STALLION 51 CORPORATION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- UAT Director of Operations
As the son of a Marine Corps A-4 Skyhawk and AV-8B Harrier pilot, Brian Norris knew that he wanted to be a pilot from an early age. His goal of becoming a Marine aviator like his father was not to be, as a knee injury while in his final week of Officer Candidate's School caused his early discharge from the program.
Brian was already well on his way to a life in the sky though, as he first soloed gliders at age 14 in Jean, NV, and powered aircraft at age 16 in Montrose, CO. After high school he studied physics at Western State College in Gunnison, CO and ultimately earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Aeronautics & Aviation Safety from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Beginning in 1989, Brian spent the next 24 years in a variety of roles for renowned airshow performer Sean D. Tucker, including Operations Coordinator, narrator, mechanic, ferry pilot, ride pilot, and photo pilot, becoming one of the most respected airshow support pilots in the industry. In that time he participated in more than 600 airshows all across North America, the Bahamas, and even Japan.
After he earned his Private Pilots License, Brian continued to add ratings throughout the years including Instrument, CFI, CFII, MEI, Glider, Single-Engine Seaplane and ATP. To date, he has logged more than 11,000 hours in 90 different types of aircraft. In addition, he is an FAA certified Airframe & Powerplant mechanic (A&P) and holds his FAA Inspection Authorization (IA). For fun Brian is currently working on his helicopter rating.
In 2008 Brian married his wife, Devan, and they moved to the Spruce Creek Fly-In community in Port Orange, FL near Daytona Beach. It was there that Brian became hooked on flying warbirds. He started out with the T-6 Texan and the PT-17 Stearman and over the last 12 years has considered himself to be very fortunate to fly the Grumman TBM Avenger, The Douglas A-1E Skyraider and several variants of his all-time favorite aircraft, the the P-51 Mustang. He has also obtained a few hours as copilot on the B-25, B-24 and B-17.
Dr. William T. Busch, Capt, USN (ret), grew up in the Midwest and upon graduation from college entered the US Navy as an aviation officer candidate in Pensacola. After graduating from Navy Jet Flight School, he received his Naval Aviator Wings of Gold in 1978 and deployed as a pilot flying missions from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal. While there, he became a wing qualified landing signal officer (LSO) and the squadron NATOPS Standardization Officer. In 1982 he was selected as the Atlantic Fleet Pilot of the Year.
Dr. Busch then left the fleet to participate in the Navy Health Professions Scholarship program, consisting of five years of medical training followed by Naval Flight Surgeon School. After receiving his Naval Flight Surgeon Wings in 1988, he returned to fleet service as a dual-designated naval aviator/flight surgeon. There, in addition to his clinical duties, he was a flight instructor pilot and re-qualified as an aircraft carrier pilot and LSO.
In 1995, Dr. Busch completed training in ophthalmology at the National Naval Medical Center and became board-certified. He served as the chairman of ophthalmology at Naval Hospital Camp LeJeune and in 1998 became the chairman of Navy Aerospace Ophthalmology at the Naval Aerospace Medicine Institute in Pensacola. In 2001, he became the head of the Navy Aero-Medical Dual-Designator Program and continued to fly as a current naval aviator while also serving as the senior flight surgeon at Naval Air Station Jacksonville. He retired as a Navy captain in 2005 after 29 years of military service.
Dr. Busch has accumulated over 5,000 flight hours and logged time in over 30 different types of military aircraft. He has over 1,000 hours in WWII-era vintage aircraft and hundreds of aircraft carrier landings. He is an airline-transport-rated pilot, a certified flight instructor and advanced ground instructor. Additionally, he is an associate fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association and is an FAA-designated senior aviation medical examiner (AME).
Currently Dr. Busch serves as the Corporate Officer in charge of the daily endeavors or AvDoc 51, which is a fully operational aviation and pilot-orientated medical clinic that focuses on the care and well being of aviators and flight crews. Provides and Specializes in FAA Aviation Medical Certification, Ophthalmologic and Vision Care and Aviation Physiology Training.
