Lacy Honored at Aviation Convention

Sitting on a stage at the Georgia World Congress Center, Clay Lacy was flanked on one side by the former head of Cessna Aircraft Russ Meyer and on the other by Apollo astronaut Eugene Cernan. Add in that golfing great Arnold Palmer and Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, were also on stage and Lacy found himself in good company when receiving the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration on the second day of the National Business Aviation Association convention in Atlanta. “I’m humbled to be on stage with all these people who have achieved so much,” Lacy said after receiving his lapel pin from FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “And I hope it represents the San Fernando Valley a little bit.” Lacy, whose career touches on all aspects of aviation for more than 50 years, has become accustomed in recent months to accepting awards. In July, he was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame and two weeks ago received the Pathfinder Award from the Seattle Museum of Flight for his contributions to the aerospace industry. The master pilot certificate recognizes skill, aviation expertise and safe operations for a period of 50 years or more. Lacy and the other recipients have left an indelible mark on aviation and world, noted NBAA CEO and President Ed Bolen. In his long career, Lacy has been a commercial airline pilot, a military pilot with the California Air National Guard, set air racing records, shot aerial photography for feature films and established the first jet charter firm on the West Coast in 1968. in 1988 he raised more than $500,000 for children’s charities with an around the world flight. If it were up to long-time friend Si Robin, Lacy would be getting an award every week. Lacy has set himself apart by getting into an airplane for nearly every day since Lacy started flying at 12 years old, said Robin, CEO and Executive Vice President of Sensor Systems Inc., an aircraft antenna developer and manufacturer in Chatsworth. “All the breaks, in business and personal, have been because of him,” Robin said.