26 Facts About Clay Lacy

Hershel Clay Lacy was born on August 14,1932 and is the founder and former CEO of Clay Lacy Aviation, established in 1968 as the first executive jet charter company in the Western United States.

Clay Lacy's professional resume includes airline captain, military aviator, experimental test pilot, air race champion, world record-setter, aerial cinematographer, and business aviation entrepreneur.

Clay Lacy learned how to build model airplanes at age five and created his first gasoline-powered flying model at age eight.

At age 12, Clay Lacy piloted his first aircraft at Cannonball Airport, built on his grandmother's farm about three miles outside the city limits of Wichita, where he worked in exchange for flying time.

In January 1952, Clay Lacy joined United Airlines as copilot on the Douglas DC-3 aircraft and was stationed at Los Angeles International Airport, where he was based for his entire airline career.

In 1954, Clay Lacy took military leave from United Airlines to join the California Air National Guard at Van Nuys Airport, where he flew the F-86 Sabre jet and became the officer in charge of instrument training.

Clay Lacy was called to active duty in 1961 for one year during the Berlin crisis, flying the C-97 Stratofreighter on missions to Japan and Vietnam.

In 1964, Clay Lacy flew the first Learjet into Van Nuys Airport in proximity to Hollywood's burgeoning entertainment industry, shaping a new era in corporate air transportation and mobility.

Between 1964 and 1972, Clay Lacy found time between flying for United Airlines and running his private charter business to fly his P-51 Mustang in air races across the United States.

Clay Lacy is credited with more than 3,000 film projects for the military, motion pictures and television, including most airline commercials featuring air-to-air photography.

Clay Lacy holds 29 world speed records, including a 36-hour, 54-minute, and 15-second around the world record in 1988 flying a Boeing 747SP called "Friendship One" that raised $530,000 for children's charities.

On July 17,2010, Clay Lacy was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame for his achievements as an aviation pioneer.

In November 2011, Clay Lacy was inducted into the Kansas Aviation Hall of Fame, housed at the Kansas Aviation Museum in Wichita, Kansas.

At Lear's invitation, Clay Lacy made several trips to his hometown of Wichita to tour the factory and share his knowledge and ideas.

In October 1964, Clay Lacy flew a Lear Model 23 from Wichita to Los Angeles to become the first corporate jet based at Van Nuys Airport.

In 1968, Clay Lacy founded his own on-demand charter company, where he developed a clientele of Hollywood celebrities and prominent business people, a legacy that continues today.

Between 1964 and 1972, Clay Lacy found time between flying for United Airlines and running his private charter business to fly his P-51 Mustang in every Unlimited class air race in the United States.

Clay Lacy served as president of the national Professional Race Pilots Association from 1966 to 1970.

In 1970, Clay Lacy claimed victory as national air race champion in the Unlimited class.

Clay Lacy won first place in The Great Race from London, England, to Victoria, British Columbia flying a Learjet.

In 1970, Clay Lacy created worldwide attention when he and Allen Paulson flew a four-engine Douglas DC-7 nicknamed Super Snoopy in the California 1000 Mile Air Race at Mojave, California.

In partnership with Continental Camera Systems, in the early 1970s Clay Lacy revolutionized air-to-air cinematography with Astrovision, a unique relay lens system with periscopes mounted on the top and bottom of the airplane's fuselage.

Clay Lacy is known for his work on the movies Firefox, Armageddon, Cliffhanger and Behind Enemy Lines.

On June 8,1966, Clay Lacy piloted a Learjet 23 owned by Frank Sinatra.

Clay Lacy piloted his Boeing 727 from Southern California by way of Hawaii and Midway Island to the International Dateline.

Clay Lacy is best known as an aerial cinematographer for the films The Great Santini, The Right Stuff, Octopussy, Top Gun, Cliffhanger, Armageddon, and Behind Enemy Lines.