(RET) USAF Lt Col. Jerry ‘Jive' Kerby's flying career started when he was 10 years old when he took his first flight at a county fair in Missouri. After seeing the Thunderbrds fly at his first airshow, he knew his course was set to be a fighter pilot. Jerry started flying lessons when he was 15, soloed on his 16 th birthday and earned his private pilot's license on his 17 th birthday.
Jerry graduated from the professional pilot training program at Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology and began working as a charter and cargo pilot while earning his bachelor's degree in aviation from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
Upon completion of his degree, Jerry joined the United States Air Force with over 4300 hundred hours of flight time and his Airline Transport Pilot's license. During his flight training with the Air Force, Jerry graduated at the top of his pilot training class and earned the opportunity to fly the F-15C Eagle.
Jerry amassed over 3400 hours in the Eagle during his Air Force career as well as several hundred hours flying the F-4 Phantom. It was in the F-4 that Jerry achieved his next aviation goal…to be an air show pilot flying for the USAF Heritage Flight program in the F-4 Phantom in 2005.
Jerry currently has over 15,000 hours of flight time in 75 different aircraft, including flying air shows in the RV-8A, T-28, T-33, L-39, MS760, MiG-17, and F-4. He holds a Surface level (Solo and Formation) Statement of Aerobatic Competency (SAC), in the F-4, T-33, L-39, MiG-17, T-28, MS-760, T-6, and RV-series aircraft. He also serves as a Certified Aerobatic Competency Evaluator (ACE) through the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS).
In 2019, Jerry attended the Reno Air Races Pylon Racing School for the first time and was certified to fly at the September races in the De Havilland Vampire. During the 2019 races as a rookie, Jerry became one of the few racers to ever qualify at over 500 mph. He returned to Reno for 2021 flying the L-39C as Team Race 11's main aircraft in the Jet Class. He was elected in September of 2021 to serve on the Board of Directors for Racing Jets, Inc., the membership organization and governing body for the Reno Air Races Jet Class.
John Black currently flies the TF-51 and L-39 for Stallion 51 Corporation. John credits his love of flying to his father and growing up in the "Birth Place of Aviation." His first airplane ride was in 1974 during the very first Dayton Air Show.
John learned to fly in Citabrias in 1984 when he was 17 at a little airport called Moraine Airpark, just south of Dayton. He took his first aerobatic lesson in a Super Decathlon before he had his private license.
John attended college at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach where he received a Bachelor of Science in aircraft engineering technology and completed the USAF ROTC program. John was commissioned in the Active Duty Air Force in August 1989. He completed pilot training in April 1991 after a year of flying T-37s and T-38s, and he was selected to fly the F-15C.
Taking a turn back to his roots, John bought a Super Decathlon, which he calls "Blue," in 2002. He began flying air shows in the Decathlon in 2004, and the past several seasons have seen him flying in shows throughout the country, from Florida to his home state of Ohio.
John holds an ATP and flight instructor certificates. He has flown over 60 types of aircraft, including more than 7,000 hours and 6,600 sorties, over the past 32 years.
John is now retired from military service. During his 21 years in the Active Duty Air Force and Florida Air National Guard, all of his assignments were flying F-15As and F-15Cs. His assignment locations included Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan; Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida; and Jacksonville International Airport in Florida. He amassed 3,600 hours in the Eagle, and he was an F-15 mission commander, instructor and evaluator, earning the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Job Titles:
- Operations Manger / Group 51 Aircraft Sales
John Posson is a P-51 and L-39 instructor for Stallion 51 Corporation. For 16 years during the summer air show season, he's flown an L-39 on the left wing in the diamond formation for The Patriots Jet Team. His 25 years of commercial flying includes a season as a bush pilot, three years with Wien Air Alaska, six years with Hawaiian Airlines and 15 years with United Airlines.
