Andy Shaw

Chief Flying Instructor

World Champion Gold Medalist

Our Chief Flying Instructor (CFI) is Andy Shaw: 39 years old and a former Parachute Regiment soldier.  He started flying in the late 70s, achieved a Bronze British Royal aero club Award from patron Prince Andrew for competition success and services given to the sport. Andy, a World Champion, has One Gold, two Silvers and two Bronze medals, along with a record 5 individual British Championships and a further for record leading team Green Dragons to 7 British titles in the 21 years of competitions.

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Andy has taught thousands of people to fly, along with running the  worlds first and only 3 month residential Instructors course, some graduates of which are now running very successful BHPA schools. Andy has also carried out thousands of Dual flights and has starred in ITV challenge You Bet and the BBC programme Xchange.  He has also ran the very first  Flying  4 Youth Training weekend in May 2005, teaching 18 youngsters to fly for FREE.

Andy boasts of his proud photos and newspaper cuttings where at the tender age of two you can see he started learning flying skills with his dad Les Shaw.•• 

•Andy also puts a lot of his own free time attending BHPA Executive council meeting and is currently the BHPA Schools Liaison Director.  He is very proud to be appointed a BHPA Senior Hang Gliding and Paragliding instructor and a highly qualified BHPA Examiner

•Andy is at Green Dragons Full time unless running a course abroad for our members.

John Lawrence - Senior Flying Instructor

Our second longest serving instructor is also a former officer from the Paras. John Lawrence started flying in the mid 80s. John has also been very successful on the British international and World scene and managed the 2005 British team finishing with a silver medal.

John has to be one on the UK's most dedicated part time instructors, and has also put in a lot of time helping youngsters to learn to fly. You see John mostly on a weekend.

  Jamie McRae - Assistant Instructor

Our latest up and coming dedicated Instructor, also Paragliding dual rating for both winch and hill flying. He also brings his knowledge from being a Gliding Instructor.  He is also Chief Coach for the North Wales club, and coaches our club members on flying trips in Wales.

 Jamie also works extremely hard running our overseas courses together with Andy/CFI.  He is our Web designer and IT man.

Jamie also arranges test flights on FreeX Paragliders and Seedwings Hang Gliders in the North West of England.

 Justin Rose - Assistant Instructor

Justin (Sid) Rose, one of our newest team members as a Trainee Instructor. Sid brings much enthusiasm and ability to our team.  He has recently experienced teaching abroad with Andy and Jamie.
 

  Billy Elliston - Assistant Instructor

Billy Elliston at the age of just 18 joins our team, as a very keen and capable pilot. Billy joins Andy on weekends while he is learning all aspects of running a flying business.

You will see Billy running about assisting the instructors laying out gliders, and some shop admin.  Billy is often to be seen flying at our winch field.

  Nick Laking - Club Coach

Nick Laking is a very dedicated club Coach and also our most recent qualified winch operator.
Nick lives very local to Green Dragons and if it is flyable his self employed job more less allows him to be on the hill.