The Team
Mike Collett
Instructor
Mike started his flying career in gliders, which included winning the Dan Smith aerobatics trophy in 2003, and spending a number of years as the Chief Flying Instructor of Booker Gliding Club. He then transitioned to the noisier side of powered aerobatics, winning a number of medals in his first year. He was the 2014 National Champion at intermediate, and was selected for the British Team. Mike travelled to the World championships in South Africa as part of the British Aerobatics Team in November 2014, where the team won the Silver medal. In 2016 Mike came 2nd in the British Advanced Aerobatics Championships. Having become a display pilot Mike now displays the Cap 232, Extra 330 as well as with the Great War Display Team (where he displays Fokker Triplane, SE5a and Junkers CL1 replicas).
Mike also flies for a living, as well as being an instructor. He has around 9,000 hours flying time.
Alan Cassidy
Instructor
Alan is a multi-time British National Aerobatics Champion, has won medals internationally and has many thousands of hours instructing on Pitts aircraft. Alan literally wrote the book on aerobatics!
Simon Abbott
Instructor
An advanced aerobatics competitor and a very experienced aerobatics and formation flying instructor. Simon is also an accomplished display pilot. He is also our Freestyle expert!
Pete Tuplin
Instructor
Pete is our Harvard expert! He obtained his PPL in 1990 owned a Cessna 152 and later a 182 flying from Denham. Wanting a little more exciting aircraft bought a Chipmunk in 1994 which he still owns and has over 600 hrs on the aircraft and got the warbird bug . He formed an aircraft restoration company and restored a T6 Harvard and a Spitfire TR9 flying both aircraft . He has owned several Harvard mks over the years and has over 500 hrs on the type. Not only instructing pilots going on two other warbirds but also the Indian Air Force Historic Flt and Royal Navy historic Flt service pilots. Pete has also flown P51 Mustang and, Jet Provost
John Taylor
Instructor
Whether it's freestyle aerobatics, formation aerobatics or air racing, John has done it all! John was a member of the famous Marlboro and Mircrolease aerobatic teams in the 80’s and 90’s. Wowing thousands of spectators throughout the world. John has amassed a huge number of hours flying an array of aircraft. He is also a CAA display evaluator (DAE) and is very much our formation specialist.
Julian Murfitt
Instructor
A previous member of the British Aerobatics Team and Advanced National Champion, Julian has many hours instructing in both aerobatics and formation flying.
Alex Truman
Instructor
Alex has a huge amount of experience over a wide variety of aircraft including the Pitts. Alex has been lucky enough to display some of the most iconic classic aerobatic aircraft including the Bucker Jungmeister. Whilst Alex isn't flying around upside down he works as an engineer for British Airways.
Dave Hall
Instructor
"Dave gained his pilot's licence soon after learning to drive, but it took him another decade to discover the joys of aerobatics. He has experience across a range of aerobatic types, including medal performances in his first outings in the Pitts. When not flying aeros he enjoys flying vintage aeroplanes including the Tiger Moth. He holds a formation display authorisation, flying with the Turbulent Team, and also dabbles in gliding - he holds Bronze C and Aerobatic gliding badges."
