Video: 1975 Flashback With Clay Lacy, A DC-8, And The HUMAN FLY!

 Clay Lacy was a household name for me when I was a kid because Clay started flying DC-3's for United Airlines the same year that my dad Robert Clupper did, in 1952. I know my dad knew Clay back in the late 60's and into the 70's but I'm not sure how well... Clay was always doing some crazy/cool aviation related stuff that made for fun avgeek talk in our house. Things like flying an all purple P-51 in the races at Reno in the late 60's (and even winning the race in 1970), to racing a DC-7 in the California 1000, also in 1970. And then there was his task of flying a DC-8 with the stuntman known as the HUMAN FLY strapped on top of the fuselage!

 Three flights like this were made over several months time so the HUMAN FLY could accomplish being on the outside of an airplane at 300 mph. Why? Well, I guess why not? Anyway, this video, which was recently uploaded by the fine folks at Clay Lacy Aviation, gives the long-view story of the HUMAN FLY and his motivations. It's a pretty interesting story actually, and I'd say it's well worth you investing 23 minutes to watch it all. The views of the DC-8 in flight and Clay flying low to the ground are fabulous enough all on their own. And you gotta love a guy who retracts the gear and banks right immediately after takeoff in a DC-8! Btw, if you don't have time for the entire video, the turnaround at the end of the runway for takeoff starts at the 9:00 mark. I'll add that the use of a helicopter and then a chase plane means that there is some really great video of this stunt.

 So, the next time someone asks you if that story about a guy riding on the outside of a DC-8 at 300 mph was really true, you can tell 'em "yep, it is... and I've seen the video of it!" You might also enjoy seeing Caption Contest #18 from way back in 2009 that used a pic from this flight... the winning caption was very appropriate!