JULIE CLARK AND THE MOPAR T-34
The 2006 air show season marks the 19th year that Clark is sponsored by Mopar, the Parts and Accessories Division of DaimlerChrysler. No other performer has held this long a relationship with the same corporate sponsor, the same pilot and the same airplane. Clark’s graceful aerial ballet is a symbol of pride and patriotism. A pilot for more than 35 years and a Captain with Northwest Airlines for over 27 years prior to her retirement in 2003, Julie has logged more than 27,000 accident-free hours in the air and is rated in more than 65 types of aircraft.
With a personality that shines as brightly as “Free Spirit”, her restored Mopar Parts T-34, Julie Clark takes the Mopar T-34 to the limits of its’ operating capability as she entertains millions of people annually, averaging 20 to 25 shows each year. She has appeared in the biggest air shows in the United States, Canada and the island of Bermuda.
The Mopar T-34 demands tremendous skill to fly aerobatics, requiring great pilot co-ordination and anticipation. Julie’s aerobatic routine is truly remarkable in its beauty and splendour. More remarkable is the elegance she exhibits in an airplane whose flying manners could best be described as rugged. Her unique presentation of “Serenade in Red, White and Blue”, with a special added patriotic tribute, is breathtakingly choreographed to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA”. Multi-colored wing-tip smoke is used, concluding with a dazzling fireworks finale.
After more than 24 years as an aerobatic air show pilot, Julie Clark has earned not only the admiration of fans everywhere, but also a long list of awards and honors. Her most recent and perhaps highest honor came in March of 2002. Julie was inducted into the Women in Aviation Pioneer Hall of Fame during the WIAI Convention in Nashville. The Hall of Fame is to recognize women who have made significant contributions to the aviation industry as record setters, pioneers or innovators. “To be inducted into the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame is just a great thrill for me,” said Clark. “Being honored at this level for something that I truly love to do makes this induction even more special.”
Other awards Julie has received include the prestigious Art Scholl Memorial Showmanship award during the 30th Annual International Council of Airshows Convention ceremonies in Las Vegas, NV. The Art Scholl Showmanship award is presented each year to the air show performer who best exemplifies Art Scholl’s commitment to air show as an entertainment venue. Clark said, “I feel very honored, because in my opinion, this award only goes to the very best performers in the industry. In this business, the Scholl Award is the ultimate award for the airshow performer. I’m very fortunate to be part of this elite group.”
In 1981, Julie was the youngest recipient of the “Woman Pilot of the Year Award”, bestowed on her by the Southwest Section of the Ninety-Nines, a female pilot’s association founded by Amelia Earhart in the 1920s. In 1988 and 1997, General Aviation News named her “Performer of the Year”, as well as being named “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 prestigious “Certificate of Appreciation” awards 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”. This award had only been presented six times in the last ten years when it was presented to Julie. Recently, Julie has been inducted into the International Women’s Air & Space Museum.
Julie is very proud that her fellow airshow pilots selected her as recipient of the 1991 “Bill Barber Award for Showmanship”. “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”, said Dave Weiman, of World Airshow News, upon presenting the award to Julie, at Oshkosh. In 1993, Julie was inducted into the “Forest of Friendship” at Amelia Earhart’s residence, in Atchison, Kansas, for her exceptional contribution to aviation - a very prestigious award.
While Julie personally ferries the Mopar Parts T-34 to each air show, her ground crew travels an average of 30,000 miles per year. The Mopar Parts T-34 Team’s ground support “Road Show” includes a custom 35-foot, triple axle, 5th wheel Classic trailer. The pulling power needed for the unit is supplied by a 1998, Cummins Turbo Diesel powered, Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab pickup. The Cummins Turbo Diesel torque peaks at 440 LB-ft, with manual transmission -- the highest diesel torque rating available in a light-duty pickup. 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 flightline, providing a focal point to meet the public, sign autographs, display Mopar materials and can serve as a base for local Chrysler dealers to display their cars. Julie and her crew can also be seen with the “Road Show” at a variety of Chrysler Corporation dealers on their aerobatic tour. “I am proud to be carrying the Mopar Quality name into the skies,” says Julie, “and we provide even greater exposure for Mopar on the highways and on the flightline”
Restoration fans will appreciate that Julie bought her Beechcraft T-34 in 1977, “sight unseen” at a government surplus auction, in Anchorage, Alaska, for $18,000. She flew the airplane, dubbed “Free Spirit”, 2900 miles to her home in California. Julie then personally began the painstaking process of restoring the hand-polished, aluminum airplane inside and out. “Over the next four years, I spent many long hours bringing the airplane back to mint condition” says Clark, “and it requires daily maintenance to keep it that way”. Beginning with her own creative version of the “Air Force One” paint theme, the aircraft is constantly undergoing upgrading and modification.
Julie chose the T-34 because she had flown many hours in T-34’s while a civilian instructor for the U.S. Navy at Lemoore Naval Air Station in 1974-75. She was Navy trained in tactical maneuvers, formation flying and aerobatics. Although T-34 aircraft saw countless hours as trainers, for both the U.S. Air Force and Navy pilots, in the 1950’s, the airplane demands tremendous skill to fly aerobatics.
Julie explains, “the T-34 requires great concentration and anticipation during aerial maneuvers, as the aircraft does not have an inverted oil or fuel system, so inverted flight must be very carefully calculated. Also, due to its’ larger size than most air show aircraft of today, and its’ low power-to-weight ratio, the airplane’s flight controls become very heavy during the aerobatic routine”.
