Dennis crashes
Join Date: Jun 2001
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Dennis,
I'm just relieved to hear you're still doing the aerobatic displays!
Always in awe of your skills. I will never forget watching you pirouette for over 500m at Crinkly Bottom to a beautifully safe landing, having broken a tail rotor control cable on the enstrom. Simply fantastic. And having the crowds spellbound at Helitech with a stunning display when the Blue Eagles refused to go up.
With much love from all the family,
Paul.
Peasacake - Snarlie -
I'm just relieved to hear you're still doing the aerobatic displays!
Always in awe of your skills. I will never forget watching you pirouette for over 500m at Crinkly Bottom to a beautifully safe landing, having broken a tail rotor control cable on the enstrom. Simply fantastic. And having the crowds spellbound at Helitech with a stunning display when the Blue Eagles refused to go up.
With much love from all the family,
Paul.
Peasacake - Snarlie -
Join Date: Oct 2003
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I've had the pleasure of mixing it with Dennis at 2 World Championships and several other helicopter championships.
Not only is he a legend, he's a damn fine bloke, who has an awesome track record of safe - and hugely entertaining flying.
I'm nearly half way to his record of "not crashing in 56 years of flying". When I achieve that, I'll feel qualified to comment on issues such as flight envelopes, upside down manoevres and the like.
Until then, I'll take every opportunity to learn first hand from people like Dennis who have dedicated their lives to helping people learn to fly better by passing their immeasurable skills on to others.
See you in Eisenach, Dennis!
Big Ls.
Not only is he a legend, he's a damn fine bloke, who has an awesome track record of safe - and hugely entertaining flying.
I'm nearly half way to his record of "not crashing in 56 years of flying". When I achieve that, I'll feel qualified to comment on issues such as flight envelopes, upside down manoevres and the like.
Until then, I'll take every opportunity to learn first hand from people like Dennis who have dedicated their lives to helping people learn to fly better by passing their immeasurable skills on to others.
See you in Eisenach, Dennis!
Big Ls.
Join Date: Sep 2006
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Ouch...
A few feet lower and it might have hurt the old coxix..
Good to hear Dennis is OK. Never see him in the flesh, only on video, but much respect and I watch enthralled.
Climb back on soon, please...
Max
A few feet lower and it might have hurt the old coxix..
Good to hear Dennis is OK. Never see him in the flesh, only on video, but much respect and I watch enthralled.
Climb back on soon, please...
Max
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All the best Dennis. When you've worked out what went wrong to your own satisfaction I'd love to see you back at it. 
I'm honoured to have met you and Friday 13th June 2008 just wasn't to be your epitaph thank god.
Ian.
I'm honoured to have met you and Friday 13th June 2008 just wasn't to be your epitaph thank god.
Ian.
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Dennis
Spectacular! When the day comes to bend one it's definitely worth doing it properly.
Great to know you're OK.
Ignore the naysayers, they know not of what they speak (and probably have warnings on their filing cabinets).
I shall raise a glass to you tonight.
JerryG
Spectacular! When the day comes to bend one it's definitely worth doing it properly.
Great to know you're OK.
Ignore the naysayers, they know not of what they speak (and probably have warnings on their filing cabinets).
I shall raise a glass to you tonight.
JerryG
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Sl
If someone else had been driving they would have been roundly abused on this forum, if they had tried this without having the necessary experience. However, Dennis has done over 1100 displays, is certified by the CAA as a display pilot and if you had bothered to look at any of his displays he has incredible talent and had provided a spectacular and SAFE show for many years. Anyone who flies makes mistakes of various magnitudes and when you operate as close to the edge as he does, it is amazing that it has not happened before. It is just another testament to his skill and professionalism that it has not.
Dennis admits he made a mistake, we all make them. I am very relieved that he escaped harm so that I can, hopefully, one day see his show personally, I hope he carries on doing them.
Dennis has a great attitude and remarkable skill. As a role model, I could find worse.
If someone else had been driving they would have been roundly abused on this forum, if they had tried this without having the necessary experience. However, Dennis has done over 1100 displays, is certified by the CAA as a display pilot and if you had bothered to look at any of his displays he has incredible talent and had provided a spectacular and SAFE show for many years. Anyone who flies makes mistakes of various magnitudes and when you operate as close to the edge as he does, it is amazing that it has not happened before. It is just another testament to his skill and professionalism that it has not.
