Bryan Wilson and Jon Gee formed central London-based Flying Squad Aerial Rigging Services late last year to offer a specialist team devoted to flying performers and acrobats. As part of their expansion, the company has just welcomed a newly-appointed director, Rory McKeown. The Flying Squad now offers a fully comprehensive production rigging service including design, consultancy, manufacture and installation. From Frank Sinatra to Kylie Minogue, McKeown’s CV reads like a who’s who in entertainment. At the forefront of imaginative rigging design for over 20 years, Rory McKeown toured with Pink Floyd on the original ‘Wall’ tour in 1980, rigging the famous huge inflatable moving puppets. This led to his rigging Roger Water’s ‘Wall’ at the Berlin Wall in 1990. He has flown Prince during his 1987 European tour and been chief rigger for U2's nine month world tour. In 2000, he flew Alan Davies for the UK TV production Love is a Many Splintered Tthing.

In his new position, McKeown is currently establishing the rigging department at Excel Event Services, in London's docklands. He is concluding negotiations with structural engineers to create an in-house code of practice to expand the capacity for live events within the facility. The venue was originally designed without any rigging capacity considered. In addition, Flying Squad have recently designed and supplied the flying system in The Turbine hall of Tate Modern for a private party held by Lord Stevenson and family. Lord Stevenson was a Chairman of the Tate trustees for 10 years.

This was the biggest event of its kind to have taken place since the opening of Tate Modern. The building's managers would not allow performers to work without severe restrictions which included two separate points of attachment whilst in the air. As a result, each performer was belayed on two separate lines. Several items of performance equipment were used in the air including a paging system - created specifically to allow performers and their equipment to be managed safely from the ground. The result was a stunning performance combinating the art of bungee and trapeze, which amazed all against the backdrop of Tate Modern.


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