Vale Captain John Lenaghan
 

It is with deep sadness that I have learnt of the passing of Captain John Lenaghan (JL to all those who knew him). Former head of Training and Checking at Hazelton Airlines, Chief pilot of Mt Cook Airlines, and more recently Check Captain at REX, based in Townsville.

For those who had the privilege of knowing John, he will be remembered as a wonderfully professional aviator, a loyal friend, and a man truly larger than life. My sincere condolences to his wife Marion, sister Rose, and the remainder of John's family whom I have not met.

As soon as I know (unless someone posts it sooner) I will post Funeral details.

Fair skies and tailwinds old friend, R.I.P.

I'm shocked. JL a true aviator and good guy. First meet him at TVL with Rundle's and worked with him too.

Tailwinds big guy...RIP

Sad News ...
Had the pleasure to train under JL. Liked a good laugh. He will be missed.

A great loss.

Also involved with MACAIR in TVL as well. RIP

Very sad news. 6 weeks from diagnosis until he passed. Tailwinds John. Aviation is less in your absence.

Sincere condolences to JL's family. The passing of a good bloke will be sadly missed.nu

Condolences to JL's family and friends.

A real Pilot's Pilot and a great guy.
Sadly missed

Sad to hear, a great guy who loved imparting his knowledge to those that grasped it. Farewell mate until we meet again.

"Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace.
Where never lark, or even eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
- Put out my hand, and touched the face of God."

John Gillespie Magee, Jr

RIP.

Vale JL
 

Very sad...JL did my final check with ZL (base training) in the SAAB out at Dubbo.
A very down to earth bloke...old school.
Condolences to his family...the following from Ernest Gann (Fate is the Hunter) which he wrote to a pilot friend who was dying from cancer at the time...

You are standing upon a shore… somewhere
A ship before you spreads her white sails and starts for the blue ocean
She is a beautiful and strong ship and you watch her until she hangs like a speck of white cloud… just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other.
Then someone at your side says, “There…well, well she’s gone.”
Gone where... gone from your sight-that’s all.
She is still as large in mast and spar as when she left your shore, just as strong and able.
Her diminished size is in you, not in her,
And while someone at your side is saying…”she’s gone"…there are other eyes watching her coming…and ready to take up the glad shout…"There, there she comes!"

RIP JL

that is truly a most apt quotation, from another airman's airman. Hope JL's family get to see it.

Another true gentleman of aviation. He was the chief pilot that I compare all other chief pilots to - and nobody matched up to him. You always knew which hat hat was wearing - chief pilot or friend. With him in your corner, you knew you were on the right team.

Aviation in Australia and New Zealand is a better place for having known you.

Rest peacefully JL - I'll toast you with a glass or two of red tonight.

He transitioned Lincoln Airlines from Chieftains to Bandeirante in a professional, helpful and friendly manner. Rest peacefully John.

JL will be greatly missed, he was a true gentleman, and an example to so many aviators of how it should be done.

The memorial service for John will be on Saturday the 6th of June at 6pm at the St George Motor Boat Club, Waterfront Function Centre which is at 2 Wellington St, Sans Souci, Sydney. It has been requested that the dress code is smart casual or your favourite footy colours. JL might have suggested, if you really want a good mark on your next check ride that would be the red and white of the Sydney Swans...;)

For those wanting to attend for catering purposes please send an RSVP to
Beryl.peart[AT]bigpond.com or send a PM and I can forward it.

Thanks De_flieger. I was about to post the details as I had just heard myself. I'll post it on the Hazo's FB site. I reckon there will be a few characters there to remember a truly unique man.

KRUSTY.