From a Childhood Fascination to the Cockpit: Sri Lankan Pilot Roshane Mendis Takes Flight with RNZAF

A fascination sparked by an aircraft when he was just six years old has taken Roshane Mendis on an extraordinary journey from Sri Lanka to the cockpit of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Now 26, Pilot Officer Mendis is undertaking his Wings Course with No. 14 Squadron at RNZAF Base Auckland, flying the T-6C Texan II.

Mendis’s connection with aviation began during his childhood in Sri Lanka, when he saw a large aircraft and became captivated by it. That early encounter planted an ambition that stayed with him as his life changed dramatically. His family later moved to New Zealand after his mother received a job opportunity, beginning a new chapter in Auckland.

The transition also introduced Mendis to a different education system. After arriving in Auckland, he attended Howick Primary School before continuing at St Mark’s Catholic School and Sancta Maria College. He recalled finding the New Zealand school environment notably different from his experience in Sri Lanka, where academic competition and additional tutoring were common from an early age.

While his mother hoped he would eventually complete a university degree, Mendis was increasingly drawn towards aviation. Becoming a commercial pilot appeared financially difficult, however, with the cost of flight training presenting a major barrier and no certainty that extensive investment would lead directly to employment.

An important opportunity came through the Gateway Programme at his college. Visits to Ardmore Flying Club and the New Zealand Warbirds Association introduced him to practical aviation experiences and helped turn his interest into a more realistic career pathway. He later attended the Walsh Memorial Scout Flying School in Matamata, where two former RNZAF pilots played an important role in encouraging his development as a young flyer.

Mendis is now completing his military flying training with No. 14 Squadron, operating the T-6C Texan II as part of Exercise Wise Owl at Whenuapai. The training represents a significant milestone in a journey that began with a young boy looking at an aircraft and wondering about the possibilities of flying one himself.

His ambitions do not end with earning his wings. Looking further ahead, Mendis has identified the C-130J Hercules as an aircraft he would like to fly. He is particularly attracted to the type of operations associated with the aircraft, including missions that can extend to Antarctica and destinations around the world.

His story also illustrates how migration, education and opportunity can intersect in unexpected ways. Moving from Sri Lanka to New Zealand as a child exposed Mendis to new experiences and eventually helped provide access to pathways that allowed his childhood interest to develop into professional military aviation.

For Mendis, the distance between that first encounter with an aircraft and his current training cockpit represents years of determination, guidance and opportunity. With his RNZAF wings now within reach and further ambitions ahead, the childhood fascination that began in Sri Lanka has evolved into a promising aviation career in New Zealand.