Veteran pilot and business aviation pioneer Clay Lacy will donate two iconic business jets, a non-flying Learjet 24 and Gulfstream GIISP, June 5 to an aircraft mechanics school at Van Nuys Airport, marking the largest single gift in the adult education program’s history.
Operated by the Los Angeles Unified School District, the North Valley Occupational Center-Aviation (NVOC-Aviation) has prepared students for careers as aircraft mechanics for more than 40 years and holds an over 90% job placement rate for graduates who pass required FAA exams.
Lacy, a member of the National Aviation Hall of Fame and recipient of numerous industry awards, landed the first Learjet at Van Nuys Airport in 1964 and, four years later, founded Clay Lacy Aviation as the first jet charter company on the West Coast.
In their prime, the Learjet 24, built in 1968, and Gulfstream GIISP, built in 1979, served as flagships of the Clay Lacy Aviation charter fleet and helped launch a new era in corporate air transportation and mobility.
Among the aircraft’s most famous passengers were U.S. President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Margaret Thatcher and Hollywood personalities such as Ann-Margret, Johnny Carson and Sydney Pollack.
Combined, the aircraft accumulated approximately 33,000 flight hours, the equivalent of 15.9 million miles, during their storied careers.
Both aircraft will be used to expand the NVOC-Aviation’s curriculum and hands-on shop assignments. Annual tuition for the full-time, 2.5-year aircraft mechanics training program is an affordable $1,200, enabling almost all graduates to obtain jobs working on private, commercial and military aircraft.
For more information: ClayLacy.com
what we really need is more like Clay.
Congratulations Clay that’s a great deal. More company’s need to do that.