Floyd Robert Hester

CAPTAIN FLOYD ROBERT HESTER
U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 1959

When Floyd Robert "Bob" Hester arrived at the Air Force Academy’s temporary campus at Lowry Air Force Base, he became part of a grand experiment. As a member of the historic Class of 1959—the Academy’s very first graduating class—Bob and his peers had no upperclassmen to guide them. They had to invent the cadet culture from scratch while enduring a grueling curriculum designed to forge the modern aerospace leaders of the Cold War era.

Assigned to Cadet Squadron 04, Bob quickly distinguished himself as a steady, focused presence who balanced the relentless intensity of the "Doolie" year with an easygoing Indiana charm. His classmates in CS-04 remembered him as an unshakeable wingman who could always see the humor in a tense situation, usually breaking the stress of a rigid inspection with a quiet, well-timed wisecrack. Bob was a true car and aviation enthusiast; Polaris records note that if he wasn't studying advanced engineering formulas, he was likely sketching aircraft designs or discussing the mechanical specs of sports cars.

On June 3, 1959, Bob stood proudly with his classmates at the dynamic new permanent site in Colorado Springs to receive his Bachelor of Science degree and his commission as an Air Force Second Lieutenant.

TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION
Following graduation, Lieutenant Hester turned his lifelong passion into reality by entering Undergraduate Pilot Training. Earning his silver wings, he proved to be an exceptionally smooth stick-and-rudder pilot, which earned him a coveted selection to become an Instructor Pilot (IP).

He was assigned to the 3560th Pilot Training Squadron at Webb Air Force Base in the dusty plains of West Texas. From 1960 to 1965, Captain Hester became a cornerstone of Air Training Command. He logged thousands of grueling hours in the noisy cockpit of the T-33 Shooting Star, coached raw students through their first nerve-wracking jet solos in the T-37 "Tweet," and proudly flew the sleek, supersonic T-38 Talon when it was introduced as the premier advanced trainer. His former students and squadron mates remembered him as a patient, demanding, but immensely encouraging IP who possessed the rare ability to calm a panicked student with a single radio call.

A CAREER IN THE CIVILIAN SKIES

Having fulfilled his active-duty commitment and shaped a generation of young military aviators, Captain Hester separated from regular active service in 1965 to transition to commercial aviation, while maintaining ties to military aviation through the Air Force Reserve.

In 1966, Bob was hired by Braniff International Airways. Initially based out of Dallas and later moving his family to Denver, Colorado, he spent 16 years navigating the golden era of commercial jet travel, flying passengers across the Americas. Following the turbulent deregulation era that impacted Braniff, Bob moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1983 to fly the luxury transcontinental routes of Regent Air, catering to high-profile clientele with his signature professional composure.

Wanting to return to heavy jet operations and logistical precision, Bob joined Federal Express (FedEx) in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1986. For the next decade, he flew global cargo routes, commanding wide-body aircraft through demanding nighttime schedules before officially retiring his wings in 1996.

Captain Hester passed away on December 2, 2007. To his classmates from the Class of 1959, his family, and the hundreds of military and civilian pilots he influenced over a 40-year career, Bob remains the embodiment of the quiet, trailblazing professional who helped give the United States Air Force Academy its very first wings.

EDUCATION

• B.S. in Engineering Science – U.S. Air Force Academy (1959)

• Undergraduate Pilot Training – USAF Air Training Command (1960)

SERVICE ASSIGNMENTS
Rank: Captain (O-3), USAF / USAFR
Years of Active Service: 1959–1965
• 1959–1960: Student Pilot, Undergraduate Pilot Training

• 1960–1965: Instructor Pilot (T-33, T-37, T-38), 3560th Pilot Training Squadron, Webb AFB, TX

• 1966–1982: Captain, Braniff International Airways (Denver, CO)

• 1983–1985: Captain, Regent Air (Los Angeles, CA)

• 1986–1996: Command Pilot, Federal Express (Memphis, TN)

MEDALS & AWARDS

• Air Force Longevity Service Award
• National Defense Service Medal
• Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
• USAF Command Pilot Wings

AIRCRAFT FLOWN

• T-37 Tweet
• T-33 Shooting Star
• T-38 Talon
• Boeing 727
• Douglas DC-8
• McDonnell Douglas DC-10