Julie Clark Wins ICAS Sword of Excellence
Longtime CAF Member and air show performer Julie Clark was recognized as the 2018 recipient of the prestigious ICAS Sword of Excellence during ceremonies last week in Las Vegas at the ICAS convention in December of 2018.
Julie was recognized as a trailblazer, mentor, role model and leader during an air show career that now spans four decades. Her personal story of overcoming adversity, persevering and exceling in a male-dominated industry has been a source of inspiration to millions. And she has actively participated in a wide variety of aviation organizations during her air show career, from EAA and Women in Aviation to the T-34 Association and ICAS, including a three-year term on the ICAS Board of Directors.
Since 1981, the International Council of Air Shows Sword of Excellence has been synonymous with air show excellence. Given each year to recognize outstanding service and personal contributions to the air show industry, the Sword is widely considered to be the single-highest honor an individual air show professional can receive. Over more than three decades, 44 different Sword recipients have been honored for their leadership, service, innovation, vision, commitment and selfless contributions to the air show business.
The award was created in 1981 to recognize the highest levels of achievement in the air show business. Since then, the stature and visibility of the ICAS Sword of Excellence have increased as the list of past recipients has grown. The single common characteristic of these air show performers, event organizers, military representatives, government officials and air show industry activists is their selfless commitment to improving and contributing not just to their own air show businesses, but to the entire air show industry.
2019 will be Julie’s “Farewell Tour” completing 41 years of safe air show performing. She has flown more than 1800 performances in all lower 48 states and Alaska. All of the lower Provinces in Canada, Mexico, and even the Island of Bermuda in front of countless millions of people. She amassed over 34,000 hours of accident-free flying, with 11,000 hours in the same air show T-34.