Throughout his career, John has accumulated over 21,000 hours of flight time, including 1,700 hours in the Mustang. John's vintage aircraft experience includes DC-3s, Beech 18s, Howards, Norsemans, Grumman Widgeons and a mix of others, from Cubs to Mustangs. John is a commercial-instrument-rated helicopter pilot as well.
He has a strong sport aviation background that includes over 2,300 parachute jumps, over 100 hours in hang gliders and competition aerobatics through the unlimited category. He is currently the part owner of a Bonanza, a Super Cub and a Cessna 180, and he is a friend of dogs.
Job Titles:
- Admin
- Chief
- Founder
- Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots
Lee Lauderback, EAA Warbirds of America 2013 Hall of Fame inductee and 2019 Florida Aviation Hall of Fame inductee, is President and CEO of Stallion 51 Corporation located at the Kissimmee Gateway Airport, Florida. Since 1987, Stallion 51's innovative and comprehensive curriculums have instructed thousands of pilots on the correct and safe methods of flying both the legendary P-51 Mustang and the historic T-6 Texan.
Lee has been the chief flight instructor since Stallion 51's inception in 1987; amassing over 22,250 + flight hours in all types of aircraft including 10,150 + hours in the Mustang making him the highest time P-51 pilot in history. He is a certified single and multi-engine flight and ground instructor, holds an Airline Transport Pilot certification as well as instrument, helicopter and glider ratings. His expertise and vast experience in both corporate and private aviation has earned him the distinction of being an FAA Specialty Aircraft Examiner. Lee is often called upon to flight test various Vintage aircraft, helicopters and Turbojets before they are accepted.
Lee continues to perform his Signature Solo Mustang Routine at air shows around the country. Lee was one of the first civilian pilots flying for the USAF Heritage Flight program, which showcases historic WWII military aircraft with current USAF military aircraft in unique formation flights. For many years, Lee has also instructed students at the Navy Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland.
In 2016, Lee became a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP); an exclusive group of exceptional pilots such as R.A. "Bob" Hoover and Hoot Gibson, who nominated Lee to the organization.
In 2017, the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) recognized Lee Lauderback for his 50 plus years of safe flight operations and his many contributions to aviation safety with the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award Program (MPA).
Lee Lauderback is also the recipient of the 2017 International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) Sword of Excellence. ICAS's Sword of Excellence Award recognizes and honors Lauderback's 35 years of experience flying P-51 Mustangs and his commitment to aviation safety. This award recognizes the recipient's selfless commitment to improving and contributing to air shows and is the highest honor an individual can receive in the air show industry.
Lee started flying sailplanes at age 14 and launched his corporate aviation career immediately after college with the late professional golfer, philanthropist and businessman, Arnold Palmer. Lee was Mr. Palmer's chief pilot and the director of flight operations for 17 years, flying several different models of Citation jets, a Learjet and a MD500E helicopter.
Lee has expanded his aviation knowledge and experience to include flying the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Viper, F/A-18 Hornet as well as test flying the Hawker Beechcraft T-6 Texan II. He also has over 2000 hours in sailplanes and has competed in many soaring contests and has held several sailplane records.
Lee is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach with a degree in Aeronautical Science and Business Management. Lee is also a Master Falconer and when not flying himself he can be found flying hawks and falcons.
Marco was born in Florence, Italy and grew up in a small town just north of Rome. His father was an aviator and taught Marco how to fly at a young age in the family's Tiger Moth biplane.
After that, Marco began gliding and he completed his initial flight training in Victoria, British Columbia, where he finished his secondary schooling.
Marco joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1997, and graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada with a Bachelors in Military and Strategic Studies in 2001.
He was then assigned to NATO Flight Training in Canada's (NFTC) facility in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, where he flew the CT-156 Harvard II and the CT-155 British Aerospace Hawk. He graduated with his RCAF pilot wings in 2004. His first assignment was as an instructor on the CT-156 Harvard II aircraft, tasked with teaching basic and advanced flight training skills to NATO students and subsequently serving as a course director and standards officer.
