P-51 Down, Vlado Lenoch gone west - July 2017

[Tulio]

I am really sad to learn about Vlado's untimely death.

To his family, and by extension, to the warbird community and to the WIX family, my sincerest condolences. We have lost one of the good ones.

Requiescat in Pacem, Vlado

Saludos,


Tulio

[oz rb fan]

i never met him(wrong side of the pacific ocean) but on occasions talked to him on here and facebook,a true gentleman,and his knowledge and passion for the P51 will always stay with me(and all my model P51's will have bare metal geardoors)...he will be missed so much by both crew and fans

condolences to his and Bethany's families.
cleared west climb unlimited RIP Vlado

[Saville]

Wow. This is transcendentally awful. And it's quite shocking - Vlado was as good as it gets. He was the real thing. My condolences to the families.

Last edited by Saville on Mon Jul 17, 2017 11:41 am, edited 1 time in total.

[K5DH]

Wow, what horrible news. Although I never met Vlado, I enjoyed reading his WIX posts and learning from his experience and insight. He was an amazing pilot, flying the Mustang as if it was an extension of his own hand. Deepest condolences to the Lenoch and Root families. May the Lord comfort you in this time of sorrow.

I look forward to reading the NTSB's report. The only good that ever comes from a tragedy like this is knowledge, the kind of knowledge which might save someone else from a similar fate.

[Robbie Stuart]

I am very sad to hear this news. My condolences go out to all affected by the passing of Vlado, & his passenger. I communicated with Vlado via WIX, but never met him in person. He was kind enough to always answer my PM's, & he helped out my friend that owned the P-51 "Old Boy", by ferrying the airplane once.
Godspeed Vlado!
Robbie

Last edited by Robbie Stuart on Mon Jul 17, 2017 10:45 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Fouga23]

My condolences to his friends and family and to those of his passenger. Absolutely unreal that something like this could happen to him. I always enjoyed his posts here. It is rare that you have such an experienced pilot share his wisdom on a forum like WIX. He will be missed :'(

[BigGrey]

My condolences to the family and friends of both pilots. Vlado flew many "missing man" flights to honor and remember others. He will now be remembered by me whenever I see a "missing man" flight. Blue skies Vlado.

[RacingMustang]

Ugh. I don't have words. Unbelievable.

I now regret even more not talking to him at Oshkosh in 2015. I was a bit starry-eyed about the "warbird guys" and had some bad experiences with folks being less than friendly. So when I was up early to photograph the dawn patrol flights and ran into him in the warbird area, we just exchanged a "Howdy" and that was it. I instantly recognized the name on his flight suit as he walked by though. Figured he wouldn't have time for wide-eyed kids. From what I've read here, I couldn't have been more wrong.

RIP sir. You will be missed.

Last edited by RacingMustang on Mon Jul 17, 2017 11:22 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Jerry O'Neill]

My condolences to Vlado's family. He is in my prayers.

I was very shocked and saddened yesterday to hear about Vlado and his passenger, Beverley Root. He was one of the great guys out there and, as a colleague in the airshow world I had the great fortune to worked many times with him. He was so giving, fun and easy going that I was always treated more as a friend than a colleague.
Godspeed and blue skies, Vlado.
You are missed.

My condolences also to the family of Beverly Root.
I did not know Beverly, but from what I understand she was well thought and really just getting going strong in aviation.
She should not be forgotten.
Godspeed Beverly.

Jerry

[WIXerGreg]

The prop blades aren't bent the normal direction for a turning engine are they?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/b ... story.html

[Randy Haskin]

I'll miss you, Vlado.

They're all tragic, but for the community one hits pretty hard.

[Fearless Tower]

The prop blades aren't bent the normal direction for a turning engine are they?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/b ... story.html

Doesn't look like it was turning at impact. Doug Rozendaal said something similar on Beechtalk.

[phil65]

R.I.P.

Phil

Last edited by phil65 on Mon Jul 17, 2017 3:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[mustanglover]

The prop blades aren't bent the normal direction for a turning engine are they?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/b ... story.html

Doesn't look like it was turning at impact. Doug Rozendaal said something similar on Beechtalk.

I would not put a lot of weight on what the propeller blades look like as they tend to act very different than what you would expect in a high speed impact.

[DH82EH]

The prop blades aren't bent the normal direction for a turning engine are they?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/b ... story.html

Doesn't look like it was turning at impact. Doug Rozendaal said something similar on Beechtalk.

I would not put a lot of weight on what the propeller blades look like as they tend to act very different than what you would expect in a high speed impact.

I agree. One of the prop blades from Jimmy Leewards Galloping ghost was very intact. Not what one would expect at all.
This is so inexplicably tragic.

Andy