memories and First Flights),
and a pilot herself she is also married to Lars Hoffman, a USAF test pilot, spends her life around aircraft and does a lot of work for charity. Q| What was it like growing up with your dad and uncle? A| I thought it was perfectly
Jill proudly wearing her grandmother’s air show jacket
normal. I thought every dad planned these big, ‘let’s break a world record’ trips. We’d sit around and talk about what we could do next to push the envelope? I didn’t realise how bizarre my life was until years later after I got married. Sometimes us military wives would get the lawn chairs out on the front yard, before our husbands got home. We’d call it ‘happy hour’, and sit around with a glass of wine and chat about the week. One day we were sitting there and one of the wives said: “Do you know there’s a nut job up the road who’s building an aeroplane in his garage?” That was a really weird because it was the first time I realised it’s not something everybody does!
Q| How did you get into flying for yourself? A| I’ve always loved it. Growing up in the military I moved around a lot so flying has always felt like home. I married quite young and went round the world with Lars. When we got back to the US I started ground school. I called dad and said: “Listen, I have completed ground school, passed my tests and I’m going to be near you on business trip for a week - I need to solo.” I was thinking, how hard can this be? I don’t know if he did it intentionally, but it was probably the most difficult week of my entire life. But my proudest moment was when he got out the aircraft and
let me fly solo - this is a man who won’t let me drive his car! He even held back three heavy aircraft, fully loaded with solders, so I could go solo - there was no pressure! It has been hard to keep current but now we’re living back in California I can start again. Also I want to learn again, because being taught by my dad was interesting there are things Dick Rutan can get away with that Jill Hoffman can’t. Q| With your dad and Lars both flying aircraft that nobody else would’ve flown, you must hear a few stories about first flights – was that the inspiration behind your book? A| Lars grew up on Edward’s Air Force Base, his dad was a test pilot as well. He test flew aircraft such as the A10, the F16 and F15. So there have been a few. I used to get told: “Be on the flight line at midnight - I can’t tell you why.” I’d go along and see all these aircraft that very few people knew about. At the time, I didn’t fully understand how unique that experience was. My other book came about on a car journey with Lars. We were talking about how people get to Oshkosh and I told him that I once travelled in the luggage compartment of a Cessna. We thought there had to be so many stories like that and we should write a book. All the proceeds from the books go to space and aviation camps.
Q| You love Oshkosh - why is it so close to your heart? A| When growing up it was hard to have a place called ‘home’, but Oshkosh was the one place I would go back every year and see the same friends and stay in the same houses. I used to walk up and down the flight line begging people for money for dad’s next big adventure. And I just loved the whole experience. I think Oshkosh is too big now. I wish it would go back to the small family community that it used to be, but saying that, it’s still a fun place to go. As a child I can’t remember missing it one year. My grandmother was fantastic and I always stayed in her room. When she passed away the only thing I wanted was her air show jacket. It’s covered with badges from Oshkosh and there are some in the pockets that haven’t been sown on yet - it’s like our family quilt. Q| What’s next in the pipeline for you? A| There’s an aero club on the base, and they’re looking to shut it down, but I’m trying to keep it going. I’m trying to convince the Wing Commander to keep it going. I want to see if I could make it affordable, and bring it closer to people. To find out more about Jill or to order one of her books visit www.jillrutanhoffman.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Light Aviation is the free official publication for members of the Light Aircraft Association, for aircraft kit-builders, restorers, and light sport aviators. It is sent free every month to LAA members, and is crammed with advice, flight tests, engineering guidance, news and features. Benefits include: • Monthly magazine only available to LAA members • Annual membership starts at £48 • Priceless advice and access to LAA experts • Delivered direct to your door • Free landing vouchers FOR AN ANNUAL MEMERSHIP GO TO THE LAA WEBSITE WWW.LIGHTAIRCRAFTASSOCIATION.CO.UK OR EMAIL SUBSCRIPTIONS@LOOP.AERO
50 LOOP OCTOBER 2010 www.loop.aero