Dream comes true RNZAF trainee pilot

Today, as a trainee pilot in the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF), he says it was that flight that sparked his aviation dream.

Pilot Officer Mendis, 26, is undertaking his Wings Course with RNZAF’s No. 14 Squadron, flying the T-6C Texan II. This month’s training focussed on Exercise Wise Owl, operating out of RNZAF Base Auckland, Whenuapai. 

He came to New Zealand and settled in Auckland after his mother was offered a job.

“I remember looking at this massive airplane and thinking – how cool is this? That's how it started – the little seed was planted – people call it the ‘aviation bug’.”

Back then the only thing he knew about New Zealand was “the amazing scenery on the Anchor milk ads on TV”.

“It was a big adjustment. In Sri Lanka, even from a young age you're told to study, study, study. Children would go to after-school tutoring in primary school because it's so competitive. 

“Howick Primary School was just so peaceful – such a different learning environment and I did really well.” 

From Howick Primary, to St Mark’s Catholic School, to Sancta Maria College in East Auckland, his mother’s end goal was for her son to earn a university degree. But Pilot Officer Mendis had other plans. 

“I knew being a commercial pilot was expensive – $300 per-hour for flight training was way out of my reach. I also didn't want to take the risk of investing all that time and money, and then struggle to get a job.” 

Through his college’s Gateway Programme, Pilot Officer Mendis visited Ardmore Flying Club, along with the museum at New Zealand Warbirds Association. 

It was there he volunteered to work and was introduced to Walsh Memorial Scout Flying School – a two-week flight introduction programme in Matamata, where he met two retired RNZAF pilots, who offered to help with lessons.

“I was in the right place at the right time. They were both flying airliners and whenever they had spare time they'd text me and take me for flying lessons.

“I borrowed a plane from someone I’d never met. He had a little Tomahawk that wasn't getting enough flying and trusted a 17-year-old to fly it purely because he knew the instructors.”

After college, he enrolled in a four-year engineering degree at Auckland University and in his final year he applied to join the RNZAF. While waiting to see if he was successful, he took a job with Fisher & Paykel Appliances, working on user interfaces on high-end fridge-freezers. 

Then one day in October 2024 his email box pinged with the news he’d been waiting and hoping for. Pilot Officer Mendis had been accepted into the RNZAF’s pilot training programme – he was going to be an Air Force pilot.

Now 26-years-old he is just months away from earning his Wings and living his dream. His mother couldn’t be prouder.

“Eventually I think I’d like to fly the Hercules C-130J because of the operations they do – going to Antarctica, all over the world, how cool is that?”

From Sri Lanka to New Zealand – from fridge-freezers to pilot: with so many exciting opportunities and adventures ahead of him with the RNZAF, that wide-eyed six-year-old’s dream has really just begun.