To participate, students are charged a tuition of $332 (the Tuskegee Airmen were the 332nd Fighter Group). To be accepted, they must have a demonstrated interest in aviation and must be college bound. Two admissions counselors from the Air Force Academy attended the 2015 program, an Air Force cadet attended for one week. In addition to receiving flight training and STEM enrichment, students meet other African American fighter pilots, go on field trips, and hear guest speakers.
Jessica Nathan, a student in the 2015 program who will be attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in the spring, describes LFA as a “one in a million great opportunity. Throughout the program they taught us core values that represented the Tuskegee Airmen: loyalty, excellence, goals, attitude, courage, and integrity, and since they were great pilots, I believe if I align my life to fit these values that I could be a great pilot too.â€
Shogun Thomas, a freshman at the University of Kansas majoring in computer engineering, says, “LFA couldn’t have been better. Around seven hours of flight time alone would cost more than $700. This is only $332 for around seven hours of flight time, as well as so much more. The experiences with former and current pilots, as well as the open opportunities, made the program fantastic.†Thomas describes the program as “amazing,†and says he “strongly recommends it to any high school student interested in aviation and the Tuskegee Airmen.†Thomas’ goal is to become a pilot in the Air National Guard or Air Force, and later a commercial pilot.
Legacy Flight Academy is a 501 (c) 3 organization committed to ensuring that the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen lives on. For more information, to donate, or to apply to the 2016 program, go to Legacy Flight Academy.