There was never a doubt that Julie Clark was born to fly. “While most 8-year-old girls were playing with dolls and things”, Julie says, “I was building models of airplanes and reading all I could about flying”. Adding fuel to the fire that drove Julie to her life’s ambition was her father, Ernie Clark, a commercial airline pilot for Pacific Airlines. “My dad was the one who got me interested in flying”, Julie recalls, with a smile. “I used to get really excited when he would take me along on airline flights, in the DC-3 or F-27. Dad would put me into the baggage compartment and then, from inside the airplane, he would open the baggage bin and sneak me into the cockpit. I had to beg and plead, but I thought that was the greatest thing, when I could go fly with my dad”.
Ironically, it was her father’s fate that had a more profound effect on Clark and her ambition to fly. Ernie Clark flew in the ‘60’s, when cockpits were left unlocked in flight. In 1964, while Captain Clark was filling in for a pilot who had called in sick, a passenger walked into the unlocked cockpit with a gun and killed Captain Clark and the crew. The airplane went down, killing all on board. That incident, Julie explains brought about the law requiring cockpit doors to remain locked during commercial flights and is named after Clark.
While it was a difficult time for Julie, her goal never changed. In fact, she became even more determined. In 1967, unbeknownst to her then newly appointed legal guardians (an aunt and uncle), Julie would spend her college book money on flying lessons. After college, years of working two and three jobs and taking virtually any flying job to build time and higher ratings, Julie’s major break came in 1976 when Golden West Airlines, a West Coast commuter airline, hired her to fly DeHavilland Twin Otters. The first, and only, woman ever to fly for Golden West, Julie flew mail at night and passengers ‘till noon, in her continuing effort to build time. In 1977, when Hughes Airwest (formerly Pacific Airlines) hired Julie, she became one of the first women to fly for a major airline and it started what has become a storybook career. Hughes Airwest then became Republic Airlines and is now Northwest Airlines. Julie was a Captain for Northwest from 1984 until she retired in 2003.
Featured on many, nationally televised TV documentaries and aviation related TV specials, Julie’s list of credits include co-hosting the “P.M. Magazine’s Sky Dancers” special and appearances in the PBS specials, “Reaching for the Skies” and “The Adventurers”. She was also featured on “The Dayton International Air Show” TV special, where she gave Robin Leach, from “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” his introduction to aerobatics. Julie’s expertise, and love for aerobatics, also drew the attention of “ABC’s Wide World of Flying”, where she gave helpful hints on cockpit organization for pilots. She has also been featured on the “Mack & Mutley” show, the game show “To Tell the Truth” and the “Joan Rivers Show”.
In the air, Julie’s elegant performance, in an airplane never designed for such an aerobatic routine, is truly remarkable in its beauty and splendor. When the petite former beauty queen performs smoke-trailing loops, rolls and hammerheads, to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA”, her aerial ballet stirs the hearts of young and old alike.
For more information on Julie Clark, click here!
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DARREL
MASSMAN AIR SHOWS
AIR SHOW PACKAGE USA
It’s been 31 years since air
show and competition aerobatic pilot
Darrel Massman took
his first flying lesson at the age
of 16. Since then he has logged over
6000 hours of flying time in over
65 different models of aircraft, including
J-3 cubs, DC-3’s, King Airs,
Saber liner and Citation jets, and
helicopters. I like anything that
flies.
 Lesson
number 4 in initial flight training
was doing spins. I new at
that time aerobatics was for me.
Over the years Darrel trained with
air show masters Marion Cole, and
Jim Leroy learning not only the fine
art of aerobatic maneuvers and energy
management, but learning that safety
is first. Prior to each practice,
competition, or air show flight, all
components of the aircraft from gas
caps to seat belts are carefully checked.
After the aircraft inspection all
details to weather are carefully observed
including winds, ceilings, temperature
and dew points. Every single 10-minute
flight requires almost 2 hours of
preparation.
Darrel started competition in the
sportsman category. At his very first
competition, he won and became national
champion. Darrel now flies in the
unlimited category and has successfully
become 2002, 2003, and 2004 mid America
Unlimited Champion, and placed second
overall highest scoring in United
States in 2003.
The aircraft flown is a Panzl 330
custom built unlimited monoplane.
The aircraft weighs in at 1260 lbs
with 350 horses under the hood, and
a 3 bladed MT propeller. The roll
rate is in excess of 420 degrees per
second, and a climb rate of close
to 5000 feet per minute. Vertical
penetration of almost 3000 feet and
cruise speeds of over 220 mph make
this aircraft one of highest performing
aerobatic planes in the world.
Darrel’s air show includes an
entry from as high as 8000 feet above
ground, then entering an inverted
flat spin with up to 35 revolutions.
The show includes high and low energy
inside and outside multiple snaps,
tumbling gyroscopics, torque rolls,
tail slides, and looping maneuvers.
During flight Darrel will
be subjected to as much as 10 positive
G’s and 7 negative G’s.
It’s a lot of work. The average
10-minute flight is like an 8-hour
workday. It’s all worth it,
its just (plane) fun.
In addition to flying aerobatics,
Darrel is also Chief Pilot and general
manager of Puff The Magic Dragon,
an AC-47 gunship used in Viet Nam.
(Also known as a DC-3) Darrel and
co-captain Mike Connell from Decorah,
Iowa will fly the aircraft during
the show. Rides will also be available
in the AC-47.
Darrel lives in Ogdensburg WI. with
his wife Kristi and their four children.
In addition to flying Darrel enjoys
raising cattle, riding horses, motorcycling,
snowmobile, snow boarding, and fishing.
Darrel believes if you want to do
something you have to get started
on it, because you can’t get
it done until you get it started.
For more information on the AC-47,
click
here!
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