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-flightsummer-camps and the info for the 2027 camps and on-line registration will be posted here in September 2026.m 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 was approved in February by EAA to grant a $12,000 Ray Aviation Foundation Scholarship for 2026, our 8th consecutive year. We have chosen Rori Ross as our Ch 186 Ray Scholar for 2026 and EAA recently approved our selection. Rori has been on several Young Eagles flights and has been volunteering on the ground crew at ourmYoung Eagles rallies. She soloed at the USAF Aim High Academy, a three-week introductory flightm academy. Rori is now taking flight instruction at Elevation Aviation on the east side of the field at Manassas.mShe will graduate this June and plans to attend Oklahoma State University’s aviation program.
The Ray Scholarship pays $12,000 toward the flight training costs of obtaining a Private Pilot Certificate. Note that total costs will most likely exceed $12,000. It is funded 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.
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/she does not already have a medical (minimum of FAA Third Class certificate).