This year marks a new and exciting air show season for Julie Clark and the MENTOR T-34. 36 years of solo acrobatic flying, 33,000 accident-free hours in the air and years of sponsorship highlight what is sure to be a memorable season! Julie proudly flies her magnificent MENTOR T-34 throughout North America wowing fans of all ages with her touchingly patriotic performance.
With her sparkling personality and the graceful aerobatics that have endeared her to her legions of faithful fans, Julie Clark’s air show routine takes the MENTOR, her restored T-34, “Free Spirit,” to the limits of its operating capability. Julie’s MENTOR T-34 demands exceptional skill to perform aerobatics and Julie’s experience has honed her co-ordination and responsiveness in delicate balance.
Julie’s aerobatic routine is remarkable in its beauty and splendor and even more remarkable in that she exhibits elegance in an airplane with flying manners best be described as rugged. Her unique and patriotic presentation, “Serenade in Red, White and Blue,” is breathtakingly choreographed to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” or “God Bless You Canada.” To enhance her routine, multi-colored wing-tip smoke trails her every maneuver and she concludes her performance with crowd-pleasing pyrotechnics, dazzling fireworks.
A pilot for more than 45 years and a retired Northwest Airlines Captain, Julie Clark has logged more than 33,000 accident-free hours in the air and is rated in more than 66 types of aircraft. Marking her 30th year as a solo aerobatic air show pilot, Julie has earned the admiration of fans everywhere and garnered many awards and honors. In March of 2002, Julie received perhaps her highest honor with induction into the Women in Aviation Pioneer Hall of Fame of Women in Aviation, International. The Hall of Fame recognizes the significant contributions women have made to the aviation industry as record setters, pioneers or innovators. “Being inducted into this outstanding Hall of Fame is a great thrill for me,” said Clark. “Being honored at this level for doing something that I truly love makes this induction even more special.”
Honored now two times (2006 & 2007) by Airport Journals as one of the Top 40 “Living Legends in Aviation”, with the likes of Bob Hoover, Gene Cernan, Chuck Yeager, Morgan Freeman and Harrison Ford, Julie will again be honored for her achievements for 2008. In 2006, Julie was the only woman named in the Top 10 of Favorites. In 2007 Julie was named, “Woman of the Year” by Senate District 1, by the California Senate. Julie was honored for her contributions to her local community and the community of aviation.
2007 and 2008 brought about honors from the National Aeronautic Association (NAA). In 2007 Julie was honored with the Paul Tissandier Diploma, presented by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) and NAA for service to the cause of aviation in general and sporting aviation in particular, for her work, initiative, devotion or in other ways.
Surprised and delighted, Julie was honored in 2008 by the NAA as the recipient of the Katharine and Marjorie Stinson Award. The Stinson Award recognizes a living woman for an outstanding and enduring contribution, a meritorious flight, or a singular technical development in the field of aviation, aeronautics, space or related sciences.
Julie’s other equally thrilling awards include receiving the prestigious Art Scholl Memorial Showmanship award during the 30th Annual International Council of Airshows Convention, a coveted award presented each year to the air show performer who best exemplifies Art Scholl’s commitment to air shows as an entertainment venue. Clark said, “I feel extremely honored as, in my opinion, this award goes to the very best performers in the industry. The Scholl Award is the ultimate award for an air show performer and I’m very fortunate to be named in this elite group.”
In 1981, Julie was the youngest recipient of the “Woman Pilot of the Year Award,” bestowed by the
Southwest Section of The Ninety-Nines, the female pilot’s association whose first president was Amelia
Earhart. In 1988 and 1997, General Aviation News named her “Performer of the Year” as well as “Favorite Female Performer” for 1988, 1990, 1992 and 1997. Julie, whose dedication to aviation has led many to label her as a legend in her own time, has been recognized by the FAA, in Washington, D.C., with the meritorious Certificate of Appreciation for the following areas: Outstanding Contribution to Professional Women in Aviation, Contribution to the Preservation of Military Aircraft and Contribution to Women Pioneers in Aviation. The Certificate of Appreciation had only been presented six times when it was presented to Julie.
Julie is very proud that her fellow air show pilots selected her as recipient of the 1991 “Bill Barber Award for Showmanship.” Dave Weiman of World Airshow News presented the award and said, “Through a combination of pilot skill, imagination, personality, attitude and a style all her own, Julie Clark displays the qualities of a true showman and projects a positive image of the professional air show performer.” Julie has also been inducted into the International Women’s Air & Space Museum and in 1993, for her exceptional contribution to aviation; Julie was inducted into the “Forest of Friendship” at Amelia Earhart’s residence in Atchison, Kansas.
While Julie personally ferries her MENTOR T-34 to each air show, her ground crew travels an average of 30,000 miles per year. The MENTOR T-34 Team’s ground support “Road Show” includes a custom 35-foot, triple axle, 5th wheel Featherlite trailer Pulling power needed for the unit is supplied by a 2005, 5.9L HO Cummins Turbo Diesel powered, Dodge Ram 3500 SLT Quad Cab 4X4 pickup with 6-speed HD manual transmission. The 5th wheel trailer carries all necessary support materials and serves as day quarters during air shows. The complete unit is displayed on the air show flight line, providing a focal point to meet the public, sign autographs, display MENTOR T-34 materials.
