Program Open to All EAA Chapters

The EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship minted its 300th pilot this month, helping to inaugurate the newest class of aviators under the program.

The scholarship is funded by the Ray Foundation and managed by the EAA, allowing them to disseminate the process of finding and selecting worthy candidates throughout chapters all over the country. Candidates receive up to $11,000 for their flight training expenses, coming from $1.8 million entrusted to the Foundation for 2023. In addition, they'll receive a Lightspeed Zulu 3 headset after completing a solo flight or passing their written knowledge test, providing a little mid-course boost to morale.

“The cost of flight training can be a barrier for many aspiring pilots, so EAA working with the Ray Foundation helps break down the barrier and make the goal of becoming a pilot even more attainable for future generations,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programming. “We’ve found that more than 80 percent of Ray Aviation scholars are completing their pilot training, which is the complete opposite ratio of those who would start flight training on their own, so this program’s outcomes are having a direct, significant effect on the pilot population.”

Candidates are selected by their EAA chapter and submitted for final review up the organizational ladder. While many chapters are granted the full $11,000, some have committed 25% of the award on their own in order to enter into the program. All EAA and divisional chapters in the United States and Canada are eligible for a grant up to $11,000. Interested parties may begin their hunt at their closest EAA chapter.

FMI: www.eaa.org