Category Viggo Sylvest Jensen

Viggo Sylvest Jensen

Any Danish farmer worth his salt  in the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s, had an aerial photo of his farm on the wall. Many Danes, including myself, still remember those photos, when visiting relatives in the country-side.

Viggo Sylvest Jensen was born in 1909 and was (I think) the only real Danish barnstormer. He started his company during the great depression. He was the owner of a Tiger Moth, and made his money by flying from town to town selling aerial photos  of  farms and estates. Business was remarkably good. It turned out that even owners of smaller farms were willing to pay for a photo of their home.

He started a flying circus, later on in his career when flying became more commonplace. He had the fully acrobatic KZ-VIII aircraft commisioned. It was completed in 1950 and was flown by the ex WWII Royal Air Force pilot, Peter Steen.

Viggo Sylvest also commisioned SAI to make a copy of the Ellehammer Standard Maskine, and toured with these planes all around Denmark.

His remarkable collection of photos is now situated in the Royal Danish Library, and is today a treasure-trove for historians. It’s interesting to note that the museum is still offering photos from the collection for sale.

Viggo Sylvest Jensens Luftcirkus

Viggo Sylvest Jensens Flying Circus performed aerobatic tricks that would have stood the test of time. Most of the tricks were very dangerous, and most of these tricks would be banned at airshows today. The question on everybody’s lips at the time was: Is it a publicity stunt, or simply a way to make money? I won’t go into that, but instead present some of the stunts and how they did it.

Loops, Rolls and other manouvers


The stunt pilot, Peter Steen, had a career in the British R.A.F. during the war and was well versed in patern and stunt flying. Sylvest Jensen had a KZ-VIII acrobatics plane build for this purpose.

Wing Walking

This stunt had been performed in the US for years. Viggo Sylvest Jensen used a KZ-III with a modified top. A hatch behind the wing was inserted into the aircraft to that Palle Johnson, the acrobat, could get out on the wing. He then climbed out, holding on to a metal pole while the pilot flew around.

Picking up a Hankerchief

A hankerchief placed 20 cm off the ground was picked up by a hook on the wing-tip of the KZ-III. The pilot, Svend Sørensen, would fly at 100 km/h and suddently tip the wing down, just before, and pick up the handkerchief. A miss would have meant instant death!

Flags and a Ladder

A rope ladder was lowered from the modified KZ-III, and Palle Johnson would climb down the ladder, hang upside down, and then pick up a rope with a flag at each end, while flying at low altitude. The pilot was unable to see the ladder and Palle Johnson, and he was directed from a radio-truck on the ground.

I have found this video clip from 1950, with comments by Gunnar ‘Nu’ Hansen, showing most of the stunts being performed.

Viggo Sylvest’s Flying Circus, KZ-II, KZ-III, KZ-VIII, KZ-G1

Viggo Sylvest Jensen and Staff

Viggo Sylvest Jensen was a clever man – He didn’t perform any of the stunts personally. His circus consisted of the following personel:

Viggo himself on the left, directing the aircraft from the ground.

 

Peter Steen –  Ex. Royal Air Force. Stunt-pilot of KZ-VIII.

 

Palle Johnson – Wing-Walker and trapeeze artist.

Ewald Holst – Pilot on the Rope-ladder stunt (no photo).

 

Svend Sørensen – Pilot on the handkerchief stunt. Svend had 2400 flying hours and had practiced an entire year before he could perform this stunt. (Svend on the Right)

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