Sponsor an Aircraft

Aircraft Restoration

Supporting Aircraft Restoration is a key way to support the costly efforts of maintaining our fleet of aircraft. Currently, about 70% of the CAF fleet is airworthy. Keeping the aircraft flying is a key component to performing the Commemorative Air Force mission - To educate, to inspire, and to honor through flight.

Aircraft Sponsorship

Interested in sharing in the cost of restoring, maintaining and operating a particular CAF aircraft? Become an aircraft sponsor.

Within its first two decades of existence, the CAF attained one of its major goals, the acquisition of one of each major type of combat aircraft to serve with U.S. forces in World War II. The principal funding for these acquisitions came from the Aircraft Sponsorship Program, which was then, and continues to be now, a key ingredient in the success of the CAF.

In the spirit of the founders of the CAF, the basic concept of the sponsor program is cost sharing. Open to an individual, group or corporation, the CAF Aircraft Sponsorship Program helps fund the restoration and major maintenance of CAF aircraft.

This program has made it possible for hundreds of CAF members who cannot afford to personally own and operate a warbird to become involved in the operation of a CAF aircraft.

The three different levels of sponsorship are:

• Aircraft/Pilot Sponsor
• Restoration Sponsor
• Supporting Sponsor

To donate visit our donation page here.

Aircraft / Pilot Sponsor

The highest level of aircraft support is the Aircraft/Pilot Sponsor, who for a donation of from $1,500 to $10,000 becomes a full sponsor of a chosen aircraft and is eligible for selection as a pilot in command or other flight crew member, if qualified.

The specific costs of Aircraft Sponsorship depend on the type aircraft, and a table of current sponsorship costs is available. Many non-pilots choose to become Aircraft Sponsors to express their support of a favorite aircraft, realizing the expense of keeping them flying.

Click to Download the Aircraft Sponsorship Guidelines & Checklist.

The Restoration Sponsor

A second level of support is the Restoration Sponsor, who for a donation of from $750 to $5,000 shows their significant support for the restoration or continuing maintenance of a CAF aircraft, and may participate in its operation as a second in command pilot or other crew position, if otherwise qualified and additional crew members are required.

A Restoration Sponsorship may be upgraded to an Aircraft Sponsorship, thus making it possible for some sponsors to help restore aircraft and then fly them.

The Supporting Sponsor

The Supporting Sponsor is the third level in the Sponsor Program, and allows members to support an aircraft with donations from $150 to $1,000, again depending on the specific aircraft type.

Supporting sponsors may be eligible to serve in non-pilot crew positions, such as Crew Chief, Navigator, Bombardier or Scanner on some aircraft, and Mechanic or Support Crew on all types, depending on their training and qualifications and the need for additional crew members.