Vlado Lenoch

[AAFO_WSagar]

Re: Vlado Lenoch

LOL!

[Lon Moer]

Re: Vlado Lenoch

So, the rumor on the Warbird circuit is that a Warbird owner and the French owner of "Moonbeam McSwine" have come to a trade agreement that will have Moonbeam returning to the US as a tribute to Vlado Lenoch.

[Samuel]

Re: Vlado Lenoch

That really is neat. Hopefully they can make Oshkosh with it this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ts8YHMCJa48

[grampi]

Re: Vlado Lenoch

Any word on what caused the crash yet? I haven't been able to find out anything so far...

[toldjaso]

Re: Vlado Lenoch

Any word on what caused the crash yet? I haven't been able to find out anything so far...

As I recall, they suspected control reversal caused by the CG being too far aft.

[Lon Moer]

Re: Vlado Lenoch

latest news

The Warbird Heritage Foundation is pleased to announce the homecoming of Moonbeam McSwine. WHF has purchased Moonbeam from its most recent owner, Mr Frederic Akary of France. Moonbeam has arrived in the US and will be re-assembled at Tab-Air in East Troy , Wisconsin. This is the Mustang that Vlado Lenoch flew for over 20 years on the US airshow circuit and we hope to have it flying again soon to honor Vlado's memory. The new aircraft registration number will be N51VL. Look for it in the skies this summer.

[Lon Moer]

Re: Vlado Lenoch

Press Release from Mark Clark/Courtesy Aircraft Sales

RETURNING HOME-
NORTH AMERICAN P-51D MUSTANG
"Moonbeam McSwine"

Courtesy Aircraft of Rockford, IL & The Warbird Heritage Foundation are delighted to announce the homecoming of Moonbeam McSwine. WHF has purchased Moonbeam from its most recent owner, Mr. Frederic Akary of France. Courtesy Aircraft Sales assisted all parties with this successful yet complex sale.
Moonbeam has now arrived in the United States and will be re-assembled at Tab-Air in East Troy, Wisconsin. This is the same Mustang that the late Vlado Lenoch flew for over 20 years on the United States airshow circuit. The plan is to have the aircraft flying again soon in commemoration of Vlado's memory. The new aircraft registration number will be N51VL in honor of him. Look for it in the skies this summer.

Courtesy Aircraft Sales has a long history with this particular Mustang. Courtesy first sold the aircraft to Vlado Lenoch in 1988 and then sold to Fred Akary(France) in 2012, and now to the Warbird Heritage Foundation in 2018.
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Who Was Vlado Lenoch?
The Courtesy Aircraft Staff knew Vlado as a kind man who was friends to all in the aviation industry. He took the time to answer anyone's questions and he was always willing to help out others. He was an excellent pilot who ferried many warbird aircraft for Courtesy Aircraft over the years. He began flying when he was only 17, and went on to work for Boeing as an instructor. He later flew Boeing 727s and DC-9s for major airlines. In the most recent years, he was a warbird pilot who was rated to fly everything from P-51s, P-40s, and P-47s to F-86s and T-33s. Vlado was a founding member of the USAF Heritage Flight, which pairs vintage warbirds with modern military aircraft for performances at air shows around the United States.

[grampi]

Re: Vlado Lenoch

As I recall, they suspected control reversal caused by the CG being too far aft.

Please explain. I don't understand why the CG being too far after would cause control reversal...

[toldjaso]

Re: Vlado Lenoch

Please explain. I don't understand why the CG being too far after would cause control reversal...

CG being too far aft can cause stability/control problems that may require reverse control inputs to correct.
Lyle Shelton knew all about this with the Rare Bear!
Attached is a page that addresses this.
I read a report a long time ago that the Army air Corps had about it on the P-51 with the fuselage tank, but of course could not find it today when I searched for it.

I do not know if Baby Duck had aluminum replica guns, empty dummy ammo, armor plates, the fuel load on-board in the wing tanks, or any of several factors that could/would affect the CG. I am sure this will all come out in the final report.

Having any weight behind the pilot seat (even a small passenger) is a thing to consider, especially when doing low-level (or any, for that matter) maneuvers.

I have flown an RV-4 with some one in the back where you were pushing the stick forward when slowing down on final and flaring to land, to keep from stalling or smacking the tail on the ground first. Took a 225 pounder back there for that in that particular RV-4. Same principal.

[ATTACH]23176 (You will probably have to download this to read it).

Not saying this is what happened here, just discussing it.

Vlado flew two Mustangs that I had a hand in resurrecting. He is surely missed.