Julie Clark's FINAL T-34 Performance - Aviation Nation 2019

[Michel Lemieux]

Julie Clark's FINAL T-34 Performance - Aviation Nation 2019 - Nellis AFB

Just wow.....

I did not even knew she was still displaying.

First time I saw her display was in St Hubert, QC, Canada airport some 25 years ago!!!!!

70+....just wow. Hoping I can be as fit at her age....

BTW......me thinks this could be one of the longest performer / airplane relationship in the world. I have no clue if it is the same bird....But consistent it is when you consider the paint scheme!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzoWPC-rG0M

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Clark

https://julieclarkairshows.com/air-show/

https://julieclarkairshows.com/julie-clark-says-farewell-to-sun-n-fun/

[Kyleb]

I always liked her performances. She flew smoothly and did a precise routine without flogging the airplane. Far better (to me) than someone tearing it up in an Extra.

[Michel Lemieux]

Great comment Kyleb....

I always made a difference between acrobatics and aerobatics She for sure is in the latter one and funnily this is how most warbirds are displayed today. Slow and smooth.

[Mike]

BTW......me thinks this could be one of the longest performer / airplane relationship in the world.

I wonder how long Gene Soucy has been performing in his 'Showcat'?

I know that Eddie Andreini performed at 49 consecutive Watsonville airshows in his 450hp Stearman before sadly losing his life in it at Travis AFB in 2014.

[Lon Moer]

I once made out with Julie Clark(yes, that Julie) in the backseat of a BMW in the parking lot of a Red Baron restaurant.
(way back in the '80s)

[p51]

Looking at her plane, I realized I'd been at a couple of airshows over the years where that plane was there (can't miss that paint job). But I never watched her performances that I can recall. Generally, I only pay attention to warbirds (old or modern) at airshows, ever since I was a kid.
Aerobatics for the most part don't impress me much. I can't really tell you why.
But now that I've looked into what she was doing, I must admit her acts were very impressive.

[airnutz]

Poetry in motion...Thank you Ma'am!

[Mike]

Looking at her plane, I realized I'd been at a couple of airshows over the years where that plane was there (can't miss that paint job). But I never watched her performances that I can recall. Generally, I only pay attention to warbirds (old or modern) at airshows, ever since I was a kid.
Aerobatics for the most part don't impress me much. I can't really tell you why.
But now that I've looked into what she was doing, I must admit her acts were very impressive.

In what way do you consider an ex-military T-34 to be NOT a warbird? Just curious...

[p51]

In what way do you consider an ex-military T-34 to be NOT a warbird? Just curious...

I guess I just consider it more of a stunt plane than anything. Yeah, it's former military, but I mostly go to airshows focused on aircraft that are painted in the type of markings that type of aircraft had in service (and for the love of God, please don't anyone start picking that concept apart, just trying to explain why it didn't interest me much). I was just interested in military aircraft in the type of markings it would have or could have carrier in service.
I generally have never paid much attention to aerobatics. I appreciate the skills needed for that and wouldn't wanna to do that myself, it just never interested me much...

[Michel Lemieux]

I'm just happy this post generated so many views....

My take on it is the following.

Even as a young kid in Canada going to the local and very few airshows....

There were just a few US acts that I saw; mostly the USAF......

Julie's act was the first real warbird display act I was exposed to....

In the 80's seeing a warbird fly in my neck of the woods....was just tasty candy!

Cheers all....

[marine air]

I remember when she came to Oshkosh the first year in the 1989’s. Her T-34 won an award and everyone was blown away by its pretty and unique paint scheme. Julie was attractive, had an impressive flight resume’ and could do anything the guys could do, and better.
I think she was the first to put together an aerobatic airshow routine for the T-34. She took a lot of unmitigated crapola from some of the warbird pilots . Lots of sexist jokes. She earned and deserves full respect as she has flown a beautiful routine for decades . She’s earned her place in a couple of aviation hall of fames . iMHO.

[JohnTerrell]

Julie also owned/operated a beautiful yellow T-28 named "Top Banana" for many years, but sold it in 2018 through Courtesy.

Here is a great video that FlightChops did on Julie Clark and her T-34 last spring: