Nancy Bird-Walton Dies..

[fixa24]

From yahoo news..

Australian aviation pioneer Nancy Bird Walton has died at her Sydney home, aged 93.

Named a Living National Treasure by the National Trust of Australia in 1997, Ms Walton died from natural causes about 2pm (AEDT) on Tuesday at Mosman on Sydney's north shore.

Ms Walton was 17 when she learned to fly in 1933, taught by Charles Kingsford Smith.

Two years later she became the first woman in Australia to obtain her commercial pilot's licence.

Ms Walton went on to pioneer an air ambulance service for outback NSW.

:sad::{

[Time Bomb Ted]

What a sad loss. You will be remembered forever Nancy.

TBT

[Disco Stu]

Farewell to a Gem:{

Disco Stu

[Brian Abraham]

Learnt morse from her 78 RPM vinyl. A grand old Dame of Australian aviation merely strapping on a new set of wings I'm sure. Contributed much, we need more such as she. RIP

[Bob Murphie]

They broke the mould after they made Nancy,
RIP.

[Wod]

A life worth celebrating.

RIP

[I spy]

A true lady, in every sense of the word - and an inspiration to all pilots, not just us girls. A pioneer in her time and a dedicated ambassador for Australian aviation.

Godspeed on gossamer wings, Ms Walton

[future.boeing.cpt]

A quick search on this forum will show how much respect she has amongst the community, and how awfully much a lot of people have learned from her.

Your name will fly on with VH-OQA, and I hope you do to wherever you are.

[Old Fella]

Probably no aviator in Australia has not heard the name Nancy Bird-Walton and there was no section of the aviation fraternity to which Nancy would not make herself available if asked. Any pilot who lands on the Old Bar Heritage Airstrip, near Taree and opened in the late 1920's, can say a quite "Thank You" to Nancy. She, along with many others, lent her support to the struggle to save Old Bar Airstrip from becoming sporting fields. Not once, but twice, Nancy attended celebrations at Old Bar. First in 1988 when Old Bar was "rededicated" and again in 2000 when she officially "reopened" the airstrip, which had been closed for the previous six years. We have indeed lost a true aviation icon and a real lady. As another posted, Nancy will surely be just using a different set of wings. Thank you Nancy from the Old Bar Heritage Airstrip Management Committee.

[redsnail]

Nancy was an inspiration to us all. Such a feisty character and a wicked sense of humour.

I feel privileged to have met her and we'll certainly miss her.

What a life!

[Charlie Foxtrot India]

Nancy has slipped the surly bonds of earth....and touched the face of God.

:(

[Eastwest Loco]

God bless you and keep you Nancy. Oscar Quebec Alpha will serve as a reminder of what you achieved every time we see her taxi by or fly over bearing your name proudly.

A magnificent lady and a huge loss to Australia and Aviation.

Condolences to those left behind.

EWL

[Capt Fathom]

She changed her name to Nancy-Bird Walton some time ago!

That's also how her name appears on the first Qantas A380!

[teresa green]

We have lost Aviations Matriach, how many of us could have done what Nancy did, I suspect very few, flying aircraft made of glue and wood this amazing woman flew the Australian outback, with few aids, certainly no air conditioning, and was far flung stations connection to the rest of the world. The RFDS was her passion, as was flying. How many women she inspired to follow her, and for years she was the president of the Australian Womens Pilot Assoc. The fact that we now have women, as QF and other airline Captains is no small legacy of Nancy and her ambition to have women take their place as pilots and follow in her footsteps. Vale Nancy you were amazing, now flying with much loved friends, you have cemented your place in Australian history, and will live on forever, it was a privelege to know you.

[coke drinker]

An extract to a letter to the editor I sent earlier today...


Today is a truly tragic day in Australian aviation. Nancy-Bird Walton was a hero. To a nation, a national treasure, to an aspiring pilot, a hero and to a female pilot, the ultimate role model. She deserved every part of her OBE. I remember meeting her at an early fundraising event for the Bankstown Aviation Museum, as an eager 8 year old she was a delightful and lovely woman, who gladly autographed something for me and spoke to me about aeroplanes. She was delightful! Her impact will be felt forever, as an innovator (with her development of aeromedical services), as the leader and patron of the Australian Women Pilots’ Association (which she founded), as a delightful, caring, intelligent, legitimate and beautiful woman, and most importantly as a fantastic wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and daughter.

Long live the Queen of the Skies. May you enjoy the great blue skies of Heaven. God Bless.
Vale Nancy-Bird Walton. 16/10/1915-13/1/2009.

[greybeard]

Another victim of her 78rpm Morse lessons in 1968.:ok:

She will be missed.

[JJflyer]

I am sad to hear that she has passed away. I read about her first a few years back. I was impressed with what she accomplished. One great aviator. Her fame is not limited to within Australia and NZ.

[Feather #3]

I think my lasting memory of Nancy will be her endeavours during Federation Airshows in the Outback; 6 airshows in Western Queensland in 2001.

Nancy flew in the Connie and at each stop sat at a table in a shade-tent signing her book [with a donation to HARS from each one sold.] Hat, gloves and immaculately dressed, she was always a lady!:ok:

Equally, she was an ambassador for aviation at all times. Over the years she's used her position speaking in various fora to lambast the authorities for the decline in LAME's in Oz and always promoting women pilots.

A privilege to have known her...RIP.

Sadly ;)

[Time Bomb Ted]

Yes I have to agree with Feather on the outback Airshows. She was fantastic, and had stamina well beyond her age. I ran into her again in Roma at the Women Pilot's Conference where Dick Smith donated his jet and his pilot Richard to bring her in from Sydney.

