Aviation scholarships
for veterans

Ashton Johnson Memorial CloudDancer Scholarship

CloudDancer Scholarship Foundation

$17,500

5 pilot awards per cycle

Must be a current active-duty U.S. service member (including Reserves and National Guard) or honorably discharged veteran, enrolled or planning to enroll in an accredited aviation program, with at least a 2.5 GPA and a passing score of 80% or higher on the FAA Private Pilot written exam within the prior 12 months. Valid FAA first- or second-class medical required at application and selection.

Pilot award of $17,500 paid in four milestone-based installments (selection, first solo, solo cross-country, check ride completion). Separate AMT maintenance awards also available at $5,000 to $10,000 each but are not flight training.

LPA Flight Training Scholarship

Latino Professionals in Aerospace (LPA)

Amount varies

12 awards · one application

Open to active LPA members (student, standard, or lifetime tier) enrolled or accepted in U.S.-based flight training. Five tracks span private pilot through ATP and type rating certifications, with a dedicated track for active-duty military, reservists, and veterans.

Varies by award track; the Elevated Access Advanced Rating track offers $10,000

Opens mid-March, closes mid-May each year

Stripes to Bars Scholarship

Stripes to Bars

Amount varies

15 awards in 2025 cycle

Open to current and former members of any US federal uniformed service with other-than-dishonorable discharge status, who hold a valid FAA medical certificate appropriate to their training goals. Funds may be applied toward any FAA pilot certificate at any flight school nationwide.

Varies by award; the 2025 cycle distributed $52,500 across 15 recipients (roughly $3,500 per award on average)

Opens Jan 1, closes Feb 28 each year; awards announced starting May 1

Ray Foundation Veteran Scholarship - UND Aerospace Phoenix

UND Aerospace Foundation

Up to $15,000

41+ scholarships awarded since 2021; rolling slots each year

Open to U.S. veterans and authorized dependents (age 17 or older before training begins) who have at least 24 months of Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits remaining. Applicants must hold an FAA First- or Second-Class Medical Certificate and pass the Private Pilot Airman Knowledge Test before the class start date; training is conducted at the UND Aerospace Phoenix center in Mesa, Arizona and requires relocation for approximately 24 months.

Up to $15,000 toward Private Pilot Certificate training, covering approximately 70% of total training cost; recipient pays roughly $4,800 out of pocket plus a fully refundable $1,000 flight-account deposit

Rolling admissions; class cohorts start January, March, June, and September each year until slots are filled

RTAG Chris Bedzis Memorial Rotor Transition Scholarship

RTAG (Rotary to Airline Group)

Amount varies

1 award per cycle

Open to U.S. military veterans or current servicemembers who are trained helicopter pilots and are transitioning to a fixed-wing airline pilot career. Applicants must submit military service documentation and a scholarship essay evaluated by the RTAG Board of Directors. Applying requires a free RTAG account; RTAG membership is free for veterans and active military.

Amount varies year to year based on RTAG's annual budget (confirmed by RTAG, July 2026); awarded at $30,000 in recent years. Paid directly to an approved training facility.

Annual; the most recent cycle has closed and winners are announced at the RTAG Convention. Next cycle dates not yet published.

RTAG Flight Training Scholarships

RTAG (Rotary to Airline Group)

Amount varies

Multiple awards across $500K annual pool; one application

Open to currently serving U.S. military members and honorably discharged veterans pursuing fixed-wing flight training toward a commercial pilot career. Applicants must hold or be able to obtain an FAA First Class Medical Certificate and have access to a training facility and flight instructor. Applying requires a free RTAG account; RTAG membership is free for veterans and active military.

Individual award amounts not published; program targets $500,000 distributed annually across multiple awards

Annual; award winners announced at RTAG Convention each October

Veteran Air Warriors Scholarship

Veteran Air Warriors

$7,000 – $10,000

Open to honorably discharged U.S. military veterans aged 21 or older who are GI Bill eligible, hold at least a high school diploma or GED, qualify for an FAA Class 1 medical certificate, and are committed to pursuing an airline pilot career. After the initial PPL grant, VAW assists participants in using their GI Bill for instrument, commercial, multi-engine, and CFI ratings.

$10,000 allowance for zero-prior-hours PPL training; $7,000 for fixed-wing transition from rotary or other prior experience

Rolling applications, no fixed annual cycle published