06/24/2026
NAHF Enshrinee Julie Clark always wanted to fly. She grew up building model airplanes, reading everything she could about aviation, and idolizing her airline pilot father Ernie Clark, whose tragic death at the hands of a passenger while flying, causing the plane to crash and kill all on board, changed the trajectory of her life and made her determined to follow in her father’s footsteps. She worked multiple jobs to afford flight lessons, including a cocktail waitress, a water ski performer, and a purser for San Francisco and Oakland Helicopter Airlines. The 1970s were a busy time for Clark. She accumulated her private pilot’s license, and several advanced flight ratings. She worked first as a civilian T-34 instructor at Naval Air Station at Lemoore, California; next, she became the first and only woman pilot hired by Golden West Airlines before becoming one of the first women pilots flying for a major airline when she went to work for Hughes Airline. She later became a charter member of the International Social Affiliation of Women Airline Pilots (ISA+21).
In 1977, she bought a Beechcraft T-34 Mentor and spent years restoring it herself, calling it the Free Spirit. Clark preserved the legacy of the T-34 and other warbirds by addressing structural safety concerns with the FAA and manufacturers. She offered her aircraft for rigorous testing, ensuring the continued safe use of these heritage planes. She would go on to contribute to the development of the EAA’s T-34 formation manual and played a key role in promoting aviation safety and education. Her iconic T-34 aerobatic performances, which incorporated humor, music, and fireworks, were highly acclaimed for over 41 years.
In 1980, Clark began her own air show company: Julie Clark’s American Aerobatics. She has had an aviation career spanning more than 50 years, inspiring countless young people to pursue aviation careers through her airshow performances, motivational speaking, and mentoring programs. She has actively supported young women and men pursuing careers in aviation and mentored countless aspiring pilots and airshow performers.
