Julie Clark Honored with the 2023 Katharine Wright Memorial Trophy

The airline pilot and airshow star will receive the award jointly presented by the National Aeronautic Association and the Ninety-Nines.

Julie Boatman

Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at 12:24 PM ET

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Julie Clark was well known for her showmanship, flying her T-34 Mentor, ‘Free Spirit,’ in airshows for more than 40 years. [Courtesy of NAA]

Key Takeaways:

Julie Clark, an accomplished airline pilot and aerobatic performer with nearly 33,000 accident-free flying hours, has been named the 2023 recipient of the Katharine Wright Memorial Trophy.
The National Aeronautic Association awarded her the trophy for her significant and sustained contributions to aviation, which include inspiring others and advancing the art, sport, and science of flight.
Throughout her career, Clark has demonstrated exceptional leadership, professionalism, and a dedication to mentorship, notably in the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Women Soar program.
This honor recognizes her profound impact on the aviation community, particularly her commitment to encouraging young aviators and making those around her better.

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Julie Clark set a standard for leadership and professionalism throughout her career as an airline pilot and aerobatic performer—with nearly 33,000 hours of accident-free flying. One of her proudest moments, in fact, was earning the Art Scholl Memorial Award for Showmanship from her peers at the International Council of Air Shows conference 20 years ago, and in 2018, the ICAS Sword of Excellence. Clark retired from flying airshows in her signature polished T-34 Mentor, Free Spirit, in 2019.

But her most recent honor tops the list. Clark has been selected as the 2023 recipient of the Katharine Wright Memorial Trophy from the National Aeronautic Association, the organization announced on Wednesday. The trophy is awarded annually in partnership with the Ninety-Nines International Organization of Women Pilots to “an individual who has contributed to the success of others or made a personal contribution to the advancement of the art, sport, and science of aviation and space flight over an extended period of time,” according to the NAA.