Nirvana Aero School has decided to focus on recruiting individuals who can unite aspiring and experienced pilots and foster a strong sense of community. Each team member brings a wealth of experience to the organisation, and together we aim to reinvent the Nirvana brand across Africa.
Public Figure and Television Personality Eugene Cussons has focused his passion for flying into what has now become the Nirvana Africa entity. Best known for his work as a wildlife conservationist and television presenter for Animal Planet USA, Eugene also enjoys being a fixed wing and paramotor pilot.
Sadly, on the 23 May 2026, Eugene was involved in a fatal paramotor accident that ripped a hole in the hearts of the global paramotor community. He will be sorely missed.
“Flying is our family pastime and as a tradition is passed down from father-to-son. I therefore appreciate being a ‘bush pilot’ and I make full use of what the African landscape has to offer when it comes to spectacular scenic flying. There are no words to describe flying low level over wild Africa and my passion is to share this experience with as many pilots as I can. My confidence to fly low level XC however,comes from an unshakable trust in my machine and wing. In Fixed Wing aviation we can’t count on second chances, I bring this ethos to PPG XC and therefore I only fly a machine I can trust. From a business point of view I understand that PPG pilots WANT a strong sense of community, and our owners/pilots will make it a priority on par with providing fast and reliable maintenance.”
Runner up in the Speedrun Cup 2021, Jaco has only been flying PPG for 3 years and has made the most of training opportunities, practice and gear selection to work his way up the leader bord of the Speedrun Cup. As a Nirvana Africa National NRT pilot Jaco has the goal of being Speedrun League champion in participation for longer range races.
Francois finished 3rd of the race log for 2021 Speedrun Cup. A NRT international race pilot, Francois has participated in Icarus X and Icarus races for the past 5 years and completed the Speedrun Cup 2021 season on the podium. Francois is a heavy guy at 105kgs and it makes Nirvana proud to have a heavy class pilot do so well on the F-light 200 XC racer. Francois is eager to work his way up the podium positions as he is known for being a radical race pilot with the nickname “Mad Dog” saying it all.
