2005 World Helicopter Championships (incl video)

[jerry712731]

IS this event definately running

If it is running, does anyone have any details such as accomodation, costs for people to go over and watch / be involved

Look forward to hearing some news (just a shame it is not in the UK as my French is Schoolboy and very RUSTY).

Hope to get some information over the limited amount on the HCGB and Organisers website

Thanks

JJ

[cyclicmicky]

Hi Jerry
its on from the 15th to the 20th of August.
There is loads of reasonably priced good quality accommodation in and around Rouen and Le Havre, if you want to travel a little ther is also Deuville, Trouville or Honfleur and the little coast road between them where there are lots of small hotels, B&Bs etc.
I can reccommend Trouville...espescially for its seafood restaurants, which are very reasonably priced. The only thing to watch out for is if it is the Paris hols time...loads of parisiennes go to Deauville and Trouville, and it does become quite busy.
Hope to see you there if I can get away for a few days!!
:ok:

[Cyclic Hotline]

Russians wrap up victory in 12th World Helicopter Championship in France
13:28 | 21/ 08/ 2005


ROUEN (France), August 21 (RIA Novosti) -The 12th World Helicopter Championship in Rouen, France, ended in a decisive victory of Russian pilots Saturday.

Vladimir Zyablikov and Vladimir Gladchenko became all-round champions. Viktor Korotayev and Nikolai Burov, who also guided Mi-2 helicopters, claimed silver.

The results of competitions in separate categories are also impressive. Russians were second to none in all competitions but the navigation contest, in which French pilots took the first prize.

Russian sportsmen were undisputed leaders in the team classification too, scoring over a hundred points over French pilots following them.

[glyn thrash]

any vids or links to the event??

[KevinLonghurst]

Those Russian guys in their MILs were great, there's no doubt. But in the freestyle, as far as I'm concerned, they came second to the great Dennis Kenyon !

[tecpilot]

Freestyle with a 3,5 to ship? These guys are so good because the Mi-2 is stable like a rock :)

No, of course great respect to our russian friends! :ok: :ok: :ok:

[jerry712731]

I too was lucky enough to see the freestyle competition, and also heard the comment from the Russian Team Manager, that they would not win as the display by Dennis kenyon was so good !!

Love to know why the judges did not agree

JJ

[collectivefriction]

JJ. The only thing that I can think of is that Dennis appeared, to me, to fly outside the display box.

As I understand the rules this would have given him a severe mark down.

It was a wonderful display.

[jerry712731]

That box....
The plan I saw, showed it going right over to the other side of taxiway T1, almost as far as the the pumps and the other side of 04/22, with the midpoint being the centre of the VIP area.
Can only assume I saw the wrong plan and so did Dennis
JJ

[splitneedles]

Dennis K said he has no problems staying within the box provided it is actually marked properly on the ground. He gave a great display never the less.

[offshoreigor]

I need to re-post what I said before as I was having a tough day when I removed the original post.

I take my hat off to the Russian Pilots. I mean really, look at their track record.

Liberia, wonderful close-in recce of those hills, (ouch).

Cote d'Ivoire, Great night training techniques in Daloa, (ouch)!

Hey, you guys are the best at that!

Cheers, from someone who knows.

:eek: OffshoreIgor :eek:

[collectivefriction]

splitneedles - that will be the answer then.

I could see the box, but only because I could see where the judges were sat. If it was not marked properly (no suprise with the French organisation) then that would have made it difficult.

[Fair Flair]

The organisation at Rouen was a joke. Its hard to believe that this is supposed to be the premier competition event for helios in the world.

The published rules were flouted, the most flagrangt violations were the use of mobile phones on one of the team events (this was photographed and the evidence pinned on the wall by a member of the British team), and the use of echo sounders for hover events. None of this elicited any action by the competition director. Instead, silly penalties were levied on Carolyn Gough Cooper for touching skids twice on a sloping and pot-holed landing site. Her skilful handling of the situation deserved so much better.


But surely the worst decision was the freestyle section. Dennis Kenyon's display was a smooth, accurate and exciting demonstration of the Schweizer 300's agility and pilot skill. The range of manouevres included pirouettes, wing overs, and ended with an autorotation to the ground, with his skids making contact to the split second of the final note of the musical accompaniment.

