Andrey Kuznetsov
Andrey “The Cosmonaut” Kuznetsov is a proper canopy artist. Hailing from Ufa, Russia, he learned to skydive in 1990 at just 15 years old and has completed over 4000 jumps. He spent 10 years in the Russian National Canopy Formation Team, and has held three world skydiving records, including being part of the current world record for a 100-person canopy formation. In 2003 Andrey moved to the USA and pursued a career in mechanical design engineering. It was here in New England he learned to fly paragliders in 2009. With his previous canopy experience, Andrey progressed quite rapidly and within just a few years he was flying 200+km flights in Texas. Andrey got his USHPA Tandem Instructor certification in 2011 and he’s been thrilling passengers ever since. Andrey is also an avid cross country pilot. In 2020 he flew a 5.5 hour, 88km triangle on his tandem in Colombia and he set that Vermont State distance record twice- once at 110km and a month later at 116km. Andrey also set the NH record in 2021, with an incredible flight that originated from a tiny 250’ tall training hill! He launched into rising air and climbed to an incredible 6,800’, traveling 76.75km! Andrey currently resides in the greater Boston area and offers tandem instructional flights for PGNE at many different sites all over New England. Also, with his extensive parachute packing experience, Andrey also repacks much of New England’s reserve parachutes via his company Airquest Paragliding.
Dan Deleo
Don’t compare yourself to Dan. He’s a natural athlete that’s frustratingly good at everything he does. Lookout, because just when you’re feeling fast on a downhill mountain bike, Dan will pass you riding a borrowed bike (because he hasn’t ridden in years) with blown shocks and no front brake. No big deal.
Dan learned to paraglide in Montana in 2014 and a few years later moved home to the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, where he quickly started flying with the Paraglide New England crew. In short order Dan was sending long distance cross-country, regularly flying across much of the state of Vermont. Hooked on flying, he’s been chasing paragliding all over the world and some of his favorite flying sites are in Colombia and France. Dan’s also officially the coolest Dad in the world, having amazed all the kids and teachers when he flew cross-country to land at his daughter’s school just as they were getting out for the day. When he’s not flying, Dan works as an arborist and builder. In 2021 he earned his USHPA Tandem Instructor and we’re excited to have Dan on the team teaching and sharing his love of paragliding through tandem flight.
Bill Gottling
For once he known as “Wild Bill”, Bill Gottling learned to Hang Glide in 1981 at Kitty Hawk Kites in Outer Banks, North Carolina. Bill went on to fly aircraft, earning a commercial pilots license and work as a flight instructor. Bill found general aviation “too loud and expensive” so he focused on Hang Gliding, later earning a USHPA H4 expert rating. Bill was content hang gliding until late 2016, when Paraglide New England Founder Calef Letorney convinced him to try paragliding. Hooked, Bill learned quickly and earning his USHPA P4 expert rating in 2020. In 2022 Bill got his USHPA instructor rating and he’s been teaching at Kitty Hawk Kites’ Morningside Flight Park ever since. Bill’s also a US Coast Guard Commercial Captain plus USHPA Tow Tech2, captaining the tow boat for Paraglide New England’s SIV (over the water maneuvers) training. With his smooth radio voice, “Wild Bill” has upgraded to “Mild Bill”, but don’t let his gentle demeanor fool you; Bill is still wild about flying. When he’s not teaching, you can typically find him chasing cross country distance on his paraglider or swinging around under a mini-paraglider.
Calef Letorney
Calef's mom will tell you his "need for adrenaline" started in utero, when she rolled her Land Rover while 8 months pregnant. He denies being a junkie, but he did learn to ski at 2.5 years old and by 10 he was sledding off the 2nd story roof. Calef went on to compete in freestyle whitewater kayaking, winning medals at National and World Championships. He learned to paraglide in 2005 in Colorado and Utah from some of the best instructors in the Nation. Calef fell deeply in love with soaring paragliders and has traveled the world chasing the dream. When he moved home to Vermont, Calef found few local pilots capable of keeping up. It just wasn't the same without a gaggle of friends, so in 2009 Calef got his first Paragliding Instructor rating and he has been training fledglings ever since. In 2017 Calef received an USHPA P5 Master rating, but he'll be the first to tell you there's always room to grow and he’s focused on continually improving his flying skills and instruction techniques. On 9/20/2020, after 6 years of trying, Calef realized his dream of setting the Vermont State Distance Record on a paraglider, flying 120.9km from East Burke, VT to Hartland, VT. The record didn’t last long as on 5/15/21 Calef and a group of friends enjoyed what has been described as “the best soaring day ever in New England”. Launching from W. Rutland and climbing to 13,000’ (!) the team flew from Western, VT to the border of Maine! Calef’s flight was 164.8km, crossing the fabled 100 mile mark, but after flying cooperatively for over 6 hours Eduardo Garza ultimately made it the furthest, claiming the Vermont and New England record. So if you want to soar in the mountains, tandem or solo, Calef’s your guy!