In 2007, Marco was selected to serve as a member of Canada's National 9-Plane Aerobatic Team, the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. Flying the Canadair CT-114 Tutor, he flew the Team's 4 and 7 jet for the 2008-2011 seasons.
Marco retired from the RCAF in 2011 and continued his flying career as an airline first officer, assigned to fly Airbus 320 and Boeing 737NG types throughout North America, the Caribbean and Europe.
Staying true to his roots, Marco acquired a vintage 1952 Mk IV Harvard in 2010 and joined the Canadian Harvard Aerobatic Team, debuting its first 4 plane formation aerobatics performance in 2014.
Marco is an ATPL rated, FAA instructor pilot with over 6,400 hours of flight time logged in over 30 types. He joined the Stallion 51 team in 2017 as an instructor in the T-6 Texan, P-51 Mustang and L-39 TurboJet.
Job Titles:
- Admin
- President of Peregrine Defense Solutions
Robert J (Zak) Tomczak is President of Peregrine Defense Solutions. LLC. Peregrine provides consulting services regarding aviation safety program management to a select list of Corporations involved in unique flight operations.
Mr. Tomczak grew up in the northern Wisconsin city of Park Falls. The city's airport was a privately owned 1800 ft dirt airstrip built by a neighbor, which essentially made it in his "backyard". His father owned a 1947 Aeronca Champ so he began his flying career at age 16, paying for flying lessons by washing and waxing airplanes.
He graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in business administration and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the USAF through the AFROTC program.
Mr. Tomczak served as an active duty U. S .Air Force fighter pilot for twenty-six years, retiring at the rank of Colonel. He flew both the F4 Phantom and F-16 Fighting Falcon and held various leadership positions including Operations Group Commander, Director of Operations of the Alaska NORAD region and fighter wing Vice Commander. During his career he also served as Chief Flight Examiner of the Air Force's largest F-16 Wing, Flying Safety Officer, Chief of Flight Safety of the Air Force's first F-16 combat wing and Chief of Safety of Air Combat Command at it's headquarters at Langley Air Force Base Virginia where he was responsible for the Mishap Prevention Programs for the 120, 000 person command flying over 1800 aircraft.
He led numerous Air Force Mishap and Accident Investigations and was awarded the Air Force Chief of Staff Individual Safety Award for his flight safety program management and investigations of F-16 mishaps during the early operational use of the aircraft.
After retirement from the USAF, Mr. Tomczak joined Lockheed Martin Corporation in Orlando Florida where he became Director, International Business Development, responsible for worldwide sales of airborne precision targeting systems. He retired from Lockheed Martin Corporation in 2015.
Mr. Tomczak holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin, a MS in Systems Management from St Mary's University of San Antonio, is a graduate of the University of Southern California Institute of Systems and Safety Management Flying Safety Officer program and is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College.
He has over 3300 hours of flying time and holds Commercial, Instrument, Single and Multi engine ratings.
At Stallion 51 Corporation, Steve Larmore serves as the chief Texan instructor, instructor in TF-51 Mustang and a mechanic for our Texan and Mustang aircrafts, bringing with him over 45 years of flight experience.
Steve received his private pilot's license when he was only 17 years old. Following college, he started his aviation career working as a lineman and apprentice aircraft mechanic while pursuing his pilot ratings. After achieving an A&P mechanic and commercial pilot rating, Steve gained experience flying hundreds of hours in tow planes, biplanes, various aerobatic airplanes and gliders. Steve's 14,800 hours of hands-on flight time include 4,003 hours of sailplane and motorglider flying and over 4,700 hours in the T-6 Texan/SNJ.
Steve has been flying, teaching and maintaining the T-6 Texan for 24 years. He has served in the roles of chief pilot, chief instructor and director of maintenance. His instructional experience includes training T-6 line pilots and teaching one-on-one air-combat maneuvering in the Texan. At various periods during this time, he has held a low-altitude aerobatic waiver in gliders, Globe Swifts and T-6 Texans.