For the 2026 Air Academy we have spent our credits available to help with the tuition for two campers that are going in June and July. One is going to the Explore Camp Session 1 in late June and one is going to Session 2 in early July. The EAA Air Academy offers away-from-home
aviation themed camps. For 2026 there were two separate camps: Explore Aviation Camp and Navigating Horizons Camp for either of two age groups, 14 to 15 and 16 to 18. The information (dates, course content, ages, tuition costs) for the 2026 camps is available at https://www.eaa.org/eaa/youth/eaa-aviation-and-flight-summer-camps and the info for the 2027 camps and on-line registration will be posted there in September 2026.
Once registered and accepted for a camp, you can apply directly to the EAA for an EAA campership which may help pay for the tuition. EAA Ch 186 has also provided tuition assistance in the past couple years. If you are already registered for an Air Academy camp, let us know and we may be able to help with tuition assistance. Transportation to and from Air Academy is the responsibility of the parents. Room and board are included in the tuition.
Ray Aviation Scholarship
Chapter 186 has been approved by EAA to grant a $12,000 Ray Aviation Foundation Scholarship for 2026, This is the 8th consecutive year that we have been approved. We are searching for an aviation-motivated 161⁄2 to 19-year-old with an interest in learning to fly. We look at a candidate’s motivation, participation level in Chapter activities, level of completion in the Sporty’s Learn-to-Fly video series or other ground school course, participation in Young Eagles flights and Oshkosh Air Academy and any other accomplishments toward flight training preparation. Possession of an FAA medical certificate is required for scholarship consideration. It does not suffice to merely plan to get an FAA Medical if chosen as a scholar. EAA will not allow us to put forth a scholar for their consideration if he or she does not already have a medical (minimum of a FAA Third Class certificate).
The Ray Scholarship pays $12,000 toward the flight training costs of obtaining a Private Pilot Certificate. Your total costs will most likely exceed $12,000. It is paid for in three installments: $4,800 up front, $4,800 after first solo and $2,400 after written exam completion. The required milestones are:
-First solo flight within three months,
-Pass the private pilot written exam within six
months,
-Pass the Private Pilot check ride within one year
of receiving the initial funds. The EAA asks for
two hours per month of volunteer time at the
chapter during training.
Chapter 186 would like to hear from anyone that would like to be considered for this opportunity. Better flying weather is coming! Do you want to spend your summer playing video games and sitting at the pool? Or would you rather study aviation weather, navigation and airplane systems and take flying lessons? We are looking for candidates that will commit to spending their free time toward learning to fly. The EAA recommends 3 to 4 flight lessons per week. Only one flying lesson per week makes progressing through the lessons difficult.
Note that if you have already soloed, this scholarship does not pay for that milestone already reached. The scholarship in that case would pay $7,200. Selection of a flight school is left to the parents and scholar. That process should include investigating the local flight schools and determining which school best meets their needs. Talking to each school’s chief pilot and instructors can help with that decision. Flight training takes more time and money when the student changes to a different school. Parents should be aware that the total cost of learning to fly will undoubtedly exceed the $12,000 provided by the scholarship.
Interested candidates are invited to send an email to president@eaa186.org with answers to the following questions (see next paragraph):
2026 Ray Foundation Flight Training Scholarship Questionnaire
Interested candidates are invited to send an email to president@eaa186.org with the following
information:
- Name, birthdate
- How many Young Eagles flights have you
taken?
- Have you completed the Sporty’s Learn to Fly
course? If not, what volumes have you
completed? What other ground school
preparation have you completed?
- An FAA Aviation Medical Certificate
(minimum required is Third Class) is required
now to progress in the process for scholarship
consideration. What is the date on your FAA
Aviation Medical Certificate?
- Have you passed the FAA Private Pilot
Knowledge (“the written”) exam?
- Describe any flight training you have received.
- Have you soloed?
- Have you attended the EAA Air Academy? If
so, when?
- The summer season is a great time to get started
on flight training. How much time will you
commit per week during the 2025 summer
break?
- Completing private pilot training in one
summer is quite unlikely, so the training will
most likely continue into the next school year.
How much time will you commit per week
during the 2026/2027 school year?
- Private Pilot Training costs in the area usually
exceed $12,000. What means will you use to
pay the excess over $12,000?
- Have you looked into any local flight schools
yet?
- Please provide a parent/guardian name, email
address and phone number for applicants under
Bob Prange
