Flight Training Scholarships

Dreaming of becoming a pilot or getting an additional rating? EAA can help your aviation dreams become a reality. EAA’s scholarships are supported by dozens of donors, benefactors, and others who “pass it forward” by endowing these programs.

With the help of these donors, EAA awards more than $135,000 each year to students to pursue flight training. This year, these awards helped 31 students pursue their dreams of flight. See the 2024 Scholarship Winners.

One application is used for ALL scholarships; scholarship applicants will be considered for all scholarships for which they qualify. All applications are reviewed against the criteria for the individual scholarships and then awarded to those who show the greatest potential to be actively engaged in aviation.

Application Considerations:

• We look for well-rounded applicants, who have a strong passion for aviation and have participated in aviation and nonaviation clubs, organizations, and extracurricular activities.
• Volunteering for local organizations, both aviation and nonaviation related, will highlight your application to the selection committee.
• While not required, we give preference to applicants who are an EAA member or a member of their local EAA chapter.
• We require a minimum 2.5 GPA required to apply. Some individual scholarships have their own GPA requirement that may be higher.
• To apply, you must be a citizen or resident of the United States or Canada, or be eligible to work or study in the United States or Canada, such as through a visa.

Available Scholarships

• Air Academy Alumni Scholarship

  • Supports initial flight training toward reaching solo flight or private pilot certificate
  • To be considered, recipient will have attended the EAA’s Air Academy either as a camper or staff member, and not yet received their private pilot certificate

  
  

• John S. Bradbury Memorial Scholarship

  Supports flight training for a young person as part of the Young Eagles program interested in the pursuit of flight

  
  

• Friends of Pete Bunce Flight Training Scholarship

  Supports candidates seeking to complete a private pilot certificate or additional rating. Preference given to current and prior Wisconsin residents and those with financial need

  
  

• Adapt to Fly Scholarship

  Created to help those with disabilities explore the world of aviation

  Awarded to a person with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and that meets the qualifications for a Class 3 Medical or Sport Pilot Certificate, which include, but are not limited to, being at least 17 years of age, a U.S. citizen with a valid driver’s license, and able to operate the controls of a training aircraft

  
  

• Chapter 439 Vliegend Scholarship

  Supports a student from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan or from Northeast Wisconsin to pursue flight training. An ideal candidate would be between the ages of 16-22 if pursuing a private pilot certificate, or if pursuing an additional rating, under the age of 35.

  
  

• Eagles Aerobatic Fund

  Eagles Aerobatic Fund: Supports a Young Eagle to pursue flight training. Can be used for any type of flight training including but not limited to aerobatics instruction.

  
  

• Tex Edwards Scholarship

  • Wilson “Tex” Edwards was an avid aviator, who at 14 flew nine hours nonstop across the Atlantic Ocean. He went on to earn his private pilot certificate and ratings in five different airplanes on his 17th birthday. He was a farmer and rancher, owning Flying “E” Spraying Service with his father. He died on August 26, 2013.

  
  

• Joey Ermel "Do Your Impeccable Best" Tailwheel Endorsement Scholarship

  • Supports an individual to receive their tailwheel endorsement. Preference given to prior or current Young Eagles or Young Eagles pilots, applicants who actively volunteer with an EAA chapter, and hav 50-plus total hours.
  • Joseph was a Ray scholar, an Air Academy alumni, and an active volunteer with his chapter and at AirVenture. He became a Young Eagle as soon as he turned 8 and soloed on his 16th birthday, earning his private pilot certificate a year later with the help of an EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship. He immediately started giving back by sharing the gift of flight with other youths, being the first Ray scholar to give Young Eagles flights. Joey had a deep passion for flying a classic tailwheel; it is the intent of the family that the recipient has an appreciation for classic tailwheel flight and will encourage others to give back to their EAA chapters and the aviation community as well.

