Only knew him though postings on here (he once suggested I might organise another air display at Croydon - me? :\ He approached the CAA who were cautiously in favour !) and his articles in Flyer - and his excellent Enstrom and Schweizer displays... he always came across as a really nice guy.

I recall a display at Biggin that went on rather longer than intended with an unruly t/r - Dennis beat it into submission eventually and left the Schweizer sulking on the grass where they fetched up, some way from the other display aircraft.

RIP

Blue Skies Dennis, and I hope you enjoyed life as much as you seemed to. Did a spectacular low-level display at London City when they used to do Saturday afternoon open days/airshows. A completely non-aviation mum standing nearby suddenly paid attention, saying "Goodness, I didn't know you could do things like that with helicopters".

Top chap. I only met him briefly, but his enthusiasm and charisma was inspirational to many young aviators like me.

Oh I'm so sorry to hear that, and also mortified that I couldn't get back for his retirement do. We flew together on Black Hawk Down, me in a Huey and Den in a 500. I don't think I've ever laughed so much in the space of a week as when listening to his stories. We both spent the week behaving on the ground together like naughty children. I will miss you old chap, but I reckon there will be a few angels who will be queueing up to improve their flying skills . R.I.P.

Blue skies and tails winds Dennis. A sad loss to the industry.

I only “knew” him via this forum, although had heard his name. There are a few people in my life that I regret never having the chance to meet, and Mr. Kenyon is one of those. For those that knew him personally, I’m sorry for your loss.

The last time I saw Dennis was when he visited in early 2018 to do what turned out to be his last ever DA renewal under the watchful eye of John Beatie. Man and machine in absolute harmony.

He gave me a copy of his recently released thriller 'Dangerous Appointment' and here's his author's note:

"Occasionally, I'm asked why I wrote this story. The answer is I once found myself in a Menominee hotel a day too early for an Aviation Seminar. The outside temperature was forty degrees below freezing... the nearby lake Michigan was frozen over. With time on my hands, I hired a snowmobile and drove a few miles out to see the pack ice. The deadly quiet and absolute cold hostility of that place had me thinking... what a perfect setting for a nasty piece of skullduggery. The story you are about to read was conceived right there and then.

"Alistair Craig is not me... although I have relied heavily on my own travel and flying experience and once made the flight I describe. Some characters are based on aviation friends for originality and if you recognise yourself... I ask forbearance.

"The locations and place names are not real but 'Top Risk' was a real racer. A fine horse I have ridden and loved. The Champagne Princess was a real yacht, too, but I do not know who owns her now.

"And finally the politics of my story will of course change as will the value of money. I just pray future years will see our world problems resolved."

Dennis Kenyon
Kings Cable
England

March 2018

Sad day,

RIP Dennis.

A rotary gent
 

So very sad to hear of his leaving us. A great friend and a complete gentleman with such a wicked sense of humor, the only professional pilot I met who had the complete confidence to wear a watch with Mickey Mouse hands! Fly safe up there.

One less Pioneer
 

Great loss to our industry a pioneer.
Dennis gave me a job when I first started out, he was great fun to be around.
RIP.
Tim

A great loss to the helicopter world. Very skilled pilot, fun to be around, and let us not forget the chance to fly helicopters he gave those through his scholarship scheme. RIP Dennis!

Oh no, how sad. I was very lucky to share an unexpected lunch with him 10-11 years ago, a truly wonderful, humble and charming gentleman with some incredible stories and a breathtakingly gifted pilot. I hope he is enjoying a very high hover as we write!

DK RIP
 

Den what a guy,!! I was in business with him along with bill @ redhill, he knew how to push the envelope, taught me a lot if sandra around god bless best rip den ,chris s helispeed iii ps den keep up those eol

This is sad news. I had to look at my logbook to see that it was almost exactly 14 years since he did part of my Enstrom Conversion.

Chris, I was with you at Redhill in 1994 when I joined the Hughes 500 Club, run by Dennis and Bill (I still have the jacket). Dennis did my H369 type conversion. I'll never forget him showing me how to land it with simulated stuck pedals. His control over the helicopter was masterly. RIP Dennis.

To say we are saddened by this loss is an understatement. Dennis is a legend here at the factory, and will live on along with names such as Rudy Enstrom, Jack Christensen, and Lee Burdue. He was certainly instrumental in the success of Enstrom, and judging by the above posts he was instrumental to the success of many of others as well. What a legacy!

We still talk to people who have seen his displays and ask us, "Can you really do that in a helicopter?" (Answer: He can, you can't.) He'll be missed. A lot.

From your family in Menominee....Godspeed Dennis!

Sincerely,
Dennis Martin
Director of Sales & Marketing
Enstrom Helicopter Corp.

Sad, sad news.

After seeing Dennis' exploits online, I got in touch with him via PPRuNe.

When I eventually made it to the UK, he very kindly arranged for us to fly together in a Hughes 300 belonging to a friend of his. We spent a delightful afternoon in 2012 flying in to Shoreham for generous helpings of sandwiches and engine off landings, followed by more tail rotor failure stories than any one man deserves.

Thank you again for for being so generous with your experience.

Dennis contacted me after I posted a picture of my Enstrom BDKD on here. He was generous with his time and he told good tales of the early days at Spooners. He had a genuine fondness for and even remembered all the little details of an aircraft he had sold half a lifetime ago. A great pilot and true gent. Bon Voyage!

Never Forget
 

Will never be replaced in my time for-sure, and was a pleasure for you to do my 500 rating then deliver It to me , R.I.P ........ Dennis.

Never Forgotten
 

RIP Dennis ..... It was a privilege for you to do my 500 hundred rating last year , then deliver the one I bought and stay with us that weekend last year . Will sadly miss .