2010 National Aviation Hall of Fame - Clay Lacy

[Jeff Lee]

If you’ve seen a movie with an aerial shot in it in the last four decades, chances are Clay Lacy made it happen. This 50,000 plus hour pilot and entrepreneur built fixed base operations, along with becoming a senior captain at United Airlines, but his lasting legacy may be his work as an aerial cinematographer.

Lacy has personally conducted more than 2500 air-to-air photo shoots for movies, such as Top Gun, The Right Stuff and Operation Red Flag: Fighter Pilot, as well as TV series, commercials and more.

A native of Wichita, KS, Lacy began flying at age 12. By the time he was 19 he had logged 1500 when he joined United Airlines in the right seat of DC-3’s. He retired from United 40 years later as a senior captain, having flown the Douglas prop airliners, the DC-10, 727, and finally the 747-400.

Lacy started the first executive jet charter service west of the Mississippi. Clay Lacy Aviation operated from Van Nuys Airport, where Lacy had flown F-86 Sabrejets during a stint in the California Air Guard.

Air Racing fans remember Lacy flying the purple P-51 Mustang “Race #64” winning the Unlimited Championship at Reno in 1970. He holds numerous aviation world records, and even today, he wants to get behind the controls and fly.

For more of Clay Lacy’s story, as well as the other members of this year’s Hall of Fame class, join us Saturday night at 7:00pm EDT for the LIVE Internet broadcast of the entire Hall of Fame Enshrinement event. Go to: www.Livestream.com/LiveAirShowTV

[AirDOGGe]

Re: 2010 National Aviation Hall of Fame - Clay Lacy

A VERY well deserved honor.

I remember sitting in the stands in the mid 80's well after the day's races were finished, watching some post-race action on the tarmac when Clay's purple 'Stang made a low pass down the main straight from right to left (opposite normal race direction).

On the far side of the P-51 was a Learjet flying off it's wingtip. They made the pass together side-by-side.

At the time I thought the Learjet pilot was just giving his passengers a great view of a little simulated race action, but later as I learned about Clay's air-to-air photography business and his customized periscope camera-toting Lears I suspected that he MAY have been shooting the Mustang with one of his modified cam-planes.

[Big_Jim]

Re: 2010 National Aviation Hall of Fame - Clay Lacy

I wonder if they'll do a "Human Fly" encore as part of his induction ceremony?

[Lockheed Bob]

Re: 2010 National Aviation Hall of Fame - Clay Lacy

A Great Honor for a Great Pilot. I have watched him over the years & he is one of the best.

[GeoffS]

Re: 2010 National Aviation Hall of Fame - Clay Lacy

I'll have to dig out my "One Six Right" DVD tonight and watch his work (and interviews) again!

[Rigby]

Re: 2010 National Aviation Hall of Fame - Clay Lacy

I know this is a bit off topic, but is his P-51 still airworthy? Thanks in advance.
P.S. I second the "Return of the Human Fly"

[AirDOGGe]

Re: 2010 National Aviation Hall of Fame - Clay Lacy

I know this is a bit off topic, but is his P-51 still airworthy? Thanks in advance.
P.S. I second the "Return of the Human Fly"

N64CL....Status is listed as "in storage" as of 2006...that's all.

LINK: http://www.mustangsmustangs.com/p-51...s/44-74423.php


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[Rigby]

Re: 2010 National Aviation Hall of Fame - Clay Lacy

Thanks for the reply. I had seen that on the MustangsMustangs site, was just wondering if there was anyone else who may be a little bit more in the know, so to speak.

[evanflys]

Re: 2010 National Aviation Hall of Fame - Clay Lacy

Here's Clay at Madera. He sure can fly!