As sometimes happens, one of our readers will notice an error and bring it to our attention, such was the case recently, when we inadvertently mixed up a couple of "bluenosers" and credited a blown engine to the incorrect aircraft................... "Regarding our aircraft, Mary-Bear is returning with a new engine. Queen-B is also returning with some added configuration changes to be more competitive, and the same for Moonbeam McSwine. Yes, we are all three blue-nosers and hope to park near Mary-Jo again. (We want to out-wit/psyche-out the competition. We want to overwhelm them with BLUE!!!)." : Vlado Lenoch I couldn't believe my luck... here we had the case of a misprint leading to an interview that I'd wanted to conduct for some time! Vlado Lenoch, pilot of the beautiful P-51 Mustang race plane, had agreed to talk to us about "doing it" ! After I got over the initial shock, things got rolling right along. The following email interview will hopefully give you a bit more insight about Reno, it’s competitors, and what drives them to do it………….. ********** Could you provide a brief comment about what got you started in aviation. In particular - what was the one most significant event (or series of) that got you involved in air racing. "I am really not sure what got me started in flying. My only mentor was Bob Hoover, who I saw at airshows just as soon as I got my driver's license. Therefore, all I ever wanted to do was fly the Mustang. Other than that I had no family member in flying other than a distant uncle who flew in WW2. Regarding what got me into air racing, simply Jim Micheals asked if I wanted to go and I said OK - 'we were off to the races!' I had never really planned to attend, but when friends were going it seemed like fun to participate with a group." So "all you ever wanted to do was to fly a Mustang". This has to be one of the most thrilling experiences that anyone can ever have, "living the dream" as it is. What is it like to achieve such a dream, and what was it like "the first time". "Flying the Mustang was quite a personal achievement. A goal I had set for myself and I was quite surprised to attain. My first flight was interestingly enough, very calm. I had prepared for it by flying my T-6 for 200 hours the year prior and doing the Crazy Horse TF-51 checkout. So when the time came to do the first solo flight it was a very business like. No bit of whooping and screaming, just fly this airplane like I had been taught." "Although the takeoffs and landings were very straight forward, I was indeed thrilled at the sensations while doing aerobatics on my first flight. I was very impressed at the speeds attained and the howl of the engine. This I really liked. Over the next few early hours of my flying, I came to appreciate the airplane more and more. The history of the Mustang and the cruise speeds attainable were constantly talked about where ever I landed on my ferry flight home. I had never realized how many veterans were really out there who had their own story to tell about the Mustang, as pilots, mechanics, bomber crews and infantry men. They all were very grateful for the job the Mustang had done in combat in WW2 and Korea." It goes without saying that there is much more involved in getting to the races than just gassing up the plane and flying it down to Stead for the event. When did you start getting ready and what's involved? "In '96, we literally 'just gassed up' and went to the races. We prepped our planes about a month prior by installing 15 gallon water tanks and small aluminum tubes ahead of the radiators for added cooling. Other than hotel reservations and having Winnebagos at the ramp, we hardly did anything in '96. For '97, we are doing much more in regard to modifying the airframes. We are adding larger water tanks, 'clipping' the wing tips, installing smaller canopies, removing antennas, adding longer coolant doors, adding an ADI system and adding Strega-type coolant scoops. These items are all removable with a screw driver and basically don't change the aircraft permanently. They are all intended to reduce drag without too much cost." Regarding the water tanks and the aluminum tubes ahead of the radiator, I’ll be honest and say that I’m a little "short" in the knowledge bank here. Also, what is an "ADI" system and how does that effect your aircraft performance. "The water tanks and aluminum tubes are intended to spray cooling water over the front of the engine radiator inside the scoop on the belly. Rather than opening the large exit door to increase cooling airflow and thus increasing drag, water is sprayed on the radiator to make it cooler and thus keeping the coolant door closed and drag lowered. ADI means 'Anti-Detonation-Injection' which is the method of injecting a water & alcohol mixture directly into the engine intake manifold to prevent detonation ( or pre-ignition) during high power settings above 70 inches of manifold pressure. ADI is used only when high power settings are approached, as at lower power settings detonation does not happen. Because the fuel air mixture in the engine cannot handle high manifold temperature that occur at high manifold pressures, the intake fuel air mixture must be cooled with the addition of ADI to prevent detonation." You seem to be getting ready for the event to not as a single competitor, but as a team of three. This sounds fascinating. Along with the camaraderie involved, what other benefits does this have? "Doing this as a group certainly makes it much more fun. I wouldn't do it otherwise. It does reduce cost, and makes it less of a risky adventure. Being in the Midwest, there weren't many other racers around to encourage us, so being in a group we encourage each other!!!" Encouraging each other........ by doing this as a group, do you mean that everyone’s helping the other guy - has this become a "friendly competition" amongst yourselves - or a combination of both? Don’t get me wrong, I’m just curious if one-upsmanship is a motivating factor, not assuming that it is the dominant one. "Curiously enough, we really are not competing against each other. Our private joke is to get each of us flying in every heat race to compete together in the final race, where we would finish across the finish line in wing tip to wing tip formation ( then let the judges figure out who won !!!). We really are closely helping each other to get prepared and equipped to go to the races. We are constantly calling each other to make sure we are getting the right parts and accessories needed to enter the race within our economic limitations ( we don't have a set budget, but we could see that the sky's the limit on how much one can spend to go racing)." You made reference to the "Blue Noses" which were the nose markings of the 352nd fighter group. Is there some significance to the fact that all three aircraft have these markings? "I bought mine this way and Jim & Steve liked the blue nose effect and thus had theirs painted this way as well. Otherwise, no real reason to be all the same." Along with treating the crowd to the unmatched excitement and trill of seeing these vintage planes in all their glory, what excitement does this event hold for the competitor? We know that it can't be for the money <g>. "The race is a technical challenge to see what greater performance I can obtain within some limited airframe and budget constraints. I personally will enjoy seeing what speeds I can get out of my airframe. Going fast is all there is!!" There remains only one question. Some feel that the air racing places these vintage aircraft at an undue risk. They also cringe at the thought of taking a beautiful aircraft and "chopping it up" for the sake of being competitive. Now we know that your aircraft pretty much retain the stock configurations so the last part you may not care to respond to. Would you care to respond to these comments? "I very much agree. I was at somewhat of a dilemma as to how I can improve the airframe's speed without chopping it up. I certainly did not want to chop up my basic aircraft. My redemption came from buying Mickey Rupps racing parts. He decided to retire from air racing and thus sold all his parts. His parts were developed over several years of experimenting and represent parts that can be easily bolted on and off any Mustang. Thus I solved my dilemma about not wanting to chop up my airframe." It’s sad to hear about Mickey’s departure from the air racing fraternity. But I am happy to hear that all of his hard work over the years are not to be forgotten. Tell me, do you know if he is involved or will continue to be involved in the sport? "Mickey decided that he wanted to stop pushing himself in the competitive atmosphere at Reno and enjoy flying for fun. He may replace his crashed Mustang with a stock airframe and just go flying around for fun. I don't know if he has done so yet." We all know that "Stiletto" was returned to stock configuration recently. This being the case, can you ever imagine that one couldn’t? After all, that aircraft was about as modified as they come. "In this day and age, the technical restoration capability exists to convert any airplane back to stock configuration. We found out that extensive permanent racing conversions reduce the value of a stock Mustang, so none of us want to do any permanent changes to our own airplanes. The cost of extensive converting back and forth to racing configuration gets very expensive with no real payback." Do you think that more restored aircraft result from the competition? "We don't think the races are any impetus to anyone to do a restoration or are producing more restorations. The races are healthy in that they promote greater research in improvements that trickle down to the stock airplanes, especially in the area of engine improvements." I can only hope that this can bring to all, a better understanding of what goes on "behind the scenes" and thus, bring about more appreciation and enjoyment f this great event know as RENO! I would like to take this time to personally thank Mr. Vlado Lenoch for his time in helping me bring this bit of Reno to you all. I’m still sitting here beside myself, wondering if I truly am in "Valhalla".....But no, that comes in September, Ain’t it great!!!!!!!!! Cya in the pits, Mark……… |
