John Parker Wilson
He Was Given Wings, Now He Flies
John Parker Wilson, a senior in high school at Trinity Presbyterian School in Montgomery, Alabama, received a scholarship in the amount of $1,500.00 from the Lyons Aviation Foundation to support his desire to get his private pilot license for a fixed-wing powered engine plane.
John has no background in aviation, but he remembers his dad taking him along on work trips as a child, and according to him, the very best part of any trip was going to the airport and seeing the planes. When he was about ten, he talked to a pilot while waiting for a flight, and the pilot gave him a set of wings which became one of his prized possessions. For his twelfth birthday, he was given a discovery flight with “Mr. Joe” in a Cessna 172, and he was completely hooked, knowing that one day, he wanted to be a commercial pilot. John is currently finishing up his PPL this May, with only his check ride still to complete, and then he is headed to Auburn University in the fall to major in Professional Flight. Part of the requirement for this program at Auburn is to have your PPL prior to starting the program. In talking about this scholarship, John said, “This relieves a lot of pressure, with having to have my PPL by August 1st. This just means the world to me!”
2025- John Parker Wilson
The Lyons Aviation Foundation is proud to presenT
2025 Scholarship Recipient
John Parker Wilson
John Parker Wilson
He Was Given Wings, Now He Flies
John Parker Wilson, a senior in high school at Trinity Presbyterian School in Montgomery, Alabama, received a scholarship in the amount of $1,500.00 from the Lyons Aviation Foundation to support his desire to get his private pilot license for a fixed-wing powered engine plane.
John has no background in aviation, but he remembers his dad taking him along on work trips as a child, and according to him, the very best part of any trip was going to the airport and seeing the planes. When he was about ten, he talked to a pilot while waiting for a flight, and the pilot gave him a set of wings which became one of his prized possessions. For his twelfth birthday, he was given a discovery flight with “Mr. Joe” in a Cessna 172, and he was completely hooked, knowing that one day, he wanted to be a commercial pilot. John is currently finishing up his PPL this May, with only his check ride still to complete, and then he is headed to Auburn University in the fall to major in Professional Flight. Part of the requirement for this program at Auburn is to have your PPL prior to starting the program. In talking about this scholarship, John said, “This relieves a lot of pressure, with having to have my PPL by August 1st. This just means the world to me!”
About The Lyons Aviation Foundation:
The Lyons Aviation Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non profit private foundation that exists to support and encourage the next generation of pilots and aviators through offering financial scholarships to deserving young persons who are pursuing their Private Pilot Certificate. The Lyons family has been involved in and maintained a history of aviation-related careers for over 66 years. The Lyons Aviation Foundation story started with Rolf C. Lyons, when he entered military service at the age of 17, enlisting in the United States Air Force in 1955, with his sons later following in his footsteps. This foundation was born out of a desire to give back to the aviation community and the future pilots, mechanics, and engineers working in the field by providing an opportunity to those that might not otherwise have the means to pursue aviation as a career path. This foundation is a living tribute to a family story and its ties to aviation, military service, and one another. More information can be found at www.lyonsaviation.org.
“A Helping Hand on the Road to Wings”