Dennis admits he made a mistake, we all make them. I am very relieved that he escaped harm so that I can, hopefully, one day see his show personally, I hope he carries on doing them.
Dennis has a great attitude and remarkable skill. As a role model, I could find worse.
Join Date: Mar 2002
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Thanks from Dennis K
Hallo guys & gals out there,
I've just tuned in to the posts this afternoon, and have to post in to say a big thanks for all those encouraging notes.
Knowing how badly I got that particular display wrong, and after so many years and over 1200 safe displays, I'm feeling more than a whisker subdued just now, and have spent the last two weeks, trying to decide whether it would be proper for me to display or even fly again.
Then I read a couple of dozen 'get back in the saddle' ...'we are still with you' words and I'm re-thinking hard.
I can't really run through the long sequence or errors that caused the flight to go so badly wrong, but rather than take up space on our pp site, I have set out the sad story for the aviation newspaper I write for. But it is 1500 words long!
Basically I'm all in one piece, with just a couple of loosened teeth, and my BUPA doctor tells me I have a bruised Coccyx, ditto a Sacrioliac Joint and an old injury to a vertibrae has re-surfaced. I am walking with a little difficulty, but apparently they heal themselves with time, so I can now catch up on my reading.
I have to accept the points made by Snarlie, but would like him/her to know that my display sequence has been specifically approved every year by the CAA display DAE's following a specific test flight and ditto the display manoeuvres by the engineering division of the Enstrom Helicopter Corporation. In 34 years display flying, I have not heard of a single adverse engineering report following any type I have earlier displayed.
As many of you know, I'm an avid safety supporter and would cease display flying instantly if I ever felt any machine I had flown had been compromised in that area.
Just to close, I'm sorry to dis-appoint so many out there for getting it all so wrong, but I am mighty thankful I was flying a type that proved so crashworthy and survivable.
Thanks again to all my well wishers. Your words couldn't have come at a better time for me.
Safe flying,
Dennis Kenyon.
I've just tuned in to the posts this afternoon, and have to post in to say a big thanks for all those encouraging notes.
Knowing how badly I got that particular display wrong, and after so many years and over 1200 safe displays, I'm feeling more than a whisker subdued just now, and have spent the last two weeks, trying to decide whether it would be proper for me to display or even fly again.
Then I read a couple of dozen 'get back in the saddle' ...'we are still with you' words and I'm re-thinking hard.
I can't really run through the long sequence or errors that caused the flight to go so badly wrong, but rather than take up space on our pp site, I have set out the sad story for the aviation newspaper I write for. But it is 1500 words long!
Basically I'm all in one piece, with just a couple of loosened teeth, and my BUPA doctor tells me I have a bruised Coccyx, ditto a Sacrioliac Joint and an old injury to a vertibrae has re-surfaced. I am walking with a little difficulty, but apparently they heal themselves with time, so I can now catch up on my reading.
I have to accept the points made by Snarlie, but would like him/her to know that my display sequence has been specifically approved every year by the CAA display DAE's following a specific test flight and ditto the display manoeuvres by the engineering division of the Enstrom Helicopter Corporation. In 34 years display flying, I have not heard of a single adverse engineering report following any type I have earlier displayed.
As many of you know, I'm an avid safety supporter and would cease display flying instantly if I ever felt any machine I had flown had been compromised in that area.
Just to close, I'm sorry to dis-appoint so many out there for getting it all so wrong, but I am mighty thankful I was flying a type that proved so crashworthy and survivable.
Thanks again to all my well wishers. Your words couldn't have come at a better time for me.
Safe flying,
Dennis Kenyon.
Chief Bottle Washer
Dennis,
Good to hear from you, and I'm sure that we all would all like to see you back in action as soon you are ready
If you have a link that you can post to your summary, please do so
Good to hear from you, and I'm sure that we all would all like to see you back in action as soon you are ready
If you have a link that you can post to your summary, please do so
Join Date: Feb 2008
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Well I don't know Dennis, although I've seen the DVD, but IMO he is probably a better pilot and a better commentator on safety as a result of this incident, than if it hadn't happened.
