The formation of the first all-black squadron of combat soldiers in WWII in 1941 forever changed the path of aspiring African American aviators. Although there were only 992 pilots trained, there were approximately 15,000 trailblazers that were a part of this historic experiment including various engineers, navigators, bombardiers, mechanics instructors, crew chiefs, nurses and cooks. Now known as the Tuskegee Airmen, they dispelled myths, biases and racism by their exemplary leadership proving African Americans are brave leaders that can operate complex machinery such as airplanes. The “Double Victory” that the Airmen achieved created a paradigm shift. It was both a victory overseas and a victory at home demanding equality for African Americans in the United States.
In September 2021, a new Tuskegee Airmen-inspired program launched, known as The RedTail Flight Academy.
RedTail Flight Academy is a Tuskegee Airmen-inspired pipeline to career possibilities for underrepresented people of color.
RedTail Flight Academy uses aviation as an aspirational platform to
recruit, develop, expose and place underrepresented talent --
with an emphasis on candidates of color
in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen.
Leverage initial donation of $800K into $8 million worth of opportunities that increase diversity, expose underserved minorities to technology, and develop the next generation of leaders.
● 23-years of proven mentoring successes
● Champion STEM programs for the next generation
● Target underserved communities
● Provide pathway programs within the aviation and aerospace industry
● RFA will produce 30 annual scholarships by 2026 (90 pilots between 2021-2026)
● Program serves as a blueprint for existing/future Tuskegee Airmen Inc regional flight academies
● Pipeline to meet the 500,000 commercially rated pilot deficit projected by 2030
● Forge partnerships with innovative and forward-thinking organizations
Join us in honor of the legacy of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen by becoming a Founding Sponsor of RFA and developing the next wave of superior minority certified aviators and qualified professionals seeking career opportunities with S.T.E.M. and cyber-aviation companies.
● Raise $8 Million to sustain programs for the next 5 years
● RFA Learning Center Naming Rights at New York Stewart International Airport future hangar
● Jobs, Apprenticeships and Internships for program graduates
● Cyber technology curriculum and mentors to integrate into RFA
● Partnerships that produce 21st century solutions to unlock untapped potential
We would like to schedule time to discuss RFA. Please reach out to Linda Andrews at redtailflightacademy@tai-ny.org to arrange a 30 minute meeting.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any program, mentoring or training question you might have. Click the button to request more information about the RedTail Flight Academy.
