Luna Mattke

The Lyons Aviation Foundation is proud to presenT

2022 Scholarship Recipient

Luna Mattke

Otis Orchards, WA-  25 April 2022-  Luna Mattke, 16, has a plan.  She will stop at nothing to fulfill her dream of flying and someday being Mission Qualified as a KC-135 Stratotanker Pilot with the 141^st Air Refueling Wing near Spokane.

“I love the technical aspects of flying, the responsibility and pressure to perform.  I am so thankful for my instructors and everyone who is helping me.” Luna currently has 36.3 hours in a C172 Single Engine aircraft and is hoping to start her solo cross-country flights in the spring.

Her hard work, planning and determination to make her dreams a reality is already paying off with a scholarship from the Lyons Aviation Foundation, whose mission as a non-profit is to help new aspiring pilots bridge the gap between talent, hard work and opportunity through scholarships for flight training.

“It doesn’t matter what I’m in,” Luna stated, “whether it is cruising in airplanes or soaring in gliders, I am happiest in the sky.  I can’t imagine life without wings.”

Luna’s goal after completing her Private Pilot Certification in the fall is to apply for the Wings Over Washington Program with the 141^st Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild AFB as a High School Junior.

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”