His display produced easily the largest ovation of the day, and I didn't hear a single person who wasn't certain that Dennis had won. Even the Russian team manager was reported to have said that his team had 'been beaten by the Schweizer 300 display'.

Having given what was undoubtedly the best display, Dennis was placed last in the competition - even behind the MD500 entrant
who almost collided with the ground after he lost control and nearly failed to recover from a manoeuvre.

The best display was penalised by several marks for apparently leaving the display box just once, although Dennis has since said that he couldn't see the thin boundary strips pinned in the long grass, which could barely be seen from 20 feet away, let alone at 500 feet!

For such an important competition, it beggars belief that the organisors didn't use the usual airfield markers, which would have been clearly visible to the competitors. The result would have been different if they had used basic common sense and proper organisational skills.

So, the best display came last - and we don't even know yet how the judges arrived at their decision as the points scores haven't been published yet. They will make very interesting reason when (if?) they come into the public domain.

Any other ppruners want to comment?

[DennisK]

Hallo guys/gals out there.

First a thanks for the nice comments on my Rouen display in the freestyle section, but can I put a pennorth or two of info into the pot.

The French organisation was indeed sadly lacking, ie, echo sounders being used for more accurate height control, radiophones while in competition when the rules specificaly banned the use of electronic devices. Indeed, a photograph of the offending pilot was actually posted on the wall for all to see, but which was politically ignored by the competition director.

The fender flying section was expected to be flown into a stiff breeze that had shifted to a downwind position. Not the way I would have wanted to fly. Possibly even dangerous.

I understand Carolyn Gough Cooper, when faced with a sloping pot holed landing site, sensibly elected to reposition the R22 skids, only to be handed a penalty for landing twice ! All a bit sad. But her overall skillful flying got her a first place in the ladies section. Well done indeed.

Curiously the commentary was totally in French. It would have been nice for the non French speaking competitors to know what was going on too.

Turning to my own problems, I'd have to say that the display routine I flew was probably as good and technically correct as anything I have ever done, with a couple of new manoeuvres included. Trying not to sound too sour grapish, at the conclusion I felt I had a good place in the bag, only to be told, I had busted a display line and finished last but one.

For the record, I never ever saw the display box limits, since at 100 knots entering a 360 degree wing-over, there's precious little time to look for a one metre marker ribbon, pinned into the longish grass.

So prior to the event, I examined the published rules and the 500 metre square display box and established some easily seen competition area markers that co-incided with the published display area. ie the south westerly Taxiway one and the north easterly pax terminal building. I certainly did not bust either of those two lines. But I later realised that the published display box as illustrated was a rectangle !! Presumably the French idea of a 500 metre square box. Looking back I can see the markers laid down on the day, bore no resemblance to the published ones!

With significant VHF assistance from my display manager, we did end the routine with a full stop autorotation and a skid touch down to within a split second of the 'Bolero's last note slide into the A Major finish. Maurice Ravel's French music and split-second timing.... More brownie points or so I thought!

I was more than suprised though to learn that the MD 500 pilot who came within ten feet of disaster, following a fierce cyclic pull back when downwind, finishing yards and yards (sorry metres & metres) past some parked aircraft, was nevertheless placed above my own efforts.

Ah well.... that's aviation, and I've no complaints. Its all a bit like cricket, if the umpire gives you out. YOU ARE OUT, whether you were out or not.

Overall a great weekend's flying, and thanks to all those who worked so hard to get the whole event going and to those who supported our British Team.

Some day my Prince will come.

Oh and please visit the forthcoming Shoreham RAFA air show, 3rd/4th September. I'm dropping 1000 tennis balls from 1000 feet for my son's scholarsip fund. Please buy a ball if you come. And I've a first novel out, again for scholarship funds.

"Appointment on Lake Michigan" is just £9.95 and is a good helicopter read, if not a classic. Available on the net, from www.electrocution.com.

Keep rooting for rotors, you hover lovers.

Dennis K.

