I’d hazard a guess the majority of pilots in the United States have heard of the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program. As of June 7, 2021, more than 2.2 million kids between the ages of 8 and 17 have enjoyed a free flight in a general aviation aircraft.
As great as that program is at introducing young people — and their families — to the wonders of aviation, more will always be needed.
That’s where local, smaller groups can make a big difference. Local groups turn those first flights into second flights and ground school classes and scholarships and mentors and certificated pilots.
The Cascade Warbirds, located in the Pacific Northwest, is one such local group. Its mission statement:
“It is the goal of Cascade Warbirds to promote the restoration, preservation, operation and public display of historically significant military aircraft; to acquire and perpetuate the living history of those who served their country on these aircraft; and to inspire today’s young people to become the aviation pioneers of tomorrow.”
That last part, “to inspire today’s young people to become the aviation pioneers of tomorrow,” is where the proverbial rubber meets the road. And the Cascade Warbirds have answered the call of the mission statement.
Past recipients of the Cascade Warbirds Memorial Youth Scholarship Program are, today, certificated pilots. Others are on the path to becoming pilots.
- Alex Johnson (2015 scholarship winner) passed a commercial checkride on Nov. 25, 2020, and is a senior at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
- Jordan Villaluz (2016), private on July 3, 2019 (hey, that’s my birthday) 🙂
- Gabriel Bacerdo (2016), commercial on Dec. 6, 2019. Gabriel graduated from Purdue University’s Professional Flight program and is now a CFI at Seattle’s Galvin Flight Service.
- Austin Mix (2017), private on Jan. 10, 2020.
- Ryan Check (2017), private on Oct. 6, 2018.
- Devin Graves (2018), private on Jan. 17, 2020, and is enrolled in Utah State University’s aviation program.
- London Holmes (2018), private on March 16, 2020, and is a cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado.
- Mackenzie Rennhack (2018), commercial on Jan. 31, 2020, and is a senior in the Professional Flight program at Arizona State University.
- Jeffrey Spaeth (2018), private on Jan. 24, 2019.
- Michael Zendejas (2018), private on Sept. 10, 2019.
- Keith Steedman (2019), student pilot. Keith delayed his training due to the pandemic but has soloed and is nearly ready for his long cross country.
Cascade Warbirds, in partnership with several Puget Sound area flight schools, provide scholarship recipients with tuition, books and supplies, and two introductory instructional flights. The ground school portion comprises approximately 55 hours. Classes generally meet two nights a week for 2.5 hours and on Saturdays for four hours over six weeks.
This award also includes two instructional flights. The first flight occurs part way through the ground school, based on the instructor’s recommendation. The second flight occurs after the successful completion of the ground school course.
This scholarship is valued at $1,350 and is available to students between the ages of 16 and 21 at the time of award.
But the Cascade Warbirds don’t stop there. Knowing that flight training has a real cost, the scholarship program offers a Continuing Aviation Education Grant, valued at $2,500, to one recipient who intends to earn their private within the following year. Grantees are awarded $1,000 after their first solo, $1,000 after completing their long solo cross-country flight, and $500 after earning their private certificate.
2020 Winners
- Candace Do is a graduate of Newport High School.
- Inayah Farooqi graduated from The Cambridge Program at Juanita High School with aspirations to become a professional pilot. She has been considering the US Air Force.
- Riley Brux, while working full time to fund his college education, became the final 2020 scholarship winner to complete ground school training.
- Harrison Pulido is a graduate of Bothell High School. He completed the ground school and introductory flights and has earned the Continuing Aviation Education Grant. Harry has finished his flight training, earning $2,000 of the grant so far, and is awaiting his private checkride and the remainder – hopefully – of the grant.
2021 Winners
- Alexandra “Alex” Szrama is a junior at Eastside Catholic School. She’s been a member of the Civil Air Patrol for three years and has her sights set on the USAF Academy. She hopes that will lead to flying fighters.
- Brooke Swanson is a junior at Raisbeck Aviation High School, and hopes to attend the USAF Academy. She comes from a military aviation family. Her sister is at the Air Force academy now and her grandfather was a naval aviator.
- Liam Mullins recently reported: “I finished ground school and received my ground school certificate! Last Sunday, I did my second introductory flight at Galvin. My CFI was Gabriel Bacerdo, a former CWB scholar himself! I learned a lot from those two flights and the ground school program. I will have to say, after being behind the controls in the air, it made me even more sure that I want to pursue a career as a pilot!” Liam has enrolled in Big Bend Community College’s Commercial Pilot Program.
- Mauricia Lott is a senior at Lynnwood High School. Her goal is to attend the USAF Academy where she’ll study aerospace engineering. Her ultimate goal is to become a commercial airline pilot. She will be proud to be second generation military as her mother was in the Army and her father in the Marines.
Taking someone for their first flight is a wonderful thing to do. I’ve made many such flights. But finding those who are truly interested in taking the next step, and nurturing them along the way, is a higher calling.
Bravo to both the Cascade Warbirds and their many awardees. There are many such programs all over the country. If we fill in gaps where they exist and help promote the ones already in existence, we’ll be sure “to inspire today’s young people to become the aviation pioneers of tomorrow.”
