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Display flying has captured the imagination of the public ever since the very first flights. One the longest performing and well respected helicopter display pilots in the world is UK pilot Dennis Kenyon
Note: This is part 1 of the interview. Look for part 2 in Episode 15
Dennis ‘the maestro’ Kenyon got his flying start in the RAF progressing through Tiger Moths, Chimpmunks, Cheetah, Varsity, Lincoln, Meteor, Canberra, Vampire, Hunter, Pembroke, Hastings and Anson types (58 fixed wing types).
After almost taking up a career in the airlines a chance meeting put Dennis on the path to helicopters. As an employee pilot at a UK helicopter and aeroplane dealership, Dennis was able to fly through Europe establishing Enstrom dealerships along the way.
The display flying came as a natural progression to promote the helicopter sales and the rest as they say is history with 1500+ display flights and a world helicopter championship win (+ several placings) coming from it. The CAA has made Dennis a Display Authority Examiner and he has trained several of the current UK helicopter display pilots.
He has worked on several films and TV shows including Blackhawk Down and Golden Eye. To round things out Dennis is a published author and has contributed articles to many flying publications.
Dennis is as passionate about flying as ever – you’ll hear it in his voice. Never short of a story to tell and with a wicked sense of British humour.
A helicopter scholarship that commemorates the life of Dennis Kenyon Junior, his son, is a current focus of Dennis’ efforts and is the only one of its kind in the UK(world?).
He is known alternatively as ‘The Maestro’, ‘Dennis the Menace’ and ‘Dennisimo’. Its also been said that he put the ‘D’ in display flying.
Its a pleasure to bring you this interview with a living helicopter legend.
You’ll find links to resources and sites mentioned in the show further down the page.
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01:05 Podcast length feedback
02:10 Listener email – Arron
03:02 Movember charity fundraiser – http://rotarywingshow.com/mo
03:40 Dennis Kenyon intro
05:40 Early fixed wing experience in RAF
09:55 “600mph fighter jet strapped to a 19yr old’s bum”
11:20 Double flameout at night
14:48 Airline pilot licence but ‘too old’ at 36!
15:40 Learning to fly a helicopter
18:00 Enstrom distributor
19:03 Aviation writing – books and articles
19:30 FAMA helicopter – 2 seater turbine
22:10 Flying around Europe planting Enstrom dealerships
24:32 Reviewing helicopter types and writing them up for magazines
25:42 Blackhawk Down and other film flying
29:40 Helicopter display flying – Mike Meager, Enstrom USA
32:30 Dennis moves into display flying
33:36 Becoming a DAE and training other display pilots
35:00 Clocking over 1500 display flights
36:23 World helicopter championships
39:20 Display helicopter types
40:00 Planning a display routine
42:10 Display maneuvers
45:44 Wingovers – what was that maneuver?
49:21 Top 10 Helicopter Books for Helicopter Aircrew
49:32 Show sponsors trainmorepilots.com
Links from this week’s episode:
Dennis Kenyon – “The Aviation Bureau”
Dennis Kenyon Junior Helicopter Scholarship
Movember charity sponsor page
Do you know a company that would like to partner with Dennis for his scholarship program? If you do, please point them to this episode and they can contact Dennis through the links above. Lets use our network to get behind Dennis
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