[Cyclic Hotline]

Hey Dennis, seen what the French are doing with Lance Armstrong now!:rolleyes:

I read here in the last few days that you are going to retire. Is that correct?

I have had the pleasure of witnessing your displays a couple of times over the years, and must state that they are always truly exceptional. At the various helicopter shows, you always get even the most jaded old helicopter people out there and put a big smile on their faces as they remember the fun that this business is supposed to be about, and watch a helicopter doing what it can really do.

Too bad about this competition, blame the Olympic committee!:ooh:


Are you going to be at Helitech this year?

[DennisK]

Hallo Cyclic hotline,

Thanks for the kind words and its always nice to know, pilots enjoy my display routines. But.... but, I really am wanting to retire from the wonderful world of heli aviation. I've loved every day, (apart from the March 2000 horror) I've met some wonderful peopleand visited some lovely countries. We professionals who are able to earn our living from the industry are fortunate indeed. I have to pinch myself when I know I am getting paid to do something that is so enjoyable.

I occasionally say to my customers, helicopters are totally addictive, so take up drugs.... they're cheaper!!

At the end of September, I plan to stop the instructing and commercial flying and spend more time on my other interests. Golf of course.... travel for pleasure..... and writing, if my first novel gets any success. Any profits on the new book will go to my son's scholarship fund, so please buy it!!!

Its a thriller with helicopter action on most pages and overall I think its a good yarn, but far from a classic. Perhaps the sort of book you should read on a plane journey.

Its called "Appointment on Lake Michigan" and is presently available from the publisher, www.electrocution.com/aviation.
£9.95. Later in the shops.

Next please visit the Shoreham RAFA Air Show on 3rd/4th Sept, when I do my 405th and probably last public display. I'm also dropping 1000 tennis balls from 1000 feet into a target dustbin. Come and buy a ball, knowing that your contribution plops straight into the scholarship fund, and the winner gets a ride in the display helicopter at the show.

We are also doing a DVD, being a compilation of the best displays over the years. Again with all receipts going to the scholarship fund. Hopefully available in the shops for Christmas. For this I am so indebted to another pilot colleague, Jeremy Justice and his associate, Matt Love.

I would still like to display from time to time, or run a 'duo' team with two youngsters with aerobatic experience. But we need a solid sponsor and I've no illusions on how difficult that is.

Finally on the scholarship again, the 2005 winner is a super young lady, Hannah Nobbs, Hannah is studying at Southampton Uni, in Aerospace Engineering. She started her training at Shoreham three weeks ago, has solo''d and about to do the qualifying x-country. Hopefully the PPL(H) will be hers in the next two weeks. The previous winner, another fine lady Zoe Spain is up to 125 hours and working her way to the 155 needed to start her commercial course. It does give me a great deal of pleasure to see these youngsters launched on an aviation career, that would otherwise have been unavailabale to them.

Now we look forward to running the 2006 award, providing we can get the funding again.

Keep writing in chaps and chapesses.

Dennis Kenyon.

[Heliport]

S2AIt's a crying shame we can't post attachments in this 'ere PPRUNE

:confused: :confused: :confused:




There are almost 4000 in Rotorheads Around the World (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=76347)

See: How to post pictures (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=145070)

[jerry712731]

This is from the website of Dennis's Publisher



Appointment On Lake Michigan


ISBN 0-9732253-8-6



The temperature is minus forty degrees. A helicopter has landed on the frozen surface of Lake Michigan.

"What have I done?"

"What have I bloody well done?" Alistair Craig asks himself, as his dream of a new life is shattered when he discovers the identity of his passenger, and becomes embroiled in a terrorist kidnap plot headed by a ruthless Al Qaeda gang. And the IRA has joined them!

A hair-raising flight at night through the Great Lakes ends with an air/sea rescue on a luxury yacht. Political intrigue, fierce action and a fraught romance come together in Dennis Kenyon's first book.

