About The Aviation Foundation

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

The Aero Club of Pittsburgh was founded in 1909 to promote aerial demonstrations and was dormant until 1920 or so, when it was restricted to WWI pilots and observers. It was not until a decade later that non-military pilots were accepted.

Clifford Ball (November 29, 1891 - June 2, 1972) graduated from McKeesport High School in 1910 and continued his education by taking evening courses at Duquesne University and business courses at Duffs Iron City College. He was an American farmer, soldier, bookkeeper, clerk, automobile dealer, airplane dealer, airline owner, airline operator, airline executive, radio manufacturer, Civil Air Patrol officer and chaplain, and aviation pioneer. He joined the club when he was 18 years old and eventually became the President of the ACP for 30 years.

In 1996, the Aero Club of Pittsburgh actively hosted monthly meetings with a great speaker series and an amazing, well-attended annual Christmas party. The ACP wanted to establish a 501c3, and The Aviation Foundation emerged.

HERE WE GROW

TAF began a series of matching scholarships in partnership with the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. We added scholarships for a five-day camp in the 9–16-year-old age group at NASA’s U.S. Space and Rocket Center in 2023 and began pilot training scholarships with Laurel Highlands Aeronautical Academy in 2025.

The aviation community is facing an acute shortage of talented, trained employees in all areas of aviation.

The Aviation Foundation is a publicly funded 501(c)3 with more than 95% of the donations going directly to our programs. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation.