Flight Training Scholarships for Philadelphia-Area Students (2026-27)

Three flight training scholarships that a Philadelphia-area student can apply for are open right now: the AOPA Foundation's (closes December 31), EAA's (closes December 16, 2026) and the LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation's (closes January 31, 2027). Nine more open later or run through local chapters, and three of those are based in Pennsylvania or New Jersey.

Last checked: November 2026. Every amount, date and rule below comes from the organization's own pages. Scholarships change every year, so read the linked page before you apply. For training blocks, financing and ways to spend less, see how to pay for flight training.

Which flight training scholarships can you apply for?

Scholarship	Who can apply	What it pays	When to apply
AOPA Foundation	AOPA members	$250 to $14,000, depending on the award	October 1 to December 31, and April 1 to June 30
EAA flight training	Age 16 and up	Varies by award	October 1 to December 16, 2026
EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship	Ages 16 to 19, through a local EAA chapter	Up to $12,000	Through a chapter
LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation	Ages 16 to 23, US citizens or permanent residents	Training for a private pilot certificate	October 31, 2026 to January 31, 2027
Aero Club of Pennsylvania	People living within about 75 miles of Philadelphia	$1,000 to $5,000	2026 is closed; check for 2027
Ninety-Nines, Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter	Women 16 and up in listed counties	Three awards, amount not stated	Due April 22, 2027
Ninety-Nines, New Jersey Chapter	Women 18 and up training in New Jersey	Check the page	2026 deadline was October 31
Ninety-Nines First Wings Awards	Student Pilot Members of The Ninety-Nines	Up to $6,000	Deadlines April 1 and October 1
Women in Aviation International	WAI members	Varies by award	Opens summer 2027
OBAP	OBAP members 17 and up	Varies by award	Check the page for 2027
NGPA	NGPA members	Check the page	Opens June 2027
Civil Air Patrol Cadet Wings	CAP cadets	Up to 60 flight hours of training	July 1 to September 1, 2027

Which national scholarships are open to any student pilot?

AOPA Foundation flight training scholarships. You must be a current AOPA member, and high school students qualify for a free membership. One general application matches you to every award you're eligible for. Two to know:

• AOPA Foundation Scholarship: $2,500 and up toward a sport, recreational or private pilot certificate. You must be 16 and hold a student pilot certificate.
• You Can Fly High School Flight Training Scholarship: at least 90 awards of $12,000 for high school students aged 16 to 18 with a 2.7 GPA who have already passed the FAA private pilot knowledge test.

AOPA's scholarship FAQ says the money goes to you on a prepaid expense card, not to the flight school, and expires 12 months after the award.

EAA flight training scholarships. You must be at least 16. EAA membership isn't required, but members and active chapter members get priority. EAA says the money can be used at any flight training school in the United States or Canada that isn't a university program. It sends a check to the school in installments: 40%, another 40% after training benchmarks, and 20% when you finish the certificate. Funds must be used by March 1 of the year after the award.

EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship. EAA provides up to $12,000, and a local EAA chapter nominates and mentors the scholar. Candidates must be 16 to 19 for powered training toward a private or sport pilot certificate, hold a student pilot certificate, and have taken at least one EAA Young Eagles flight. Private pilot students also need at least a third-class medical. Scholars volunteer two hours a month with the chapter and have 12 months to pass the checkride.

You apply through a chapter's scholarship coordinator, not to EAA. In South Jersey, EAA Chapter 216 in Williamstown, New Jersey, has a Ray Aviation Scholarship page with a contact email. Ask whether it has a scholarship to award for 2027.

LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation. For ages 16 to 23, as of the application deadline, who are US citizens or permanent residents and don't already hold a private pilot certificate. The foundation's FAQ says an award covers ground and flight training with a flight instructor for a private pilot certificate, plus one written exam and one checkride. Training takes place at an approved flight school near you, and the FAQ says Part 61 and Part 141 options are both available. You must complete, or commit to complete, a private pilot ground school, and be available to train from May through December 2027. The 2027 application is open now, and awards are made each May.

Which scholarships are local to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey?

Aero Club of Pennsylvania. For US citizens or legal residents who live within about 75 miles of Philadelphia and are working toward an aviation career. The award types include:

• Pre-solo awards of $1,000 to $2,500 for applicants who haven't started training or haven't soloed. The suggested minimum age is 16.
• Post-solo awards of $2,000 to $5,000.