  
  

• Noah Favaregh Flight Training Scholarship

  Supports a student who has already soloed but needs financial assistance to complete their training

  
  

• Harrison Ford Scholarship

  Supports a Young Eagle in their dreams of flight or another career in aviation, preference given to those with financial need. Can support EAA Air Academy tuition, flight training support, or any aviation-related degree or technical program

  
  

• Alex Foss Memorial Scholarship

  • The Alex Foss Memorial Scholarship will offer flight training scholarships to college students or high school students entering college with a degree in professional flight or commercial aviation. Applicants must be employed in a job or paid internship, or they must be using student loans.
  • The applicants must be first-generation aviators who, for purposes of the scholarship, are individuals who do not have a parent or legal guardian who is a certificated pilot.

  
  

• Jim and Marge Gorman Scholarship Fund

  • The Jim and Marge Gorman Scholarship Fund supports students in the pursuit of an FAA pilot certificate, aircraft ratings, or endorsements. This scholarship is only available to U.S. citizens.

  
  

• Florence Gregory Coffy Endowment Fund

  Helps fund deserving young women to begin or continue flight training

  
  

• Stephen (Ben) Haas Fund

  Supports a student in obtaining aa private pilot certificate, preference given to Young Eagles

  
  

• Richard R. Harper Memorial Scholarship

  • Two scholarships available; one to a Young Eagle and one for an Eagle Flight scholarship, with demonstrated financial need and a GPA of 3.8 or greater.
  • Richard R. Harper proudly served his country in the U.S. Army and later had a long career as a pilot for United Parcel Service (UPS). He worked hard to establish his career as a pilot, loved his aviation career, and was excited to be able to mentor and encourage upcoming pilots to pursue their dreams. He was a devoted family man, a kindhearted man with a passion for life, and loved to help anyone in need.

  
  

• Jason Kurt Lohr Aviation Scholarship

  Supports fixed wing flight training for a high school graduate aged 18-23 years old, who has completed their first solo flight

  
  

• Tinker Murdock Family Fund

  Supports flight training for a Young Eagle or Next Step applicant seeking to further aviation training by completing a private pilot certificate

  Internship also available for a college student pursuing a degree in the aviation field

  
  

• PenFed Credit Union Scholarship

  Supports students who have a 3.0 or better GPA, as well as significant extracurricular activities, with a preference given to aviation activities. Additional preference will be provided to applicants that have a military background or are part of a military family.

  
  

• Matthew Platt Memorial Scholarship

  • Supports a young student (aged 25 or under) to pursue a private pilot certificate.
  • Lt. Col Matt Platt graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2003, launching a 16-year career in the Air Force as a talented officer and aviator. He specialized in tactics and amassed six Air Medals for his deployments in support of worldwide combat operations. He was selected to fly with the Special Operations Command on national security missions, and he was chosen to build and command a new Special Operations Squadron. He died in 2019 while pursuing his passion for aviation. Matt and his wife, Lt. Col Abigail Platt, are both EAA Lifetime members.

  
  

• WASP Endowment Fund

  Provides funding for flight training not associated with EAA’s Aviation Foundation, preference given to Young Eagles

  Also supports an internship for EAA’s Air Academy summer programs

  
  

• Elgin Wells, Jr. Starjammer CFI Scholarship

  • Supports a student in pursuit of a CFI, with the intent of training students as a long-term CFI.
  • Elgin Wells lived life to the fullest as an aerobatic pilot, jazz musician, and instructor in flight and music. He shared his joy for flying with anyone who would listen, focusing on helping students not only become competent pilots, but to experience the freedom and joy of flight. He built and designed the unique Starjammer airplane; he and the Starjammer flew for the last time preparing for an air show performance.

  
  

• WomenSoar Scholarship

  • Supports a woman pursuing a sport or private pilot certificate, or additional ratings and certificates.
  • The ideal candidate is determined and focused, clearly demonstrates passion and enthusiasm for aviation, and shares The Spirit of Aviation with those around her by participating in aviation community activities and events. Applicants must be at least 17 years old and United States citizens.

  
  

• Robert J. Ziegman Memorial Scholarship

  • The Robert J. Ziegman Memorial Scholarship supports flight training for a student pursuing their training in or around Lorain County, Ohio.