The author is an ex Royal Air Force fast jet and bomber pilot. He left the service in 1970 and converted to civilian helicopters, and now earns his living as a helicopter flying instructor and examiner. He is also a Civil Aviation Authority approved helicopter display pilot, and in 1993 won the world freestyle display championships. From his Shoreham-by-Sea Airport office, Dennis Kenyon runs a helicopter flying scholarship for youngsters aged 18 to 23. He is an avid golfer, antique clock specialist and collects classic cars. He plans to retire into writing, and his next book is set in the intriguing world of the diamond trade.

[KevinLonghurst]

For anyone who's intested this website www.peekhelicopters.co.uk has a link to Dennis Kenyon's display.
Enjoy, and watch out for the full down auto to music at the end.

[VeeAny]

Kevin

What a fantastic Display Routine, Dennis really is a master at what he does.

V.

[KevinLonghurst]

without doubt...he is the master...however, the judges saw differently and placed him second from the bottom.......Hmmm....!

[jerry712731]

Hi Kevin
I found the full results on line and Dennis was obviously the best display but where were those line judges....

If you can make sense of the following tables you can see that in the specific elements he was top, but on the penalties he was last.

As Dennis said "When you are out, you are out".

A real shame, as it would have been nice to have seen him stop display flying on a high.

JJ




FREE STYLE

SUBJECTIFS ELEMENTS

Pilot Helicopter Difficulty Technic Impressions Total Nation
KENYON Stefan H300 58,75 62,25 51,5 173 UK
GEORKOV Gari MI2 58,75 60,75 51 171 RU
ZIMMER Gunter H500 53,5 57 39,5 150 GER
BOUCHEZ Alain H300 42,5 45,25 41,5 129 F
GEFANG Hubert EC120 42,5 42,5 42,5 128 GER
BOUCHEZ Frédéric AL2 37,5 47 38,75 123 F
BASSET Thierry R22 44,5 41,25 35 121 F
SEER Stephan R22 38,75 41,25 34,25 114 AUS





PENALTIES

Pilot Helicopter Height Box Edge Time Total Nation
BASSET Thierry R22 0 0 0 F
BOUCHEZ Alain H300 0 0 1 1 F
GEFANG Hubert EC120 0 0 6 6 GER
GEORKOV Gari MI2 0 20 20 RU
BOUCHEZ Frédéric AL2 0 40 19 59 F
SEER Stephan R22 0 60 4 64 AUS
ZIMMER Gunter H500 20 60 80 GER
KENYON Stefan H300 0 120 120 UK






RESULTS

Rank Pilot Total Nation
1 GEORKOV Gari 151 RU
2 BOUCHEZ Alain 128 F
3 GEFANG Hubert 122 GER
4 BASSET Thierry 121 F
5 ZIMMER Gunter 70 GER
6 BOUCHEZ Frédéric 64 F
7 KENYON Stefan 53 UK
8 SEER Stephan 50 AUS

[DennisK]

Hi fellow hover lovers, and thanks to Kevin for the Rouen WHC 2005 video. Jerry also has a DVD on all the teams 'freestyle' entries.

Musn't get too far into the 'sour grapes' scenario.... but in addition to the judges 'outside box' penalties, they also added 500 foot height limits. Can anyone out there .... or perhaps one of the judges tell me how they assessed the 500 foot bust using mark one eyeball only.

I'll give a grand to anyone who can come down to Shoreham and accurately determine a 100 foot height variation, ie a 500 foot/600 foot difference especially with machines of different sizes. A £250 payment to my scholarship though when you get it wrong.

And why the hell have a 500 foot display ceiling ? (What's a foot in France?) That instantly rules out too many helicopters, not least the Gazelle, and woe betide you if you try a full wing-over/loop in an MD 500. Just ask the German pilot after his second loop came within a few feet of spearing in.

Have to add my 'pennorth' to the box limits. The published rules showed a detailed location and shape of the 500 metre display box, but which didn't match the actual box laid down in the long grass on the competition day.... and couldn't since the published version was an oblong !!!!

All sounds a bit like asking Beckham to take a penalty before you've decided where to pitch the goal posts!!! Then moaning about a miss. (not Mrs... we all do that)

As I said though, Ah well, When the umpire gives you out..... YOU ARE OUT. Out or not.

Regards to all,

And comments on the 500 feet heights, etc.


