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In the 1930s when women were expected to run the nations kitchens and homes, '''Nancy Bird Walton''' became a fully qualified pilot by the age of 19, and became the youngest Australian woman to gain a pilot's licence. |
In the 1930s when women were expected to run the nations kitchens and homes, '''Nancy Bird Walton''' became a fully qualified pilot by the age of 19, and became the youngest Australian woman to gain a pilot's licence. |
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It was an exciting period in aviation. |
It was an exciting period in [[aviation]]. |
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Born in Sydney in 1915 on the 16 October Nancy wanted to fly almost as soon as she could walk ‘she was born to fly’. As a teenager during the Depression in Australia, Nancy found herself in the same position as many other children of the time. She left school to help out her family. In 1933 at the age of 18 her passion drove Nancy to take flying lessons. Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, who was the first man to fly across the mid-Pacific, had just opened a pilots' school near Sydney, and Nancy was among his first pupils. Most women learnt to fly for fun. But Nancy planned to fly for a living. When Nancy had got her commercial pilots licence at the age of 19, she was fully qualified to fly people, but she had to get a plane first. Family members bought Nancy her first plane, a Gipsy Moth. Soon after Nancy and her friend Peggy took off on a barnstorming tour, dropping in on country fairs and giving joy rides to people who had never seen a plane, let alone a female pilot before. While touring, Nancy met Reverend Stanley Drummond. He wanted her to help set up a flying medical service in outback New South Wales. In 1935, she was hired to operate an air ambulance service in outback New South Wales. It was named the Far West Children's Health Scheme. Nancy's own Gipsy Moth was used as an air ambulance. Nancy bought a better-equipped plane, and began covering territory not yet reached by the Royal Flying Doctor Service. She had thought it was rewarding but lonely work. In 1936, Nancy entered an air race from Adelaide to Brisbane, and won the Ladies' Trophy. In 1938 she decided to have a long break from flying. A Dutch airline company invited her to do some promotional work in Europe, were she stayed for a couple of years. Nancy returned to Australia soon after World War Two broke out. She began training women in skills needed to back-up the men flying in the Australian Air force. She was 24 when she married Englishman Charles Walton and had 2 Children. In 1950, she founded the 'Australian Women's Pilots' Association' where she remained president until 1990, their motto was "skies unlimited". In 1958 she decided to return to flying. Nancy was back in the pilot's seat after a 20-year absence. Throughout her life Nancy has supported charities, and people in need. This generous spirit earned her the Order of the British Empire in 1966. She was the starting block for a proud generation of female pilots. Today Nancy is 93 and in all her years of flying, Nancy never had an accident, despite the risks of early aviation. |
Born in [[Sydney]] in 1915 on the 16 October Nancy wanted to fly almost as soon as she could walk ‘she was born to fly’. As a teenager during the Depression in Australia, Nancy found herself in the same position as many other children of the time. She left school to help out her family. In 1933 at the age of 18 her passion drove Nancy to take flying lessons. Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, who was the first man to fly across the mid-Pacific, had just opened a pilots' school near Sydney, and Nancy was among his first pupils. Most women learnt to fly for fun. But Nancy planned to fly for a living. When Nancy had got her commercial pilots licence at the age of 19, she was fully qualified to fly people, but she had to get a plane first. Family members bought Nancy her first plane, a Gipsy Moth. Soon after Nancy and her friend Peggy took off on a barnstorming tour, dropping in on country fairs and giving joy rides to people who had never seen a plane, let alone a female pilot before. While touring, Nancy met Reverend Stanley Drummond. He wanted her to help set up a flying medical service in outback New South Wales. In 1935, she was hired to operate an air ambulance service in outback New South Wales. It was named the Far West Children's Health Scheme. Nancy's own Gipsy Moth was used as an air ambulance. Nancy bought a better-equipped plane, and began covering territory not yet reached by the Royal Flying Doctor Service. She had thought it was rewarding but lonely work. In 1936, Nancy entered an air race from Adelaide to