It's our experiences, good and bad, that hopefully improve our knowledge and judgement.
It's our experiences, good and bad, that hopefully improve our knowledge and judgement.
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Dennis: Extreme Sportsman?
Hi Dennis,
Thank God your alive... People should note that your crunch threatened nobody else and as such is a testament to the validity of your CAA display authority and safety procedures. An acrobatic display is always a risk to the pilot, so the rest of the world's opinions on safety are mostly irrelevant.
External pressure should not affect your personal decision process here either way. I.e: Don't get back into the saddle to make a point.... equally, don't stop because of 'them'.
Judging by all the posts.... I am sure all would agree that we will respect you greatly if you get back in the saddle, knowing you are newly aware of the risks, (I'm sure you will analyse contributing human and environmental factors and allow new margins in future!). But also we will respect you equally for calling it a day. You could easily continue within safer margins with new knowledge. Let's face it you do it because it's fun right?
But the most important thing to remember is: We all want you to be around for the next pub gathering... with loose teeth or not...
Celebrate being here still!!!
Hope to catch your next display soon...
Thank God your alive... People should note that your crunch threatened nobody else and as such is a testament to the validity of your CAA display authority and safety procedures. An acrobatic display is always a risk to the pilot, so the rest of the world's opinions on safety are mostly irrelevant.
External pressure should not affect your personal decision process here either way. I.e: Don't get back into the saddle to make a point.... equally, don't stop because of 'them'.
Judging by all the posts.... I am sure all would agree that we will respect you greatly if you get back in the saddle, knowing you are newly aware of the risks, (I'm sure you will analyse contributing human and environmental factors and allow new margins in future!). But also we will respect you equally for calling it a day. You could easily continue within safer margins with new knowledge. Let's face it you do it because it's fun right?
But the most important thing to remember is: We all want you to be around for the next pub gathering... with loose teeth or not...
Celebrate being here still!!!
Hope to catch your next display soon...
Last edited by K48; 30th Jun 2008 at 13:49.
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I join many others on here in wishing you a speedy recovery Dennis and to hope we see you back in the saddle soon.
Having seen your post-accident interview, read your post today on PPRuNe and indeed listened to you speak at the recent Redhill safety evening, I think the most important thing I and many others can learn from you is to emulate your humility and honesty. It puts many to shame.
Good on you and best wishes
Having seen your post-accident interview, read your post today on PPRuNe and indeed listened to you speak at the recent Redhill safety evening, I think the most important thing I and many others can learn from you is to emulate your humility and honesty. It puts many to shame.
Good on you and best wishes
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Keep at it Dennis
Dennis,
I would dare say that the biggest letdown 99.9% of us could experience, would be to see you stop displaying your amazing talent. You know, if you walk long enough, you are going to trip and fall, if you eat long enough, you are eventually going to bite your tongue or jaw. What you are able to do in these machines is nothing short of awesome! Keep being an inspiration to us.
RR
I would dare say that the biggest letdown 99.9% of us could experience, would be to see you stop displaying your amazing talent. You know, if you walk long enough, you are going to trip and fall, if you eat long enough, you are eventually going to bite your tongue or jaw. What you are able to do in these machines is nothing short of awesome! Keep being an inspiration to us.
RR
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I'm sorry to dis-appoint so many out there for getting it all so wrong
Whether you continue or not with display flying, we understand, but obviously you will be sorely missed. Given the threads on helo aerobatics and the Bolkow wingover accident it will be interesting to read your account of the accident. Hope your convalescence is a short one.
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Dennis
Very glad you walked away from this. I've always admired your displays. I would sometimes nod "Hello" at Shoreham. (Large police pilot going to/from ATC) but never wanted to disturb you as you were usually with a student or doing a walk-round. (Much as I would have liked to shake hands with the Great Man!)
All the Best
Very glad you walked away from this. I've always admired your displays. I would sometimes nod "Hello" at Shoreham. (Large police pilot going to/from ATC) but never wanted to disturb you as you were usually with a student or doing a walk-round. (Much as I would have liked to shake hands with the Great Man!)
All the Best
