Applications open for Cascade Warbirds scholarships

Cascade Warbirds, an organization that promotes the restoration, preservation, operation, and display of historically significant military aircraft, is once again offering scholarships for private pilot ground school with introductory flights to students between the ages of 16 and 21.

But this year will be different, according to officials with the non-profit organization.

In the past Cascade Warbirds teamed with several flight schools in the Puget Sound area of Washington state to provide scholarship recipients with tuition, books, and supplies, and two introductory instructional flights.

“This year will be different,” said Cascade Warbirds Scholarship Committee Chairman Pete Jackson. “There are no longer flight schools at Boeing Field Seattle nor Renton. And it appears most of the remaining area schools have moved to on-line instruction for ground training after implementing them during COVID. We plan on continuing to provide ground training and two actual flights. We are working on the nuts and bolts of how we will be accomplishing our goals by the time of awards this coming February.”

Successful completion of the private pilot ground training will qualify a student to take the FAA Private Pilot Knowledge Exam.

The two instructional flights are in a GA aircraft, the make and model of which will be matched to the student. The first flight generally occurs part way through the ground instruction, and the second flight after the successful completion of the ground course.

Each flight will include a pre-flight briefing, 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.

Valued at $1,350, the scholarship is available for students between the ages of 16 and 21 at the time of award. Deadline to apply is Feb. 28, 2026.

Cascade Warbirds is offering 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.

For more information: CascadeWarbirds.org