Rotary Wing Show – Helicopter News, Safety, Training & Pilot Stories – Details, episodes & analysis

In this special episode of The Rotary Wing Show, titled Top 10 Helicopter Stories + Helicopter News, aviation podcaster Max Trescott officially takes the reins from longtime host Mick Cullen. The episode celebrates the legacy of the podcast while looking forward to its new direction—with Max blending classic storytelling and timely helicopter news.

Mick kicks things off by sharing how he created the show in Australia to connect helicopter pilots working in isolated environments. With a passion for online marketing and storytelling, he built a platform where rotorcraft professionals could share their experiences with a global audience.

Together, Mick and Max count down 10 of the most impactful helicopter stories from past episodes:

1. Mike Durant (Ep. 34) – The Black Hawk Down pilot shares powerful war stories and lessons from special operations aviation.
2. Rob Mason (Ep. 46) – Vietnam veteran and Chickenhawk author delivers raw insight into helicopter combat.
3. Harry Benson (Ep. 67) – British pilot recounts helicopter operations in the Falklands War.
4. Peter Gillies (Ep. 41) – “Cyclic back” technique for emergency response—a must-hear safety episode.
5. Matt Barker (Ep. 56) – The infamous “chicken bone story” that listeners can’t forget.
6. Richard Morningstar Sanford (Eps. 93, 103) – Offers deep technical dives into governor systems and carburetor icing in Robinson helicopters.
7. Dan Parsons (Ep. 109) – Analyzes a Pasadena Police Department accident and the systemic causes behind it.
8. Kevin Humphreys (

The flying you will get to hear about in this episode is a reminder about the difference your helicopter skillset can make to people that are in harms way, and that there is nothing quite like these machines. It also earnt those involved distinguished flying crosses. In September 2020, the California National Guard rescued nearly …

Continue reading "RWS 113 – 2020 Creek Fire California Rescues w/ US National Guard"

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How would you like to have been holding a steady hover and taking off and landing at 3 hours of helicopter flight time? Chris Ryan couldn’t afford helicopter lessons so he built himself a simulator to practice at home. His instructor was so impressed at his progress that he encouraged Chris to turn the simulator …

Continue reading "RWS 104 – Virtual Reality Simulators 2021 Revisit with Chris Ryan"

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Display flying has captured the imagination of the public ever since the very first flights. One the longest performing and well respected helicopter display pilots in the world is UK pilot Dennis Kenyon Note: This is part 1 of the interview. Look for part 2 in Episode 15 Dennis ‘the maestro’ Kenyon got his flying …

Continue reading "RWS 14 – Display Flying with Dennis Kenyon – Part 1"

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Do you remember how humbling it felt first learning to hover? If you ever want to experience that feeling again then give longlining a go. The ability for helicopters to move equipment and loads to remote or hard to reach locations makes them incredibly useful machines. Helicopter longlining notches that capability up several levels of …

Continue reading "RWS 13 – Helicopter Longlining with Andre Hutchings"

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NASA is not just space shuttles, Mars robots and moon landings! Susan Gorton has been leading the NASA Rotary Wing Project for the last 8 years helping to pave the way for faster, quieter, safer and more economical helicopter designs and operations. You are in for a treat today as you get to hear about …

Continue reading "RWS 12 – NASA Rotary Wing Project with Susan Gorton"

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Whirly Girls International president(2014) Dianna Stanger got her start in flying thanks to a need for breakfast eggs on her island home. That started a love affair that most of us can relate too. Dianna is one busy lady. She manages an airfield and FBO in Texas, operates a flying school amongst several other businesses, …

Continue reading "RWS 11 – Whirly Girls International with Dianna Stanger"

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For most young helicopter pilots opening your own helicopter training school is probably not high on your list of things to do. But this is exactly what Heather Howley, this week’s guest on the show, did when she was left in the lurch with a helicopter lease contract to cover. Heather is the owner and …

Continue reading "RWS 10 – Owning a Helicopter School with Heather Howley"

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John Eacott’s aviation career has spanned 49 years and he’s still adding time on top of that today as an active commercial pilot. He has spent a huge amount of time flying over oceans as an ex-Royal Navy pilot and multiple stints in the oil industry. He is also the first nuclear qualified helicopter pilot …

Continue reading "RWS 9 – Never Work a Day in your Life with John Eacott"

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Alaska is still largely wilderness and remote communities rely heavily on helicopter operations. Air Ambulance services like the one that today’s guest Lorena Knapp flies for can drastically reduce the time needed to get a patient to primary care given the terrain and ground conditions. Find out about flying conditions in Alaska and get an …

Continue reading "RWS 8 – Helicopter EMS in Alaska with Lorena Knapp"

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