hot rock

plural hot rocks

1. slangaeronauticsA daredevil pilot of great skill.

   It is the privilege of every pilot to think of himself, privately at least, as a hot rock of the first magnitude. Whether he is or not is an evaluation that he is not altogether qualified to make for himself.

   1949, Flying Magazine, volume 45, number 4, page 28

   1 more example

   If a hot rock racing plane pilot seems so calm, cool, collected, and nonchalant, it's because he's formed a habit pattern of making his flying routine. That's exactly how you want dangerous flying — or dangerous anything — to be. Routine.

   2011, Dick Jonas, A Fighter Pilot Looks At the World Upside Down