From an early age, Clara McGee was drawn to the sky, beginning with a childhood fascination with the stars that led to a high school internship with NASA through a grant program. There, she contributed to a project studying the expansion of the universe through color shifts in black holes. While the experience was formative, it redirected her ambitions away from astrophysics and toward hands-on aerospace work. A visit to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory sparked her interest in aircraft construction, leading her to pursue aviation maintenance. In 2017, Clara enrolled in an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) technician trade school, where she quickly discovered a passion for aviation and graduated at the top of her class, earning her A&P certification while working two part-time jobs to support her education.

Clara began her professional career at Tradewind Aviation as an aircraft maintenance apprentice, advancing over seven years to lead mechanic and earning her Inspection Authorization (IA). She gained extensive experience maintaining Pilatus PC-12s and a wide range of general aviation and historic aircraft, including the DC-3. Her work on the DC-3 Placid Lassie, a WWII and D-Day veteran aircraft operated by the Tunison Foundation, became especially meaningful. As a volunteer and lead mechanic, Clara helped guide the aircraft and her team through a transatlantic journey as part of the D-Day Squadron, commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the 75th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. During this time, she also served on the board of the Association for Women in Aviation Maintenance, supporting mentorship and scholarship opportunities for women entering the field.

Through years of maintenance work and flying alongside colleagues, Clara’s interest in piloting steadily grew. She began flight training in 2021, earned her private pilot certificate in 2023, instrument rating in 2025, and completed her tailwheel and high-performance endorsement. She is currently focused on completing her commercial rating and advancing toward a professional flying career. With nearly a decade in aviation, Clara hopes to transition from maintenance to the flight deck, ideally flying Pilatus PC-12 aircraft to start, a full-circle moment in her journey.