For the 24-year-old Sudarsun Subramaniam from Cheran Managar in Coimbatore, flying has been a childhood dream. However, Coimbatore being a tier-two city, provides fewer opportunities when compared to metropolitan cities like Chennai or Mumbai. Having said that, the one-day Aero Modelling Competition, organised by the Coimbatore-based Aero Modelling Academy, is sure to help him and other aviation enthusiasts pursue their passion.

“There are only a handful of colleges that provide aviation courses and only those students have the opportunity to learn about the basics of aeromodelling. But it is opportunities like these that bring about a smile in enthusiasts like us,” he says.

It was a feast to the eyes of the audience who had gathered at the Kathir Vidhya Mandhir School at Neelambur in Coimbatore on Sunday. More than 50 participants registered to contest in more than eight categories, including Aerobatics, Control Line, RC Glider, and Caterpillar. Participants use self-designed mini aircrafts.

L. Gowtham, instructor at the Sky High Academy, the organiser of the event, said that the competitions will not only be entertaining, but also educating for the enthusiasts and aviation students, who aim to find their careers in aviation.

“Aero-modelling is one of the finest and costliest hobbies in the world. It is also the basic of all aviation related fields. The aim of this event is to help the students of Coimbatore to become national representatives of our country in the area of aviation, thereby paving a way to enter into the profession and also provide opportunities to enthusiasts who wish to test their hands in the stream,” he added.

He further said that since the competitions were categorised under different age groups, members of all ages were able to participate in it.

“The winners will compete at the state-level event to be held at the Indian Institute of Technology in Chennai later in August 2016,” he informed.

Y. Augustin, a student of Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from a private college in Coimbatore, feels that more such events should be organised in the city as there is a huge potential and interest in aviation among the students.