Brisbane, and won the Ladies' Trophy. In 1938 she decided to have a long break from flying. A Dutch airline company invited her to do some promotional work in Europe, were she stayed for a couple of years. Nancy returned to Australia soon after World War Two broke out. She began training women in skills needed to back-up the men flying in the Australian Air force. She was 24 when she married Englishman Charles Walton and had 2 Children. In 1950, she founded the 'Australian Women's Pilots' Association' where she remained president until 1990, their motto was "skies unlimited". In 1958 she decided to return to flying. Nancy was back in the pilot's seat after a 20-year absence. Throughout her life Nancy has supported charities, and people in need. This generous spirit earned her the Order of the British Empire in 1966. She was the starting block for a proud generation of female pilots. Today Nancy is 93 and in all her years of flying, Nancy never had an accident, despite the risks of early aviation. |
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She is an [[Australian Living Treasures|Australian Living Treasure]]. |
She is an [[Australian Living Treasures|Australian Living Treasure]]. |
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Revision as of 10:27, 2 June 2008
Nancy Bird-Walton, AO, OBE (born October 16, 1915) is a pioneering female Australian aviatrix, and is the patron of the Australian Women Pilots' Association
In the 1930s when women were expected to run the nations kitchens and homes, Nancy Bird Walton became a fully qualified pilot by the age of 19, and became the youngest Australian woman to gain a pilot's licence. It was an exciting period in aviation.
Born in Sydney in 1915 on the 16 October Nancy wanted to fly almost as soon as she could walk ‘she was born to fly’. As a teenager during the Depression in Australia, Nancy found herself in the same position as many other children of the time. She left school to help out her family. In 1933 at the age of 18 her passion drove Nancy to take flying lessons. Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, who was the first man to fly across the mid-Pacific, had just opened a pilots' school near Sydney, and Nancy was among his first pupils. Most women learnt to fly for fun. But Nancy planned to fly for a living. When Nancy had got her commercial pilots licence at the age of 19, she was fully qualified to fly people, but she had to get a plane first. Family members bought Nancy her first plane, a Gipsy Moth. Soon after Nancy and her friend Peggy took off on a barnstorming tour, dropping in on country fairs and giving joy rides to people who had never seen a plane, let alone a female pilot before. While touring, Nancy met Reverend Stanley Drummond. He wanted her to help set up a flying medical service in outback New South Wales. In 1935, she was hired to operate an air ambulance service in outback New South Wales. It was named the Far West Children's Health Scheme. Nancy's own Gipsy Moth was used as an air ambulance. Nancy bought a better-equipped plane, and began covering territory not yet reached by the Royal Flying Doctor Service. She had thought it was rewarding but lonely work. In 1936, Nancy entered an air race from Adelaide to Brisbane, and won the Ladies' Trophy. In 1938 she decided to have a long break from flying. A Dutch airline company invited her to do some promotional work in Europe, were she stayed for a couple of years. Nancy returned to Australia soon after World War Two broke out. She began training women in skills needed to back-up the men flying in the Australian Air force. She was 24 when she married Englishman Charles Walton and had 2 Children. In 1950, she founded the 'Australian Women's Pilots' Association' where she remained president until 1990, their motto was "skies unlimited". In 1958 she decided to return to flying. Nancy was back in the pilot's seat after a 20-year absence. Throughout her life Nancy has supported charities, and people in need. This generous spirit earned her the Order of the British Empire in 1966. She was the starting block for a proud generation of female pilots. Today Nancy is 93 and in all her years of flying, Nancy never had an accident, despite the risks of early aviation.
She is an Australian Living Treasure.
Trivia
The first Airbus A380 delivered to Qantas will be named after her.
References
- ABC, 2002, Australians, Nancy Bird-Walton
- Monash University, 2004, Hargrave : the Pioneers, Celebrating the bicentennial of aviation 1804-2004
- Bird, Nancy [1961] Born to Fly Angus and Robertson
- Walton, Nancy Bird [1990] 2002 My God! It's a woman : the inspiring story of one woman's courage and determination to fly HarperCollinsPublishers ISBN 0-7322-7370-6
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