top of page
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_d013b164dadb47ec8e746ab178aacfbbf000.jpg/v1/fill/w_288,h_162,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/11062b_d013b164dadb47ec8e746ab178aacfbbf000.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82271a_a54d34f416ec454e99212d902bd5f9f1~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_34,y_29,w_554,h_349/fill/w_509,h_321,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/82271a_a54d34f416ec454e99212d902bd5f9f1~mv2.jpg)
Over the years, many of the pilots that flew at AAB came with extensive flight time from the military but needed to obtain their seaplane rating. Alan Hoffsommer arrived shortly after AAB started its operations in 1964, with seaplane experience.
Alan was recognized as an authority on water
take-offs and landings and wrote a book to explain those finer points. He was a military veteran serving in the Army.
Alan and Alene Hoffsommer relocated back to Missouri after flying the Goose for several years. See a little more below.
1928 - 1984
![alan hoffsommer photo.jpeg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82271a_d789d6b9dcb64b1cbe00aedc9e7f0a85~mv2.jpeg/v1/crop/x_0,y_109,w_2976,h_4403/fill/w_145,h_215,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/alan%20hoffsommer%20photo.jpeg)
![51D9MotCq3L (1).jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82271a_5c0e44c8667246828d996b97777fd689~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_280,h_430,al_c,q_80,enc_auto/51D9MotCq3L%20(1).jpg)
![contentfm floats - Copy.jpeg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82271a_6acbf8703136455b93c1eef9b1bcfeb1~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_257,h_480,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/contentfm%20floats%20-%20Copy.jpeg)
V.I. Daily News - December 24, 1964
![2020-07-15_0802472.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82271a_93b7a5c4ec4d4911b3551b8848852fd9~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_45,w_3909,h_2665/fill/w_295,h_190,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/2020-07-15_0802472.jpg)
![Screenshot (1422).png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82271a_f64071c9286443b68b533eb0bed71d05~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_434,h_303,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Screenshot%20(1422).png)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82271a_f25b04eaed804fd392653b009a63b521~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_102,h_101,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/82271a_f25b04eaed804fd392653b009a63b521~mv2.png)
![Screenshot (1426).png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82271a_cf83c897b2a343aeabe719839a4acb70~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_629,h_129,al_c,lg_1,q_85,enc_auto/Screenshot%20(1426).png)
Matilda
![91MvLHnB+kL._SL1500_.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82271a_e70bc5e4a902490f9cf7e8542d59e80c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_199,h_313,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_3,enc_auto/91MvLHnB%2BkL__SL1500_.jpg)
![41Krfmf83IL._SL350_.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82271a_b1fc3f05e6094828888356384ad25fcd~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_52,h_78,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/41Krfmf83IL__SL350_.jpg)
![9780847315505-us.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82271a_1c92915fc7c3474e9277935d8745cf1f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_54,h_78,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/9780847315505-us.jpg)
additional books by Alan Hoffsommer
![St John News-Press Oct 15 1974 cover.jpeg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82271a_2aeec0f5f95d415e8197ea6e7151af3a~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_60,h_95,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/St%20John%20News-Press%20Oct%2015%201974%20cover.jpeg)
10/15/74
![cartoon by alan hoffsommer.jpeg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82271a_7d387fd5aca7456ab22d6ca5e7a9cd5f~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_145,h_53,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/cartoon%20by%20alan%20hoffsommer.jpeg)
![contentAH.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82271a_2da53b5553d543178ee405613fae54d1~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_0,y_0,w_1280,h_1680/fill/w_67,h_88,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/contentAH.png)
![contentFLYING COVER.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82271a_a9c6bd2a5c4f4719a617e6fd3013ac6f~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_77,h_101,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/contentFLYING%20COVER.png)
Anthony Gagliani researched and contributed most of the above material..
![alan hoffsommer news clip 1977.jpeg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82271a_8c247117f4e345beaf96f3c9b1430c69~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_119,h_211,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/alan%20hoffsommer%20news%20clip%201977.jpeg)
![Alan Hoffsommer obit.jpeg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/82271a_9a0714f819a04fdd8c6fcf5285ce7eed~mv2.jpeg/v1/fill/w_68,h_130,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/Alan%20Hoffsommer%20obit.jpeg)
bottom of page