Pete Kynsey has got to be the best all-rounder. Very good competition aeros, and apart from Neil Williams, the highest placed UK pilot (I think) in the World Championships since 1970. His display aerobatics are legendary. Saw him display a Harvard in the 1980s and everybody at the show just stood there awestruck! Smooth, flowing and perfectly displayed. And to see him display the Bucker Jungmann is something else. Regular practice sessions at Headcorn brings the airfield to a standstill while everyone watches..PK could aerobat a horse & cart and still make it look good!

But then again, Paul Bonhomme, Brian Lecomber, Nigel Lamb, Will Curtis, Mark Jefferies, Tom Cassells, Richard Pickin, Steve Jones are all outstanding pilots in their own right.

:ok:

I also saw Denny at Shoreham this weekend, and the ribbon cutting piece is a fantastic thing to watch, and clearly the crowd enjoyed it too. However it seemed to me that Denny doesn't seem to throw the aircraft around the sky quite as much as others.

I've met Will Curtiss on a number of occassions and his displays always leave me amazed at what he can do. He's a real nice guy to talk to as well - a top bloke!

Aero display pilots
 

Through being involved with an aviation mag and an airfield where we have our own air show and also host the stop over for a sea front display I get to know and watch a number of the displays. Quite often I have to tread carefully to avoid upsetting people as there are some big personality clashes out there but my own perspective is that anyone who is out there trying to make a living out of displaying aircraft in flight should be applauded whether they are giving a technically superb display or leaning more towards entertainment.

Denny was the subject at the start of this thread and he generates quite a bit of reaction on the circuit. I have flown with him and would again. His tail up arrival is entertaining as is his ribbon cutting display. I put him in the entertainer category and a hard worker.

Also entertaining are the guys who fly the Utterly Stearmen. Martin and Mike are not going to win awards for their extreme aeros during the display but they do know how to entertain the crowd and work hard for the sponsor.

Slightly different is the show put on by Will Curtis in the Sukhoi. The gyro manouvres are more interesting to a technical audience.

What I have seen as an attitude is that these guys don't claim to be superior. They don't pretend that they are better than the competition guys but just don't have time to compete. They do a different job.

My vote for best still goes to Dennis Kenyon. An unassuming guy who can make a helicopter do things I wish I could have the nerve to try.

I am amazed that Denny has attracted so much attention on this thread! I saw him fly this weekend and as far as I can see he puts on a good show. To compare him to others is pointless he is an able display pilot and a great showman.

For those purists out there the glider display was outstanding this weekend at Shoreham. Sadly I do not remember the pilots name but he stole the show as far as I am concerned. Running a close second was Tom Maloney in the Strike Master who is one of aviations gentlemen and puts on a stunning display.

The instigator of this thread seems to take exception to the term legend! In my experience most legends have a habit of being dead! In DD’s case it is showmanship nothing more so don’t make a meal of it.

For me the consummate display pilots were and are Duane Cole and Bob Hoover and one must not forget Ray Hanna. There are so many other great pilots on and off the display circuit some have been listed by others on this thread. Denny is an outstanding showman and the public like his display! So what’s the problem?

Best bit of advice I heard regarding display flying was keep it simple, keep it safe. So if Denny does not push his aeroplane or himself to the limit and manages to entertain the public he has got it about right in my opinion.
:ok:

Whats the Beef?

He's enjoying himself and fortunate enough to get paid for it.



Here is his site

http://www.dennydobsonaeros.demon.co.uk/

He certainly doesn't seem to be willy waving!

Im sure you would not complain if you had a sponsored extra 300 i know i would not.....:E

Denny
 

My company was the sole sponsor of an Extra last year.

The pilot was new to the scene and no great shakes.

So what?

An aerobatic plane is a great billboard for you products, most especially if you have a commentator on the ground. They will get the sponsors name and business mentioned in every other breath if they're good.

So, speaking as a sponsor, it doesn't matter a stuff how good the pilot is as long as - your company name is in big bright letters, the crowd know what you do and you get overhead as many crowds as possible in the season. All displays were provided at my companies expense. I was happy to do it.

All the pilot needs to do is a few loops, rolls and tumbles and make plenty of smoke and noise.

Denny Dobson has a most impressive story to tell as far as the promotion of his sponsors is concerned.

As a business tool then, he is top shelf.

He also happens to be a display pilot who does lots of the aforementioned things really well and adds his own stamp to it - including loooaaads of noise!

The crowds love him - it doesn't matter a stuff if other pilots are crticial of his manouvres.

Maybe they aren't as succesful as him in achieving the ultimate gaol of any aerobatic pilot and that is to do it for a living. What better than to fly your @ss off in a plane that somebody else is funding and paying you to do it as well!

Fair play to the bloke and much respect. His is a great story.

Ok, he won't win many trophy's but, hey, so what? That ain't his bag.

I bet he is chuckling all the way to the bank at these posts!


HP

Hairy

Sponsor me the yaks noisy and Guinness won't!:E

Not slagging anyone off, DamienB, just generating a bit of discussion...Ok point made and taken. Denny the aerial entertainer. He's certainly flying a more polished display this year...who knows, next year we may see lomcevaks. Anyway, my girlfriend thought his display was good, and she's not an easy one to impress...

As I recall last year was his first in the Extra!:ok:

not by some margin

Have a look here at Patty Wagstaff.

Strange, but the last time I saw a video of Patty doing rolls in her Extra she was a brunette!

First woman to win the US Nats.

I have to disagree!! The Geese stole the Shoreham Airshow!

I wonder about the legality of hopping pax who have bid at auction or have been promised a ride by the sponsors. As I understand it, DD has a PPL.


Quite enjoy his airshow - especially that "swooping" maneouver where he exercises the prop pitch control to add more noise!

Stik

Fair enough I thought he was still flying the S1 the year before last at Shoreham time does fly!;)

Haven't seen Denny perform for a number of years so won't comment on his abilities at present. He might not pass muster at a competition but if the crowd at a display likes him that's all that matters.

One thing that does puzzle me.....why does everyone make such a big deal about cutting a ribbon? Along with flour bombing, spot landings, balloon bursting, etc, a ribbon cut was always part of the competitions that we held at Netherthorpe every year back in the late eighties/early nineties. The ribbon wasn't on twenty foot high poles either.....we just took it in turns to stand either side of the runway and hold it up!

Sour grapes! We live in a free world, free market and the guy is successfully making a living at what he wants to do. What's wrong with that, even if the aerobatics pursits are a bit sniffy?

Give him a break.

QDM

PPL - Passengers
 

Hi Stik,

As far as I understand it -

No problem to take the Sponsors customers for a ride.

As far as 'prize/ charity flights' are concerned, the CAA require the pilot to fill a form in before granting an exemption.

Maybe somebody in the know will confirm?

HP

I probably need to get out more to go and play!

But here goes as requested from the CAA Website

Having done the Burnt Children's Club flying day last week at Bourn (which was a tremendous success again) I know that even if you don't raise money teh CAA 'like to see that you comply with their guidance'

For which there is an AIC but can not put my hand on that just now.

FD

Hairy/FD

my mind is at rest - thanks chaps!

Stik

I don't find his displays particularily impressive when they are conducted at less than 200ft over the top of my house. What would be impressive is if he went away and read the air navigation order particularily the section on the 500ft rule.

I live in an area that covers about half a million acres of clear open space, no need for him to practice over our rooftops

As a pilot I find his behaviour reprehensible, it reflects badly on all of us. As a result of this my neighbours all think that us pilots are ignorant aerobats who have no respect for life or property.

I would expect a "legend" to conduct himself in an appropriate manner?

:(