Team Xtreme Pilots

Nigel Hopkins

• Date of birth: 12 February 1973
• Team Position: #1 Formation Leader, Solo and display narator
• Day Job: Training Captain for South African Airways (Airbus A320)
• Total Flying hours: 18,500
• Number of aircraft rated on: 123
• Age when he started flying: Officially at the age of 18!
• Flying achievements: World Rally Flying Champion (2003), Vice World Advanced Aerobatic Champion (2010), 7 time SA Rally Flying Champion, 5 time SA Precision Flying Champion and was SA Aerobatic Champion for 2 consecutive years.

Mark Sampson

• Date of birth: 24 July 1968
• Team Position: #2 Wingman, Team Media
• Day Job: Captain B744 /B748F Cathay Pacific Airways (Hong Kong)
• Total Flying hours: 11,500
• Number of aircraft rated on: 23 plus 6 Helicopters
• Age when he started flying: 20
• Flying achievements: Advanced World Aerobatics 2010 Poland - 11th place overall, silver medal for Team South Africa. Represented South Africa at Unlimited World Aerobatics 2011 in Italy.

Jason Beamish

• Date of birth: 19 March 1989
• Team Position: #3 (LH Wing) & Aircraft Engineer
• Day Job: Aircraft Engineer with Absolute Aviation, Southern Africa.
• Total Flying hours: 2,700
• Number of aircraft rated on: 45
• Age when he started flying: Officially at age 9 in a J3 Cub, Solo on my 17th Birthday.
• Flying achievements:

Mark Hensman

• Date of birth: 15 October 1965
• Team Position: #4 (box) and solo freestyle pilot.
• Day Job: Team Manager. Retired Training Captain B747 MK Airlines.
• Total Flying hours: 15,000
• Number of aircraft rated on: 35
• Age when he started flying: Solo in a glider at the age of 15.
• Flying achievements: SA Aerobatic Champion 2006 and 2009. Silver medal for the South African team at both 2007 and 2010 Advanced World Championships. 5th at the 2010 China International Air Sports Fiesta and 4th in the World Air Masters, China 2011.