Sohail takes flight

Sohail takes flight

India:

Not many know that apart from movies, Sohail Khan is crazy about
flying and planes. The actor is finally pursuing his dreams and has
enrolled himself in a flying school.

Says a source, "Of late, Sohail has been spotted at a flying school at
Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) learning the techniques. He has been clocking
in the hours needed to acquire a flying license."

Just upped and left

The actior-producer admits that he has been soaring in the skies
literally. Says Sohail, "Yes, I have been learning how to fly a plane.
It has been my dream since I was a child. Recently, I had a week off,
I just packed my bags and left without informing anyone!"

Informs Sohail, "I have enrolled myself at the Udaan flying school in
Ujjain run by my friend Yash Tongia (of Yash Air)."

Flying is achievable

He used to think that flying was the most difficult thing on earth.
"But now I want to tell every person who wants to learn flying that
it's achievable and you have to live your dream. You can get a pilot's
license at 16 while you need to be 18 to drive a car! Flying is more
achievable as you only need to have a SSC certificate."
Sohail adds that he is thrilled that he has fulfilled his dream. "It
is a heady sensation when you are alone in the aircraft; it is
exhilarating! It's a totally different world."

It's reasonable

He also points out that the flying course is not that expensive as
most people make it out to be. "The flying school (Udaan) where I have
been learning offers food, lodging, the Private Pilot License (PPL)
and instructors for Rs 4 lakh which I feel is pretty reasonable."

Clocking the hours

One has to clock in 40 flying hours before acquiring the PPL. Sohail
has clocked in 14 hours in one week. "I will resume my course from
January as I will be shooting abroad from later this month till
December for Veer, Vashu Bhagnani's next and Main Aur Mrs Khanna."

Going solo

Describing his first experience as a solo pilot Sohail says, "The
first five hours are spent on the plane with the instructor while in
the sixth hour the instructor lets you fly alone. It's scary then as
the pressure builds up you realise the responsibility of flying the
aircraft. Once you cross the 14th hour of flying you are more relaxed
by then. There's a feeling of immense achievement when you land," says
Sohail who will be seen in brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri's Hello along
with brothers Salman and Arbaaz