Why Couldn’t Aang Fly in Avatar: The Last Airbender? – 1 Theory Explains Why the Greatest Avatar Failed to Achieve the Feat
Being an Avatar with the ability to bend elements and conjure power from nature, Aang proves his mettle against the exceptionally strong Lord Ozai in the iconic show Avatar: The Last Airbender. Along his journey, he learns how to ace the art of bending from different masters. All four elements contributed to significant strength and abilities that helped Aang unlock all his skills. Moreover, the power of bending elements requires extreme focus and dedication, which were mastered by Aang as well.
Can Aang Fly in Avatar: The Last Airbender?
Given Aang’s capability in mastering airbending in Avatar: The Last Airbender, there was one question on every fan’s tongue – can Aang fly? Avatars can bend air by rotating in a circular motion and raining down the enemy with a tornado-like force. While initially considered a lowly power, people soon came to respect Airbenders for their intricate powers and the adverse effect they had on their enemies.
A common thread between mastering all elements was gaining peace and the skill to untether oneself from Earth-bound restrictions. One had to be in touch with oneself completely to unlock the seven chakras and gain the destined powers. Guru Pathik at the Eastern Air Temple helps Aang with the same as he urges him to introspect to gain answers he sought outside. The spiritual blocks including past trauma and pain prohibited Avatars from tapping into their full potential. So, many Gurus encouraged their students to set themselves free.
Although we see Aang hover a bit before Azula shoots him down, we don’t know if Aang gains the power of flight fully. This is solely because he is unable to cut all ties with the world. His bond with Katara stops him from achieving the inner peace necessary for the power of flight. The Gurus suggested this since it helped the Avatar feel lighter and flow like the wind. Since Aang rushes to protect his friend when he realizes she’s in danger, his process gets disrupted.
The Power of Flight in Avatar: The Last Airbender
Fans are introduced to a flying Avatar in the spinoff series The Legend of Korra. Zaheer becomes the second Avatar to achieve the power of flight for the first time in over a thousand years. As the leader of Red Lotus, Zaheer exhibits massive strength and agility. The reason Zaheer was able to achieve what Aang could not is the spiritual connection needed to be one with nature. Guru Laghima and his teachings inspired Zaheer to let go of all his attachments. He was the first person who acquired the flying skill.
In the end, he manages to master flying with no training or education. He studied the Airbender life and culture on his own to unlock his special ability. He was an anarchist who believed in revolutionizing the world. He inflicted chaos on the world by killing people in authoritative roles from the Earth Queen to Korra in an attempt to end the Avatar cycle. He is the central villain in the spin-off series, making life difficult for Katara.