Dennis K

[Capn Notarious]

Been there done that, near impossible task : trying to keep Dennis Kenyon in focus / at a decent picture size and within the viewfinder
It is hard work,hoping not to run out of pixels, and keep the colour balance. That was one good display.
Thinks, must find a video 8 player, link to computer and edit some of the other displays.
Dennis are you at Helitech this year and which day might you display?

[jerry712731]

I have 2 other videos taken at Rouen, 1 focused on Dennis and the Other on all the freestyle pilots, these plus the one listed here must have been taken almost on top of each other if the background sounds are anything to go by.


Watch out for Dennis's DVD with all the proceeds going to the Scholarship fund, should be available by Christmas, just the thing for the Heli Nut from the despairing partner who is running out of things to buy.

JJ

[DennisK]

Hi out there,

Thanks again gents, for your kind words on the Rouen display flying. Myaplogies for not keeping still enough for some in focus runs!!

As Jerry has outlined, we are putting together some of the best Schweizer/Enstrom 280 displays over the years, which will shortly be offered by Transair and Pooleys commercially as a one hour DVD, hopefully before Christmas. Also for sale on the internet. Hoping it will sell for £14.99p

I've seen Jerry's 'rough cut' plus the later items added by Tony Davies and think the end result will be a very worthwhile watch. Apart from its general interest, all the proceeds will go to the scholarship we run for youngsters.

Last week, the 2005 scholarship winner, Hannah Nobbs, passed her final skills test with Gary Spender and will shortly have the coveted CAA PPL(H). Hannah took just 21 flying days to qualify. We are all hoping she finds ways of moving on to the professional licence. She's now also a "Page Three" girl after our local rag featured her.

They don't run displays at Heli Tech any more, so nothing from me this year, but as many know, I have flown my last display routine at the RAFA Shoreham event last weekend. Twas the 405th public display plus twice as many practices.

But , I'm hoping to put together a 'duo' team for 2006 season... of two suitable 'youngsters ' IF and its a big if, I can get the right level of sponsorships. Any offers out there?

Bye to all for now.

Dennis K

[Darren999]

Great Display Dennis!!! Excellent. Thank you.

How did you 1st get started with the displays? were did you recive your training?
I would like to put together a display for the bell 47 I fly. I find that the 47 isn't as flexible as your aircraft. Skid turns are much harder. Any hints on how to get started.
Regards

Darren

[DennisK]

For Darren,

I'm always being asked that question and I'm not sure I have a rock solid reply.

But I think the essentials are quite simple. Certainly some extensive experience on the subject helicopter and it needs to be a suitable type. Multi blades are almost an essential, but having said that, the Japanese pilot, put on a terrific display routine in the 2002 Austrian event.

I've displayed the 300C, Enstrom 280 and 480, the MD 500 and the Scout. The lighter types allow a lower display which is needed for air show work. So if you are type experienced, I'd then suggest you get aerobatic experience in fixed wing. And get training from a display pilot. Display flying is more about mental approach than flying skill. Its so easy to keep expanding the display routine before thinking it all through. Learn and practice some basic manoeuvres and when confident, put them together in a display sequence.

I have twenty basic items from which I select depending on the venue, crowd line, space available, wind relative to the crowd line and allotted time. I try not to repeat any of them except the repositioning wing overs at RDP, (right display point and LDP. when displaying. But I never vary a manoeuvre from the one practiced.... really important. In spite of that, I've still had two moments in my 1200 displays, and that figure should be nil !!!

But remember you need a CAA approved DA, (display authority) which the GAD department up at Gatwick can do, or as a DAE, (display authority evaluator) I can once you are approved by the CAA to do so.
But to repeat, no one goes up there and just chucks the machine around. Each manoeuvre is well thought through in terms of gate speeds/height and minimum heights allowed.

Another aspect is insurance. Very few companies offer this, and finally remember even when you have your DA, it is marked by the CAA. "Flypasts only" Understand that if you can.

Good luck with your programme Darren.

Sincerely,

Dennis K.

[Darren999]

Cheers for that Dennis.. a start anyway, I was going to use the Bell47..
Thanks

Darren