Helicopter Maestro- video

[beaky]

I'm only mildly interested in learning to fly choppers (mostly because I've had to rule it out for the near future due to budget realities), but watching this veteran ag-pilot do his thing really makes me want to try it.

Very relaxed mastery of a flying machine...the clip is a little over-produced, but it's fun. I especially like the landing.
 Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfnERUBNohA

[Airshow_lover]

ummm isnt that a schweizer and not a hughes?

[beaky]

ummm isnt that a schweizer and not a hughes?

It's a Hughes design (designated the TH 55A "Osage" for US Army basic chopper training in the 1950s), but... according to my spotter's book:

"The Schweitzer Corporation has concentrated... on supplying police versions...
The slightly larger Schweizer 330 shows a small window behind the door, making it look like what it is: something between a Schweizer 300 and the Hughes/MD 500".

Now I'll have to look again for the little window...

[beaky]

Just looked again; it has a little window. So either this kid is wrong, his dad is wrong (which would really surprise me), or this book is wrong...

[beefhole]

Pretty cool-I've just started looking at choppers myself.  I just realized that even if I do manage to make it in to the Air Force flight program there's a good enough chance I may have to settle for choppers.

[Hagar]

I know nothing about helicopters but it looks like the Hughes/Schweizer 300C as flown by Dennis Kenyon at Shoreham. His displays are legendary & he does things with an ordinary helicopter that should be almost impossible. Much as I dislike the things he could keep me out of the beer tent where I would usually head for during helicopter displays.

That kid's naturally biased but his claim about his Dad being the best in the World is debatable. Dennis Kenyon recently retired after 30 years as a helicopter instructor. He's also a former world freestyle aerobatic champion. He was given the freedom of Shoreham Airport on his retirement.

Check out the vids posted here, including a short clip of his routine at the World Helicopter Championship last year. http://www.peekhelicopters.co.uk/dennis_kenyon.htm
Been looking for some decent vids for a long time. No hype or over-production, just a polished display by the master as it took place. A familiar sight which unfortunately we're unlikely to see again.

[beaky]

Wow- Kenyon could definitely give Hillman a run for his money... that's incredible!!  :o

[Jakemaster]

I really want to learn how to fly helicopters, they look like a blast!