Professional Pilots

Professional Pilots

"The depth of knowledge amongst the instructors was incredible and its great to be taught by people who so obviously love what they do..."

Our pilots are all highly qualified with over 44 years of paragliding experience between them.

Rob Mansley (Chief Flying Instructor)

Rob is Fly Spain and Fly West Wales' Chief Flying instructor and Tandem Pilot. Rob learnt to fly and cut his teeth in deepest darkest Wales. Since then he has travelled far and wide, from Mexico to the East coast of Australia, Greece and regular trips to Turkey, Spain and the Canaries. Rob is a British Senior Instructor, has taught full time for over 10 years and flown for over 14 years.

Teaching has taken him all over the world. While in Australia he worked as lead instructor for a paragliding School in Byron Bay and one of New Zealand’s most established schools in Wanaka. Rob now currently spends most of the year teaching and flying in Southern Spain and working on his Spanish so he can keep up with his two children!

Russell Ogden (British Champion 2003 & 2005, PWC Turkish Champion 09)

As well as being an exceptionally nice guy, Russell is widely regarded as one of Britain’s most naturally talented pilots. Twice crowned British Champion and a outstanding member of the British team, he has competed in many a European and World Championships. He is an exceptional pilot to watch fly and a tricky one to keep up with. He has flown for over 16 years.

Recently, his enthusiasm for flying and persistent peer pressure has led him to run hugely popular instability courses in Turkey and cross country clinics in Mexico and Spain. His passion for getting the most out of his flying clearly shines through in all the courses he runs. Having taught paragliding for ten years, and running SIV courses with us, he is now working most of the year as one of Ozone´s leading Test Pilots and sponsored competition pilot.

Jimmy Piper ( newish boy on the block)

Gentleman Jim has been only flying 3 years but he's made a great impact with everyone he has taught. If there any flaws then they are ours as Jimmy is a Flyspain homeboy, having learnt here originally with us he has gone on to be an excellent pilot and very good coach.

His motto is to put back somethingn of what he loves back into the sport. This year he will be competing in the Bristish Pilot cup....we look forward to the results.

Good luck Jimmy!

Nicola Mansley (Instructor and First point of call)

Nic has been flying for over 8 years. As well as being a natural pilot, instructor and ex-motorbike champion, she is the hub of our operation and generally your first point of contact with Fly Spain or Fly West Wales.

Any advice sought re:accommodation or bookings, then Nic has her finger firmly on the pulse. Recently Nic has an easy and relaxed temperment with students and ensures she gets the most out of here new recruits.

Lee Tryhorn (Resident British instructor)

Lee has been flying for 5 years. He has proved himself a natural pilot and a key member of our team and will, without a shadow of a doubt, be chasing on the heels of his peers in no time at all.

He has flown extensively in Morocco, Italy, Southern Spain and around Welsh Wales. He teaches and coaches full-time with us at our Welsh base and our full-time winter Spanish fliying centre.

He has a very easy manner and makes for a natural and likeable Instructor, he's gifted with a natural ability and enthusaism for flying and acrobatics.