Guest column: A prestigious pilot calls the south metro home

The T-34 Mentor was nearing the end of an awe-inspiring aerial-acrobatics performance. It arced through the blue sky and drew a perfect heart with white "air-show smoke" billowing from its underside. The sleek aircraft then executed a punishing 6-G turn, flew through the heart's center and veered upward.

A moment before stalling and tumbling tail first, the airplane rolled inverted over the top and headed straight for the ground. Seconds later, it was screaming across the grass near the runway at a scant 8 feet. Red, white and blue smoke trailed behind it, sparklers danced on its wing tips and bombs burst in the air nearby.

The T-34 angled skyward again while rocking its wings. Polished to a mirror finish, it dazzled the spectators below with reflected brilliant sunlight. It then made a tight, descending turn to final approach, touched down with a barely audible tires-on-runway squeak and slowed to taxi speed.

Lee Greenwood's timeless "God Bless the USA" poured from nearby speakers as Julie Clark, acclaimed aerobatics pilot and former airline captain, pulled back the aircraft's canopy, stood and unfurled Old Glory. The appreciative crowd at Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport saluted her smartly, cheered and chanted "Julie! Julie!"

After parking her aircraft, the winsome aviatrix autographed photos for dozens of admiring adults and wide-eyed children. It was the perfect ending to a marvelously entertaining afternoon.

Clark and her T-34 Mentor make for captivating stories. In 1976, she traveled to Alaska and bought the surplus, sorry-looking Air Force trainer. She had two life-threatening emergencies on the flight to California. The T-34's battery exploded near MacKenzie, British Columbia, blew a hole in the fuselage and filled the cockpit with nauseating fumes. She landed for repairs and resumed her flight only to have the engine's oil pressure drop to near zero. She put down at Omak, Wash., and added five quarts of oil before continuing to Hawthorne, Calif.

The journey was perilous, but Julie now had an airplane with which to follow one of her dreams. She meticulously restored the T-34 over a period of 4 1/2 years, finishing with a patriotic paint scheme resembling the design on Air Force One. It was now a beautiful air-show aircraft.

Captain Julie Clark is now "sitting on top of the world." But it was no easy climb.

Her mother died at age 44. Fifteen months later, in 1964, her father, chief pilot for Pacific Air Lines, and his crew were shot by a passenger. All aboard perished in the crash. As prescribed by their parents' will, Julie and her sister went to live with an aunt and uncle. It was often an uneasy arrangement.

Julie's young-adult life was shattered by sweethearts and many friends killed in aircraft accidents. Professionally, she was a victim of harsh, discriminating and just plain mean treatment in the male-dominated airline business.

Although Julie faced many setbacks, she refused to give up. Her break came during an interview for a pilot's position at Golden West. The man was giving Julie reason after reason why she couldn't be hired. She'd had enough and got in his face. To her surprise, he said, "I like your spunk. When can you start?" Julie went on to log more than 31,000 accident-free hours while flying 67 types of aircraft.

I had interviewed Julie at her south metro home before the 2011 air show in Wisconsin. I caught up with her again after the show.

Julie: When I applied to the airlines, applications from women were routinely tossed in the trash. I am proud that I had a successful career and earned the right to retire as a captain. My present profession is all about loving aerobatics and entertaining people.

J: Does one aerobatic experience rise above the others?

Julie: I was thrilled to do two air shows with the Canadian Snowbirds.

J: Do you take Bernie and Lindy [Julie's dogs] flying?

Julie: Absolutely! I buckle them in and put on their "mutt muffs." Bernie has logged 3,000 hours with me.

Along with the Navy's Blue Angels, Julie will perform at the Mankato, Air Show on June 9 and 10. I'll see you there!

Jerry Goodrich is a Prior Lake resident.