“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.

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........

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