Cascade Warbirds, an organization in the Pacific Northwest that promotes the restoration, preservation, operation, and public display of historically significant military aircraft, has opened the application period for scholarships for private pilot ground school with introductory flights.
Cascade Warbirds has teamed with several flight schools in the Puget Sound area of Washington 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 per week and one Saturday per week over a period of six weeks, officials explained.
Successful completion of the ground school will qualify a student to take the FAA Private Pilot Knowledge Written Exam.
This award also includes two instructional flights. 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.
This scholarship, available for students between the ages of 16 and 21 at the time of award, is valued at $1,350.
Recognizing the cost of the flight training required for a pilot 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 Nov. 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.
Interested students, parents, and advisors can go to CascadeWarbirds.org for more information and the scholarship application. The deadline to apply is Feb. 7, 2025.
Cascade Warbirds, Squadron #2 of EAA Warbirds of America, is a non-profit organization of aviation enthusiasts, many of whom are pilot-owners of historic military aircraft. With more than 230 members, Cascade Warbirds members are centered in the Puget Sound area, extending throughout Washington, and also from British Columbia to Nevada.
For more information: CascadeWarbirds.org
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