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| The Pilot’s Pilot | Mar '07 |
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| By Cliff Robertson |
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Somewhere in my cloudy, fuzzy childhood memories, I recall reading or hearing the minister in our sleepy town of La Jolla, Calif., quoting a piece of wisdom and prophecy from the Bible. To wit: "The meek shall inherit the earth." Laying no claims to biblical wisdom, this one-time Calvinist attendee has become submerged of late in what I might call spectacles of mendacity—or "celebrities of Sodom." Lest I be mistaken or taken as some kind of road company fire-and-brimstone pastor, "a la Jonathan Edwards," that 19th century firebrand, let me hasten to explain.
One doesn't have to be a goody-two-shoes, holier-than-thou or self-anointed prophet to be concerned about our wayward ways in America. Stop at the news or magazine stand at any supermarket or watch any seamy television show, and you can't help but be confronted by distressing reminders of how these good United States of ours have wandered too often into the wicked wilds of journalist trash. Defenders of these meanderings are quick to embrace the First Amendment—freedom of speech—and other convenient excuses. Like so many average Americans, I can't help but be outraged at purveyors of porn and sexual exploitation. Suffice to say that as long as these merchants of filth see a dollar in their future, they will continue unabated. The dollar, which can be—could be, should be—a protective form of democratic principle, has suddenly become (it appears to this restive pilot) currency of moral question.
So what has this to do with aviation? To my perhaps naïve, simplistic way of thinking, men and women in aviation, for the most part, have always represented themselves to me as men and women of belief, faith and competence—belief that our country's forefathers, in their infinite wisdom, were able to weave principles of enduring goodness into the fabric of our Constitution and Bill of Rights. I'm not certain that these same gentlemen—and yes, ladies—aren't currently writhing in their graves, for everywhere we turn, it seems as if the most discordant, loud, abrasive voice on film and in print gets a disproportionate amount of attention. Surely the pursuit of the American dream hasn't been diminished to the loudest shout, the rudest shove and the most abrasive conduct, getting all the headlines.
There are, thank the Lord, still the quiet, the meek and the modest, who have left their marks on our civilization. Indelible marks of decency. These footprints aren't hard to find or follow, if we only but look. When we look carefully at the men and women in aviation, we see constant reminders of goodness, albeit ofttimes naïve, perhaps unsophisticated, but nevertheless, most of aviation's forbearers have been men and women of good, high and inspirational character, like Barron Hilton and Bob Hoover.
Certainly my good friend and fellow pilot, Clay Lacy, fits comfortably in that mold. This man—the Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur of 2004—has flown possibly more different aircraft than any other pilot on earth. More than 30 different type ratings. Twenty-nine current world speed records. More than 50,000 recorded hours of flight time. Through nearly four decades of pilot activity, Clay, in this writer's opinion, is the epitome of the good, the quiet, the accomplished American pilot. As a United Airline pilot, as a military test pilot and as the foremost film pilot, Clay (whom I was privileged to recommend into the Aviation Cinematographer Union some years past) continues to be recognized and awarded for his quiet and unblemished way of life. I am proud to consider Clay not only a very close friend in the aviation firmament, but in our everyday work in Hollywood. A "Pilot's Pilot," if ever there was one. A true friend and a great American citizen.
Editor's note: As the director and star of the motion picture, "The Pilot," Cliff hired Clay as his first full-feature aerial cinematographer.
Academy Award and Emmy Award winning screen star Cliff Robertson has owned and flown a wide array of aircraft, including a Spitfire MK IX, a Messerschmitt ME-108, a French aerobatic Stampe SV4 biplane, a Grob Astir glider (in which he still holds a distance record) and a Beech Baron 58. A holder of single, multi, instrument and commercial licenses, as well as balloon, the pilot of many thousands of hours has accumulated many aviation awards, including EAA's highest Eagle award and the AOPA Sharples award. He was recently inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame, and the American Veteran Association has honored him as Veteran of the Year. His columns will appear in his soon-to-be-published book. For more information, visit www.cliffrobertson.info.
Doug Vernon
November 25, 2009 07:15 | Not so much a comment than a request. Several years ago I contacted Mr. Robertson's business secretary and requested a video copy of "The Pilot" for the aviation museum I worked at at the time. I was the moving image archivist. I felt that film was so important regarding pilots and alcohalism that it should be in our collection. The request was granted. I will never be able to fully thank this personable, lovely lady for her work in getting the video to us. I'm retired now. I'm 74 years old
and still crazy about airplanes...especially classic airliners with big round engines with propellers stuck on the front.
I spend a lot of time taking part in a web site group known as propliners.com. I told the group (several times)about "The Pilot" and was wondering if it is at all possible for us to get information on how to obtain copies for the group members.
If this is not possible we certainly will understand.
One other note that Mr. Robertson may be interested in. A restoration group down in Opa Locka, Florida has restored a former Eastern Airlines Douglas DC-7B to its original passenger configuration.including passenger cabin with all the trimmings and the beautiful Eastern livery. The organization is known as the
"Historical Flight Foundation". Right now the organization is waiting on the FAA to finish up the paper work to clear the aircraft for high speed taxi and flight tests to pave the way for limited milage passenger flights. I along with all others including former pilot and ground employees of Eastern wait with fingers crossed for the big day.
My very best to all of you and Mr. Robertson and thank you all for this wonderful web site.
With highest regards...and a big happy landings, I remain yours truly,
Doug Vernon
San Diego, California |
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