Udaipur’s young entrepreneur and sport pilot, Achal Agarwal, will be representing India in the FAI World Microlight Championship, set to take place from July 27 to August 3, 2024 at Deenethorpe Airfield in the United Kingdom. A total of 66 microlight aircraft from various countries will compete in the championship. This will be the first time India is participating in this prestigious event.

Achal Agarwal, who is also a sport pilot and entrepreneur, will be part of the Indian team along with his coach, Captain Shiv Yadav. Agarwal will fly an open-cockpit microlight aircraft in the weight-shift control category. Minister of State for External Affairs  Kirti Vardhan Singh was initially part of the team but could not attend due to time constraints after taking on his ministerial responsibilities.

These microlight aircraft are lightweight, weighing less than 500 kilograms, and can be either single-seater or double-seater. The competition will involve several tasks, including navigation, precision, and fuel economy.

Pilots will navigate up to 150 kilometers using only paper maps, without GPS or other electronic aids. They will need to reach various points marked on the maps with precision, while aiming to minimize time and fuel consumption. Precision tasks will also include spot landings, where pilots must land on specific markers on the runway.

Deenethorpe Airfield, the venue for the championship, is a historic site that served as a major British Air Force airfield during World War II.