Feb. 28, 2021, is the deadline to submit applications for aviation scholarships from Cascade Warbirds, an organization based in Washington state that promotes the restoration, preservation, operation, and public display of historically significant military aircraft.
The scholarships are for private pilot ground school with introductory flights “to inspire today’s young people to become the aviation pioneers of tomorrow,” officials explain.
The scholarship, valued at $1,350, is available for students between the ages of 16 and 21. To find out more and apply, go to CascadeWarbirds.org/Youth.
Cascade Warbirds has teamed with several flight schools in the Puget Sound area to provide scholarship recipients with tuition, books and supplies, and two introductory instructional flights.
The ground school portion comprises classroom lectures, visual presentations, group discussions, practical exercises, and field trips over a period of approximately 55 hours. Classes generally meet two weeknights a week and one Saturday a week over a period of six weeks. Successful completion of the private pilot ground school will qualify a student to take the FAA private pilot written exam.
This award also includes two instructional flights in a light aircraft, the make and model of which will be matched to the student. The first flight will occur part way through the ground school, based on the instructor’s recommendation, and the second flight will occur after the successful completion of the ground school course. Each flight will include a pre-flight briefing, actual taxi and runway procedures, introduction to radio communications, the takeoff, a series of in-flight maneuvers, the return and landing, and post-flight procedures. These two flights will be logged in the student’s logbook and count toward the minimum flight time required to earn a private pilot certificate.
Recognizing the cost of the flight training required for a pilot’s certificate, the scholarship program offers an additional $2,500 Continuing Aviation Education Grant to one scholarship recipient who intends to earn their FAA private pilot certificate within the following year. Applicants must complete the ground school course, both introductory flights, and submit an essay by Sept. 30 of the scholarship year. Funds are released to the winner of the best essay in stages as the recipient completes training milestones: $1,000 after completing their first solo flight, $1,000 after completing their long solo cross-country, and $500 after earning the private pilot certificate.