Lacy took his first flight at the age of eight in a Beech Staggerwing, and instantly knew he wanted to become a pilot. At the age of 19, with 1,500 hours already logged, he got a job at United Airlines, and stayed until he retired, 40 years later. In 1965, he helped develop the Aerial Astrovision Camera System, filming over 2,800 military, general aviation, airline, and television projects. Lacy has accumulated over 50,000 flight hours, flown over 300 models of aircraft, and pioneered the formation of the first Professional Race Pilots Association. He set a speed record for a round-the-world trip in a Boeing 747 in 1988, and another record for fastest flight in a Gulfstream from the Los Angeles to Paris in 1995. He held 29 speed records in various aircrafts. Lacy was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2010.