Julie Clark
I flew my first air show in 1978 in Willows, California. I was part of a three-ship T-34 team known as The Falcons. I remember it like it was yesterday and “poof” – I blink my eyes and thirty plus years have passed!
I started my own airshow company (business), American Aerobatics, in 1980 and became a solo performer that year, as well. Flying air shows was certainly not an aspiration that I had dreamed to fulfill. Ever since I flew my first airline trip with my airline Captain father (I was 8 - in the 1950s!) I had always wanted to be an airline pilot, and that’s a whole other story (see my biography – Nothing Stood in Her Way, Captain Julie Clark) and I had already fulfilled that dream, and had a wonderful airline career in progress.
Like everything 30 years ago, things seemed so much easier. My first ICAS (International Council of Air Shows) convention was in El Paso, Texas, where I first shared a table with another female performer, Joann Osterude, (we were very few back then!) I’ve never missed an ICAS convention since then, and that organization (the air show authority) is truly a must, now in this business. A few years later when I had my own exhibit booth, I was displaying right between the “2 Bob’s” – I had Bob Herendeen on one side of me, and Bob Hoover on the other. One of the days there “Hoov” mentioned to me that it was truly a “performer’s market” out there – because as we performers – there was less than 100 of us trying to market ourselves. It was easy!! Today there are more than 400 airshows performers trying to book shows where the number of shows in recent years has certainly dropped off, (but not the attendance, I might add!) or they have teamed up together, or they have their shows only every other year. It is truly an “airshow market” out there, and the competition is fierce. I remember when the market, back in the 80’s, then only supported one jet-powered ground vehicle, now they have become a main stay in the business – and great entertainment in the “arena”.
Back in the early 80’s – pretty much a phone call and a verbal agreement was all that was needed to “seal the deal”. I remember one of my first solo shows in 1981 was in Eureka, California. I was to be paid $800 for the weekend: WOW! COOL! $800 for people to watch me fly – how cool was that? I had put together an act that flew to music – “What a wonderful world” by Louie Armstrong, so that made my airshow very different from the then Pitts-dominated world of air shows. That weekend only one day was flyable, due to fog and when the event organizer handed me my $800 check – I offered to only take $400 since I only flew one day. He laughed, and said, “Just take it!”
I feel very fortunate that the majority of my airshow flying have been flying with a major corporate brand sponsor (24 years). I am beginning my fourth year flying for Chevron Global Aviation and I couldn’t ask for a better relationship with a company that stands alone in integrity, values, visions, strategy and safety. I am very proud to be a part of their “Family of Brands”.
In today’s market, the elaborate press kit, contract and advertising are essential to the business. Also, in today’s market, the event organizer should hire professional announcers and air bosses to make their event truly professional and safe. “Poof” – my changes – all for the better, - in 30 short years! Julie has been flying the same T-34 for 31 years of air show flying, she’s owned it for 34 years, flown over 9,200 hours in the T-34 and she’s on the 8th engine (Eagle Engines of Redding, California). “Julie is proud that she endorses 21 wonderful aviation products, ranging from aircraft engines, propellers, parachutes to headsets, avionics and beyond!”
Julie Clark
Chevron Mentor T-34
American Aerobatics, Inc.
