Grand Laureates Lifetime Achievement Award 2024: Clay Lacy

Clay Lacy was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award at Aviation Week Network’s 66th Annual Laureates Awards held in Washington on March 14, 2024.

Lacy, known as Mr. Learjet, played a key role in launching the business jet era. He began flying at the age of 12 on his grandmother's farm and joined United Airlines seven years later in 1952 at the age of 19.

In 1964, Lacy demonstrated the first Learjet to Pacific Learjet by flying it into Van Nuys Airport. Four years later, he established Clay Lacy Aviation, becoming the first company to provide jet charter and executive jet management services on the West Coast.

Lacy is a highly experienced pilot who has flown over 300 different types of aircraft and has amassed more than 55,000 flight hours. He is also credited with helping to pioneer the Astrovision camera system, which has been used to film over 3,000 films and photo jobs for airlines and military projects, including the original Top Gun. After a successful career spanning more than 41 years, Lacy retired from United Airlines as Seniority #1.

Congratulations to Clay Lacy for winning the Laureates Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his lifetime contributions to aviation.