Stratos Aviation Instructors

Dimitri Partafyllas - Stratos Aviation Founder

FAA Gold Seal Flight Instructor
Certifications: ATP-MEL, Commercial Pilot ASEL, AMEL, Instrument Airplane, CFI, CFII and MEI. Cirrus Certified Standardized
Instructor Pilot (CSIP)

Dimitri Partafyllas has had a passion for aviation since childhood and currently serves as CEO of Stratos Aviation. He began his aviation career in Bavaria, Germany, and completed formal pilot training in Greenville, South Carolina. Dimitri has earned various awards and recognitions for his flight training career, recently achieving Platinum status as a CSIP.

With twenty years of aviation experience and over 10,000 hours of dual instruction under his belt, Dimitri takes immense pleasure in sharing his knowledge and expertise with aspiring pilots.

Mason Tubb - Flight Instructor

Certifications: Commercial Pilot ASEL, Instrument Airplane, FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), Cirrus Certified Standardized Instructor Pilot (CSIP), Gold Seal Flight Instructor

Mason's aviation journey started when he decided to take an introductory flight with Stratos Aviation at the age of 15. He soloed his first airplane at age 16, before he was able to drive a car by himself. Mason then went on to complete all of his training with Stratos Aviation and is now instructing in the same planes he learned to fly in.

Bob Peck - Flight Instructor

Certifications: Commercial Pilot ASEL, Instrument Airplane, CFI, CFII, Training Center Instructor (TCI)

Bob’s earliest memories of aviation were of talking about flying with his father and grandfather. One of his most enjoyable flight was flying around the San Francisco Bay area tuning the radios while his father flew over the Golden Gate Bridge in his Maule. Bob took his first flight lessons in 1997 as a gift from his father. Twenty years later, he was referred by a friend to Stratos Aviation where he restarted his training and earned his ASEL Private Pilot’s certification, airplane instrument rating, ASEL Commercial, CFI, and CFII while balancing a full-time job and active family life. He enjoys working with aspiring pilots of all ages and especially those who may have started (or returned to) flying later in life.

Ryan McCormack - Flight Instructor

Certifications: Commercial Pilot ASEL, Instrument Airplane, FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), Training Center Instructor (TCI)

Ryan has been interested in aviation ever since he was a child when he watched his dad work on his RV-7A home-built aircraft. Since then, he developed a passion for flight. He originally decided to pursue it as a hobby, but eventually realized he wanted to become a CFI to share his love of aviation with others. Ryan got all of his flying certificates with Stratos Aviation and is now helping other people achieve their aviation goals and dreams.

Bryan Lindler - Flight Instructor

Certifications: Commercial Pilot ASEL, Instrument Airplane, FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), Cirrus Certified Standardized Instructor Pilot (CSIP)

Bryan is a retired Air Force Lt Col who has over 4000 hours in the B-1B Lancer and civil aviation. He spent the last 16 years of his career in the USAF as an instructor/evaluator in the B-1. After retirement, he became a CFI to continue his flying career and to help others discover aviation.

Nicholas Danto - Flight Instructor

Certifications: Commercial Pilot ASEL, AMEL, Instrument Airplane, CFI, CFII

Nicholas's passion for aviation started at a very young age. Nicholas and his grandfather would frequent Pontiac Airport near Detroit, where they would watch the planes. The satisfaction and exhilaration he experienced during those moments fueled his desire to become a pilot. He soloed at the age of sixteen, before he even had a drivers license. A few years later he pursued a Bachelor of Aviation Flight Science degree at Western Michigan University's Aviation Flight School. During his time there, he obtained his instrument,commercial, and multi-engine ratings. Soon after, Nicholas moved to Greenville, SC enrolling at Stratos Aviation Flight School to work towards his Certified Flight Instructor rating. Since receiving this certification, he gets to spend his days sharing his knowledge and experience to help others fulfill their aspirations of becoming pilots. Being a flight instructor isn't just a job for Nicholas; it is his true calling.

Chris Hepner - Flight Instructor

Certifications: Commercial Pilot ASEL, AMEL, Instrument Airplane, CFI, CFII

Chris developed his interest in aviation as a child flying RC helicopters with his father. After graduating high school, he pursued a career in pre-med, but realized aviation was still his true passion. He then joined the Air Force and spent six years as an air traffic controller where he also obtained his private pilot certificate. While on active duty, he completed his bachelor's degree in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle. Upon leaving the Air Force, Chris earned his Instrument, Commercial, ASEL, AMEL, CFl, and CFll ratings. He continues his service as an air traffic controller in the North Carolina National Guard.

Michael Brickey - Flight Instructor

Certifications: Commercial Pilot ASEL, Instrument Airplane, CFI, AGI, High-Performance

I’m a multi-degreed engineer from a top 5 US graduate engineering university program. I work for an international chemical company as a lead process development engineer. I’ve been interested in aviation since being a young child. I fondly remember my parents giving me a control-line glow-fuel engine-powered model of a Piper Cherokee as a birthday present. During my university years I worked for an aircraft engine manufacturer where I assisted with mid-fan shaft alloy development and turbine blade coating development for large wide-body aircraft engines. As an adult, a friend let me put my hands on the controls of his plane; that was the moment I began to pursue pilot training relentlessly. I have a tremendous passion for flight and all-things aviation. I like to share my passion with youth and flight students. I volunteer at a local non-profit aviation organization & airfield whose mission is to educate youth about aviation and inspire pursuit of aviation careers. I am also a Boy Scout leader; both of my children are Eagle Scouts.

I currently fly and teach as a hobby while my children are growing up. In the future when my children move on to university studies, I will transform and elevate my aviation passion into a long-term piloting career at a major air carrier.