Dennis Ray Skovgaard

Dennis Skovgaard, 1948 – 2023, began his career as a general aviation pilot with Lynch Flying Service in Billings, MT, and went on to fly for Big Sky Airlines, Western Pacific Airlines, and National Airlines. Initially he learned to fly from his father, Ray Skovgaard, and soloed on his sixteenth birthday in the family Cessna 140. Later, he used his Veteran’s benefits to become a flight instructor and commercial pilot.

Following the example of his father, Dennis took every flight offered during his time in general aviation. His highest time month was July of 1978, with 159.3 hours and one day off. His highest time year was 1976 with 1,420 hours. The transition to Big Sky Airlines where time and duty rules applied was a boon to his marriage to Cheryl Jenni, which lasted from 1969 until his death in 2023. Cheryl learned to fly from Dennis and worked as an air traffic controller until the controllers’ strike of 1981.

During the 1980’s a favorite duty was ferrying a pair of dolphins owned by an aquarium in Rapid City, SD, to Fort Walton Beach, FL, for the winter and returning them in the spring. These flights were in a Metroliner, perfectly designed for the long, slender hammocks of water. He reported hearing the dolphins singing to one another during the flights.

An exceptional flight instructor, Dennis modeled and expected the highest level of professionalism as both an educator and a pilot. He was employed as an instructor by Flight Safety International, first during a period in which he temporarily lost his medical qualification, then for various regional airlines in that role. Leslie Lynch, a flight instructor candidate in the 1970s, relates how he omitted the preflight briefing prior to introducing spins because he knew she would refuse to get into the plane. She later confessed she’d ripped out and then replaced all the upholstery in her armrest during the first demonstration.

Dennis accumulated 8,685 hours in general aviation; 14,714 hours at Big Sky Airlines in Cessna 402s, Jetstreams, and Metroliners; 2,107 hours at Western Pacific in the Boeing 727; and 2,834 hours at National in the Boeing 757. His lifetime total was 28,340 accident-free hours, of which 22,982 were pilot-in-command.

His legacy is one of excellence, joy, and humor. Dennis was a fierce advocate for women in aviation, and a compassionate husband and friend. Dennis’s logbooks will be donated to the Montana Historical Society upon the passing of his wife.

He logged time in and/or was type-rated in the following aircraft:
Cessna 140, 150/152, 172/172RG, 177/177RG, 182/182RG
Cessna 205, 206, 210
Cessna 310, 340
Cessna 401, 402, 414, 421
Mooney M20, M21
Piper PA-23, PA-31, PA-31T3, PA-34-II, PA-60
Beechcraft A-36, B-35, B-55, S-35
Jetstreams HP137 and BA14
SA226TC Metroliner
Boeing 737-200B
Boeing 757