James C. Ray Flight Training Scholarship (ACE)
Aerospace Center for Excellence · Polk County, FL
Section 1What ACE publishes
Not published: the award amount. Listed as missing rather than guessed.
Amounts, dates and eligibility change between cycles. Always confirm on the provider's page before applying.
Section 2Deadline reminders
Applications open October 1, 2026.
Leave your email and we'll flag it once this window is live, so you can apply early instead of scrambling at the deadline.
Section 3What this award leaves to fund
- Median awardThis provider publishes no figure
- $10,000
- Private certificatePilotBound national estimate
- − $18,083
- Left to fund
- $8,100
All six lenders in our comparison lend this much. Stack whatever else you can win first, then price only what is left.
Compare lenders →Section 4Who this is for
Open to students aged 16 to 19 who reside in or attend a secondary school in Polk County, Florida, and hold at least a 2.75 unweighted GPA. The award supports students working toward their Private Pilot certificate.
Section 5How to apply
- Read the full requirements on Aerospace Center for Excellence's official page. Applying is free.
- Line up the slow pieces early: recommendation letters, transcripts, and any medical or student pilot certificate the provider asks for.
- Write the essay with numbers, not passion: name your certificate goal, your school, your hours so far, and exactly what this award covers. Build your plan so every figure in the essay is real.
Section 6Price your school
Selection boards fund plans with a school and a number in them. Every figure below is what the school itself publishes, with the source and the date it was checked.
Local flight schools
1714 flight schools across 50 states, with the hourly rates each one publishes.
Accelerated academies
105 zero-to-career academies and the fixed program prices they publish.
Degree programs
51 aviation colleges, with tuition and flight fees summed into one estimate.
Polk County only.
41 Florida schools here publish a full rate card. Only some are inside that area, so check the town before you apply.
Section 7Also worth a look
Section 8Quick answers
How much is the James C. Ray Flight Training Scholarship (ACE)?
Aerospace Center for Excellence doesn't publish a single figure for this award (Award amount is not published; the scholarship funds Private Pilot flight training toward the certificate.). Check the official page for the current cycle's amount.
When is the James C. Ray Flight Training Scholarship (ACE) deadline?
The deadline on the provider's official page is October 31, 2026. Applications open October 1, 2026. Three windows each year (Jan 1-31, May 1-30, Oct 1-31); the next opens Oct 1, 2026.
Who is eligible for the James C. Ray Flight Training Scholarship (ACE)?
Open to students aged 16 to 19 who reside in or attend a secondary school in Polk County, Florida, and hold at least a 2.75 unweighted GPA. The award supports students working toward their Private Pilot certificate.
How do I apply for the James C. Ray Flight Training Scholarship (ACE)?
Apply for free on Aerospace Center for Excellence's official page. There is no application fee, and no legitimate aviation scholarship charges one or asks for your Social Security number. Have your essay, recommendation letters, and any required certificates ready before the window opens.