Check dates

CAF Ray Foundation Pilot Scholarship

Commemorative Air Force · National

Samip Shah
Written by · founder of PilotBound

What the CAF publishes

Straight from the provider's pagechecked August 1, 2026
AwardUp to $12,000 toward earning a Private Pilot Certificate within one yearUp to $12,000
DeadlineRolling applications through local CAF units; no fixed annual open or close dates publishedannual cycle
Open toOpen to all · Youth (age or grade cap applies)
Certificates fundedPrivate (PPL)
RegionNational
Membershipnot required
Application feefree

Amounts, dates and eligibility change between cycles. Always confirm on the provider's page before applying.

Free deadline reminders

No fixed deadline posted.

Cycles like this change quietly. Leave your email and we'll flag date changes here and deadlines on other verified awards.

About one email a month, timed to deadlines. Unsubscribe anytime.

What this award leaves to fund

This award
$12,000
Private certificatePilotBound national estimate
− $18,257
Left to fund
$6,300

All six lenders in our comparison lend this much. Stack whatever else you can win first, then price only what is left.

Compare the six lenders →

Who this is for

Open to applicants aged 16-19 who hold a valid FAA medical certificate and student pilot certificate and have passed the FAA written exam. Recipients must begin flight training within 60 days of accepting the award and complete their Private Pilot Certificate within one year.

How to apply

  1. Read the full requirements on Commemorative Air Force's official page. Applying is free.
  2. Line up the slow pieces early: recommendation letters, transcripts, and any medical or student pilot certificate the provider asks for.
  3. 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.

Price the school you'll name in the essay

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

1168 flight schools across 50 states, with the hourly rates each one publishes.

Accelerated academies

94 zero-to-career academies and the fixed program prices they publish.

Degree programs

47 aviation colleges, with tuition and flight fees summed into one estimate.

Also worth a look

CAF Ray Foundation Pilot Scholarship: quick answers

How much is the CAF Ray Foundation Pilot Scholarship?

The published award is Up to $12,000. Up to $12,000 toward earning a Private Pilot Certificate within one year.

When is the CAF Ray Foundation Pilot Scholarship deadline?

Commemorative Air Force doesn't publish fixed dates for this award. Rolling applications through local CAF units; no fixed annual open or close dates published.

Who is eligible for the CAF Ray Foundation Pilot Scholarship?

Open to applicants aged 16-19 who hold a valid FAA medical certificate and student pilot certificate and have passed the FAA written exam. Recipients must begin flight training within 60 days of accepting the award and complete their Private Pilot Certificate within one year.

How do I apply for the CAF Ray Foundation Pilot Scholarship?

Apply for free on Commemorative Air Force'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.