dennis kenyon Archives - The Rotary Wing Show Podcast

Display Helicopter Pilot Dennis Kenyon — Dennis ‘the Maestro’ Kenyon

This is part 2 of the interview with British helicopter display pilot Dennis Kenyon. For part 1, listen to Episode 14

In this episode we delve deeper into the preparation, setup and mindset needed to be a display pilot.

Dennis is a CAA appointed Display Authority Examiner and does train and approve other pilots but its not something he takes lightly.

We also talk about a display crash that Dennis was involved in and some of the factors that contributed to that. If it can happen to someone as experienced and skillful as Dennis… the rest of us need to stack everything in our favor.

The Dennis Kenyon Junior helicopter scholarship was set up to commemorate the life of Dennis’ son. Its aim is to take someone that would not normally have been able to achieve a helicopter licence due to factors such as finance and to turn them into not only a pilot but an aviator and an ambassador for aviation.

Past scholarship winner Hannah Nobbs writes:

Being awarded the Dennis Kenyon Junior Memorial helicopter flying scholarship was a once in a lifetime experience. Learning to fly was fantastic, and something I had only dreamed off. The best part was learning from Dennis, his enthusiasm for flying is infectious and following him on his various flying adventures during training allowed me to see so many new places and meet new people in the helo industry.

The scholarship opened up a world of opportunities within aviation, nearly 10 years on I am working as an Aerospace Engineer for a leading Helicopter Manufacturer, have gone on to do the ATPL exams and flown in several parts of Europe.

To any companies that have the opportunity to support the scholarship fund I would say that the potential return from the scholarship to industry is immense. In my opinion it is not so much about encouraging young people to be commercial helicopter pilots, as the extra funds needed to get to a position where you are employable is huge, but about opening up a whole world of helicopters and aviation to a young person, and gaining a lifelong ambassador for the industry.

Dennis is looking to joint venture with interested companies for the future support of the Scholarship. Who knows, we might see a future TV series – ‘So you think you can fly!’

If you know of a company that would benefit from working with a living legend of the helicopter industry on a project like this then get in touch via the comments below or direct to Dennis through his website.

You’ll find links to resources and sites mentioned in the show further down the page.

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01:14 Show sponsors trainmorepilots.com
01:40 Routine before a display flight
03:38 How different is each display sequence
04:50 Salt Lake City crash review
10:44 Training(and suitability) for display authority
14:02 Chuck Aaron and B105
15:25 Warned of display flying due ‘Cavalier’ attitude
16:50 Display flying as a way of promoting type sales
17:59 Messages for Dennis – Dennis Martin, Hannah Nobbs
21:05 Dennis Kenyon Junior Helicopter Scholarship
25:00 Sponsorship and partnerships for the scholarship
26:50 Background to the Scholarship – Dennis’ son
30:10 Next scholarship planning
31:31 Application process via dennis-kenyon.com
35:45 More than being about just pushing and pulling controls
38:05 What type haven’t you flown that you still want to?
39:44 Tail rotor failures x 3 + safety certificate
44:40 A UFO story
48:15 Best advice you can give a pilot

Links from this week’s episode:
Dennis Kenyon – “The Aviation Bureau”
Dennis Kenyon Junior Helicopter Scholarship
Movember charity sponsor page
UK Huey 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

Salt Lake City Crash at high density altitude:

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A montage of one of Dennis' MD500 displays — A montage of one of Dennis’ MD500 displays

Dennis Kenyon in front of a RAF Gloster Meteor - he had a dual engine flameout at 20,000ft at night and managed to land it safely inside the airfield (RWY closed due another aircraft crash) — Dennis Kenyon in front of a RAF Gloster Meteor – he had a dual engine flameout at 20,000ft at night and managed to land it safely inside the airfield (RWY closed due another aircraft crash)

Dennis Kenyon and Mitsuo Aoyama at the World Helicopter Championships. Mitsuo would later go onto open a beer bottle with a Robinson on Japanese TV — Dennis Kenyon and Mitsuo Aoyama at the World Helicopter Championships. Mitsuo would later go on to open a beer bottle with a Robinson on Japanese TV

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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.

Podcast: Subscribe in iTunes | Play in new window | Download

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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A page from Dennis' logbook during the fliming of Blackhawk Down — A page from Dennis’ logbook during the fliming of Blackhawk Down

Jerry Grayson's Huey in the foreground, then the two Little Birds, then the Twin Squirrel camera ship. Bobby “Zee” is at the right, talking to Cameraman Mike Kelem. In the distance is Marc Wolff (Aerial Director) talking to Dennis. - Photo: Jerry Grayson — Jerry Grayson’s Huey in the foreground, then the two Little Birds, then the Twin Squirrel camera ship. Bobby “Zee” is at the right, talking to Cameraman Mike Kelem. In the distance is Marc Wolff (Aerial Director) talking to Dennis. – Photo: Jerry Grayson

Left to Right: Jerry Grayson, Dennis Kenyon, Olaf Schumacher Photo: Jerry Grayson

Dennis Kenyon aka 'Dennis the Menace' during his display at Biggin Hill on 14 May 1977. Photo Credit: Peter Nicholson — Dennis Kenyon aka ‘Dennis the Menace’ during his display at Biggin Hill on 14 May 1977. Photo Credit: Peter Nicholson

Georgie seen here with Dennis during her Dennis Kenyon Junior scholarship - imagine getting taught to fly by Dennis! — Georgie seen here with Dennis during her Dennis Kenyon Junior scholarship – imagine getting taught to fly by Dennis!

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RWS 15 – Display Flying with Dennis Kenyon – Part 2

Salt Lake City Crash at high density altitude:

RWS 14 – Display Flying with Dennis Kenyon – Part 1