“Flying makes me feel peaceful, connected to nature, and curious about the world above us,” says 14-year-old Abhinav Sujith, his eyes brightening as he recalls the first time he felt the air currents lift him into the sky.
Aviation has become a calling for him, shaping his childhood, his weekends, and the choices his family has made since moving from Chennai to the United Kingdom in November 2021.
The Chennai flight that began it all
It all started on a bright morning along the East Coast Road in Chennai when he was eight. A short paraglider ride over the coastline left a lasting impression.
“I remember seeing the beach from above. Everything looked calm and beautiful, and I told the pilot I wanted to go higher so I could see the clouds,” he recalls with a grin.
Even in Chennai, he would spend hours absorbed in aviation videos and documentaries, diving into how planes and gliders stayed aloft.
His father, Sujith Sankar (43), remembers the mixture of awe and nervousness that morning brought. “We were worried, of course, but he was fearless. He said, ‘I am not afraid of heights. I want to fly above the clouds.’ From that moment, his curiosity became obvious. This was more than a passing interest; it was a dream beginning to form,” he tells The Better India.
Even in Chennai, he would spend hours absorbed in aviation videos and documentaries, diving into how planes and gliders stayed aloft. “You could see the excitement in his eyes whenever we talked about flying,” his father adds.
In November 2021, the family relocated to the United Kingdom for his father’s job. The move opened up opportunities that had been unavailable to Abhinav in Chennai. Adapting to a new school system and environment was challenging, but it also gave his growing interest in aviation room to develop.
Soon, they came across a local gliding club in Kent. A trial flight in a two-seater sailplane gave Abhinav his first proper introduction to the sport.
“I never imagined a glider could fly without an engine,” his father recalls. “He took to it immediately, his fascination turning into determination.”
Gliding is a form of flying in an aircraft called a sailplane, which has no engine. Pilots use rising air currents, known as thermals, to stay aloft. It requires careful observation of the sky, an understanding of the wind, and precise decisions to maintain altitude and direction.
“It is quite challenging. You have to plan every move and respect the sky. Every flight is a lesson in patience and awareness,” Abhinav explains.
Learning to read the wind
Training began in a two-seater glider with an instructor, as Abhinav learnt the basics of controlling the aircraft, take-offs, landings, and safety procedures.
During one early flight, a rope break during launch forced an emergency landing. “He stayed calm,” his father says. “It was a lesson in focus and responsibility, and it increased his dedication.”
Gavin, an instructor at the club, remembers his first impression vividly: “Abhinav was calm and incredibly focused. Most children are restless, but he asked intelligent questions and absorbed every detail. It was clear that he wanted to understand every part of the sport.”
Adapting to a new school system and environment was challenging, but it also gave his growing interest in aviation room to develop. Photograph: (Enhanced by AI)
Weekends became dedicated to the airfield. Mornings began with preparing the sailplanes and studying the weather, afternoons were spent practising manoeuvres, and evenings concluded with debriefs and reflection.
“Gliding involves steering the plane, reading the air, anticipating changes, and developing patience,” the instructor explains. “He embraced all of it with maturity.”
Weekends in the sky, weekdays at school
Even with rigorous training, education remained the priority. “School always comes first,” says Abhinav, who is now in Class 9. Most of his flying happens on weekends, which helps him balance school and training.
His father adds, “We had to rearrange our lives to support him, with early mornings, long days, and hours spent waiting for the weather. But watching his excitement and commitment made every sacrifice worthwhile. We wanted to see him come into his own.”
Over three years, he progressed through training, mastering takeoffs, landings, emergency procedures, and interpreting weather conditions. Each lesson strengthened technical skill and judgement.
“It was his patience, coupled with a calm demeanour, that set him apart,” Gavin notes. “Before a young pilot is allowed to fly solo, they must show maturity, discipline, and the ability to make careful decisions. He demonstrated all of these consistently.”
Finally, on 6 October 2025, two days after turning 14, he was cleared for his first solo flight. In the UK, 14 is the minimum age at which a student pilot may fly a glider solo, provided they have completed the required training.
“I had hoped to do it on my birthday, but the weather delayed it by two days. When the instructor stepped back and said, ‘The sky is yours,’ I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. But when I lifted off, it was magical. Flying alone was unforgettable,” Abhinav explains.
Training began in a two-seater glider with an instructor, as Abhinav learnt the basics of controlling the aircraft, take-offs, landings, and safety procedures. Photograph: (Enhanced by AI)
His father remembers the moment with emotion, “Watching him take off alone filled me with a mixture of pride and relief. When he landed safely, calm and composed, a sense of gratitude washed over me. That day is a memory I will carry forever.”
The day his instructor said, ‘The sky is yours’
The achievement did not go unnoticed. The Aero Club of India recognised him as the youngest solo glider pilot in Asia. It issued him an FAI (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale) sporting licence, allowing him to compete in official gliding competitions.
“Receiving that licence felt like validation of all the effort and support behind me,” he says.
Rajiv Pratap Rudy, the president of the Aero Club, personally made sure his accomplishment was celebrated on the Aero Club’s news portal, making the recognition feel both official and personal.
Gavin believes the sky is just the beginning. “He has the potential for national and international competitions. With dedication and focus, there is no limit to what he can achieve,” he affirms.
The journey has taught Abhinav how to handle pressure alongside the technical skills needed to fly. “There were moments I felt scared,” the 14-year-old admits. “A rope break or tricky landing tests your confidence. But watching the instructors remain calm showed me how to handle pressure and stay composed.”
His father reflects, “Supporting him taught us patience and showed us the rewards of guiding a child’s passion responsibly. The growth I have seen in him, including confidence, responsibility, and focus, is invaluable.”
He now aims to achieve the bronze badge, a key milestone in gliding, and hopes to represent India internationally.
To earn it, a pilot must build the required solo-flight experience, complete two qualifying soaring flights, and demonstrate their flying skills to an instructor. The badge would move Abhinav closer to a cross-country endorsement, which can be awarded from the age of 16 and allows pilots to fly beyond the gliding range of their home airfield.
“It would be an honour to inspire other young people to explore this sport. Every flight teaches me something new, and I feel part of something bigger,” Abhinav explains.
A young pilot looking towards international skies
A short flight over the Chennai coast once sparked a dream. Today, that dream has taken Abhinav into the skies as Asia’s youngest solo glider pilot, supported by years of patience, training, and encouragement.
Over three years, he progressed through training, mastering takeoffs, landings, emergency procedures, and interpreting weather conditions.
Every weekend, every lesson brought him closer to the dream he first glimpsed at eight.
“The sky is calm yet full of life,” the young glider pilot says. “I cannot imagine my life without flying, and I hope to grow more in this field.”
For his father and instructors, his journey shows what a 14-year-old can achieve with guidance.
From Chennai to Kent, Abhinav has followed a childhood fascination into the cockpit, one lesson and careful decision at a time.
All pictures courtesy Sujith Sankar.