The club says fewer pre-solo awards are available, so applicants who reach first solo on their own have a better chance. You need two letters of recommendation, a transcript, a 500-word essay and an interview. The 2026 program is closed. Its page lists an April 25 application deadline, so check there for 2027 dates.

The Ninety-Nines, Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter. Three awards that can be used for any aviation purpose. Applicants must be women, at least 16 with no upper age limit, who are chapter members or who live, study or work in a listed county. The list includes Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania and Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem in New Jersey. Applications for 2027 are available by email request from January 4, 2027. Completed applications are due April 22, 2027.

The Ninety-Nines, New Jersey Chapter. For women pilots and student pilots 18 or older who are training in New Jersey and who join The Ninety-Nines before the application closes. The 2026 deadline was October 31. Check the page for the amount and the next date.

Which scholarships do you need a membership for?

These go to people who already belong to the organization, so join months ahead.

• Ninety-Nines First Wings Awards. Up to $6,000, based on completing training milestones. You must hold a student pilot certificate, have been a Student Pilot Member of The Ninety-Nines for at least three months before the deadline, have logged five hours in the six months before it, and show financial need.
• Women in Aviation International. Members only. WAI's how-to-apply page says you may apply for up to three scholarships a year. The WAI2027 round closed September 1, 2026. WAI2028 applications open in summer 2027.
• OBAP (Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals). You must be 17 or older, an active member for at least three full calendar months before you apply, and enrolled at an FAA Part 61 or Part 141 flight training organization in the United States. Volunteer hours are required unless you qualify for an exemption. OBAP doesn't send the money to the student. The 2026 rounds ran in April and September.
• NGPA, the LGBTQ+ aviation community. Its apply page says membership is required. The scholarships support goals such as a private pilot certificate or an advanced rating, and the page lists no amounts. The next cycle opens in June 2027.
• Civil Air Patrol Cadet Wings. For CAP cadets who have earned the Wright Brothers Award, graduated encampment and don't hold a private pilot certificate. CAP's Cadet Wings guide, linked from that page, says the program funds aircraft rental, fuel, instructor costs and the checkride for up to 60 flight hours or 6 months, whichever comes first. Cadets train at a local flight school or with CAP instructors in CAP's Cessna 172s.

How do you put together a strong application?

• Put the dates on a calendar now. Three windows close between December 16 and January 31. AOPA says it makes no exceptions for late submissions.
• Join early. First Wings and OBAP both want three months of membership behind you.
• Line up references early. AOPA disqualifies applications that use parents, other relatives or friends your own age as references.
• Write the essay yourself. The LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation strongly discourages AI-written essay answers and says they may affect your application score.
• Apply again. AOPA and the Aero Club both invite applicants who weren't selected to reapply.

Can you use a scholarship at Merlin Flight Training?

That depends on the scholarship's rules. Merlin is a Part 61 flight school at Northeast Philadelphia Airport (KPNE), and you train one-on-one with an FAA-certificated instructor toward a private or sport pilot certificate. You must be 16 or older to train with us, and if you're under 18, a parent or guardian signs our consent form.

Programs pay in different ways. AOPA gives the money to you on a prepaid expense card. EAA sends a check to the school. The Aero Club reimburses receipts or pays the training facility you choose. Some approve the flight school themselves.

Before you apply, read the scholarship's rules for flight schools, then call or text us with what it needs from one. We'll tell you plainly what we can provide. Every lesson is itemized on your account statement.

Common questions

Can you win a scholarship before your first lesson? For some, yes. The Aero Club has a few pre-solo awards for applicants who haven't started training, and the LeRoy W. Homer Jr. Foundation's award is for people who don't yet hold a private pilot certificate. Others expect progress first: the AOPA Foundation Scholarship and the Ray scholarship require a student pilot certificate. For airplanes, you must be at least 16 to get one (14 CFR 61.83).

Will a scholarship pay for the whole certificate? Usually not. Most awards are a fixed amount. The two here aimed at covering training through the certificate are the LeRoy W. Homer Jr. award and Cadet Wings. Compare each amount with our itemized private pilot cost estimate and plan how you'd pay the rest.

Can a scholarship pay for sport pilot training? Some can. The AOPA Foundation Scholarship covers a sport, recreational or private pilot certificate, and the Ray scholarship covers private or sport. Our trainer, N159G, is a Direct Fly Alto 912 TG light-sport airplane, and we train for both certificates in it.

Next step

Take the free pilot quiz: answer a few questions and get a personal flight training plan for Northeast Philadelphia Airport. It takes about two minutes.

If you have questions about using a specific scholarship with us, call or text (445) 456-3599.