Warbird Heritage Foundation Suspends Flight Operations, Cancels Appearances Following “Baby Duck” Crash

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Warbird Heritage Foundation's A-4 Skyhawk and P-51 Mustang

Following the tragic crash of their P-51 Mustang “Baby Duck”, in which pilot Vlado Lenoch and passenger Bethany Root were killed, the Warbird Heritage Foundation has announced that they are standing down from flight operations immediately, and canceling all future 2017 airshow appearances for their aircraft. The foundation is based in Waukegan, IL. In addition to Baby Duck, they own an A-4 Skyhawk, F-86 Sabre, T-2 Buckeye, L-39 Albatros, A-1 Skyraider, T-28 Trojan, and more.

This stand down almost certainly means that their aircraft will not be present at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh next week. Their absence would also be a major blow to the Northern Illinois Airshow in Waukegan if they do not resume flights by early September.

Here is the full statement from the WHF Facebook page:

All of us at the Warbird Heritage Foundation are deeply saddened at the death of our close friend and superb fellow pilot, Vlado Lenoch.
Vlado and a passenger passed away yesterday morning while flying in our P-51 Mustang, “Baby Duck”.

The Warbird Heritage Foundation will make no further comment regarding this tragic event until after the FAA, NTSB, and other relevant parties have completed their respective investigations.

Effective immediately, all WHF flight operations will be temporarily suspended until further notice. Also, the Warbird Heritage Foundation is cancelling the airshow appearances of all of our aircraft for the remainder of the 2017 airshow season.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to Vlado’s family and friends and to the family and friends of the passenger aboard “Baby Duck”.

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