Julie Clark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Julie Clark
|
|
|---|---|
Clark in 2006
|
|
| Born | June 27, 1948 Hayward, California, United States
|
| Occupation | Airshow & commercial pilot |
| Years active | 1969–2019 |
Julie E. Clark, born on June 27, 1948, is a famous American pilot. She used to fly amazing stunts in air shows. She was also a pilot for big airlines. Julie started her airline career as a first officer with Golden West Airlines. She later became a captain for Northwest Airlines, flying an Airbus A320. She was one of the first women to fly for a major airline. People have voted her "Performer of the Year" many times for her exciting air show flights.
Julie Clark's Flying Career
.jpg)
Julie Clark has over 50 years of flying experience. She flew solo aerobatic air shows for 41 years. By October 2019, she had logged 37,000 flight hours. She often performed in about 20 air shows each year. Her special plane was a Beechcraft T-34 Mentor. She can fly more than 66 different types of aircraft. Julie is also a honored member of the Living Legends of Aviation.
Julie got her pilot's license in 1969 in San Carlos, California. She flew the same T-34 Mentor plane from 1977 until 2019. She bought this plane for $18,000 at a government auction. She named her plane Free Spirit. When she retired, the plane went to the Hiller Aviation Museum.
During her airline career, Julie flew many different planes. She flew the MD-80 out of Las Vegas. Then, for over 20 years, she flew the Convair 580 from Minneapolis.
In the late 1990s, she added another plane to her air show routine. This was a North American T-28C Trojan. She called this plane Top Banana.
Julie announced her retirement plans at the 2019 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh air show. Her very last performance was on November 7, 2019. This final show took place at Nellis Air Force Base.
Awards and Honors
Julie Clark has received many important awards for her flying:
- In 2002, she was inducted into the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame.
- In 2008, she received the Katharine and Marjorie Stinson Award. This award is from the National Aeronautic Association (NAA).
- In 2018, she earned the Sword of Excellence. This honor comes from the International Council of Air Shows.
- In 2019, she received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. This award is given by the Federal Aviation Administration.
- In 2020, she was given the McDonald Distinguished Statesman & Stateswoman of Aviation Award by the NAA.
- In 2023, she received the Katharine Wright Memorial Trophy. The NAA and the Ninety-Nines present this award.
Julie Clark's Family
Julie Clark's father, Captain Ernest Clark, was also an airline pilot. Sadly, he passed away in 1964. This happened when a passenger caused a plane crash. All people on board, including her father, died. Julie's mother had passed away just one year before. These sad events made Julie even more determined to become a pilot herself.