She will be remembered for her spirit, her kindness, and her beauty.

TBT

[Atlas Shrugged]

Those of us who fly do so for the love of flying. We are alive with a gift that lies within our hands and beneath our feet.

Fly high Nancy :{:{

[Barkly1992]

I am the proud owner of a 'Women Fly Too' T-shirt with her picture on the back (as a stunning 20 something year old) personally autographed by her when she gave gave it too me at a Bankstown airshow in 1991.

it has never been worn and i will now have it framed behind glass.

Great loss - but she leaves a legacy - specially the Women's Pilots Association.

Grumps

[RenegadeMan]

I never met Nancy but saw her on TV and in the press numerous times. There are individuals who touch us from afar. They reach through everything that is and connect to us down deep within the soul. Their lives demonstrate that old adage "you can achieve anything if you really put your mind to it..." Nancy was one of these. What a grand lady!

And how many people did she inspire?! Certainly many women who've taken up the challenge to become pilots in such a male dominated arena would have benefitted from the unlimited energy Nancy put out there. And many of us men who've taken to the skies have also realised just what a gargantuan achievement it was to have done what she did (although, we can never really know what it is like; we just have some basic notions of how tough it was for her).

Well Nancy, everything we've ever loved about flying; those crisp stunning days, the shimmer of sparkling water beneath you, the feeling of swooping around base and final with the numbers nailed for the most magnificent greaser, the layers of cloud with setting sun streaming through, the thrills, the wonder and the sheer beauty that many of us reading this have been so fortunate to experience are yours forever. Right now I bet you've already transcended time & space and you're flying like never before!

Thank you for being you; it was just wonderful.

Rene :ok:

[Douglas Mcdonnell]

I had the privilege of flying her once in a Tiger. There can be many a lesson gleamed from a lady such as Ms Nancy Bird- Walton.

Fly High.
Doug.

[FlexibleResponse]

Nancy-Bird,

A pioneer of aviation.
And an inspiration to all.

[woollcott]

I would like to see the A380 named after her do a low fly-over, wing dipped during Nancy-Bird's funeral.
Would this be possible due to scheduling and would CASA give approval?

Please QANTAS, make it happen!

[Baron Walton]

I would like to thank everyone on this forum for their very kind words in regards to the passing of my Nan. We are all very sad for her loss, but I know that her life couldn't have been any fuller.

She was a wonderful grandmother, and great-grandmother to my children Kaia and Maysa. She certainly was an inspiration to me me, and I'm so please to see just how much she inspired the aviation community in Australia which see absolutely adored.

It seems my 2 year old daughter has taken after her - as she wont listen to anyone who says "No, you cant do that!". ;)

Cheers, Baron

[sthaussiepilot]

I also had never met her, however from the postings throughout pprune, aswell as Newpapers, Television, Radio and Word of mouth, she was an amazingly inspiring person, She has clearly touched many people and kept some flare throughout Australian Aviation,

I also would like to see VH-OQA perhaps do a gear up missed approach for Ms Walton...

As FR said,

She was an insperation to all

[4Greens]

A great lady.

State funeral 12.30, St Andrews cathedral Sydney on Wednesday 21st. Be there!

[Whirlybird]

I met her last November, when I was on holiday in Australia. She was enthusiastic and full of life, and I really enjoyed talking to her and hearing some of her fascinating stories about flying in the Outback. It's hard to believe she's gone...but her memory will live for ever.

[Milt]

"What a Girl"

I hope she wrote her memoirs.

Was Vic Walton a relie? And then there is Harry Walton. Each contributed much to Australian aviation.

Vic Walton was involved with the operation of float planes out of Pittwater. He established an annual trophy for presentation to the Flight Tester of the Year as determined by the Flight Test Society of Australia.

Harry Walton was also into flight testing as an FTE particularly in the early days of the F-111s at Edwards AFB.

[oil additive]

God bless you and take care of you Nancy-Bird.

Your legacy will live on and we will never forget you.

Condolences to all of Nancy's family.

[teresa green]

I hear from very reliable sources, that on announcement of the possible sale of Qantas, Nancy was on the phone to one G Dixon, who received a bollocking that only Nancy could give, and one GD spent some time trying to convince her that it was the best outcome for the company, she would not have a bar of it, and made her feelings very plain, no, make that extremely plain, and one GD was quite shaken, (though resolute). The Matriarch had spoken, nobody but nobody was going to sell her beloved Rat, and she made it plain to anybody in the business with whom she came in contact. Her delight at the failure was second to none, and as Nancy had the ear of many a politician, ???!!!! in the most honest way, (no bribes from her), just a earful, regarding the Aviation Industry, and her special interests like GA and her concern of the treatment of QF engineers she was one powerful lady,in the nicest possible way. All who can turn up for the funeral, please do so, she had all your interests at heart, and deserves a fitting farewell. Fly peacefully little lady.

[Whirlybird]

I hope she wrote her memoirs.


She wrote two books: "Born to Fly" and "My God, it's a Woman!" The first is out of print and quite rare; the second easily obtainable. They're well worth reading. I have signed copies of both, and no, they aren't for sale!

Incidentally, she spelled her name "Nancy-Bird Walton" because she felt that since most of her flying had been done before she even met her husband, it was more appropriate for her to be known as Nancy Bird, and that seemed to her the best way of ensuring that happened. She was very insistent on that spelling.

[Fantome]

Hi Brian A. You're mixing up NBW with Nancy Leebold which latter lady did the Morse on that 78 LP. teresa g. - NBW was not so much an advocate and fund raiser for RFDS as for the NSW Air Ambulance, through the sixties in particular. That aspect of her life is in Ted Docker's history of the NSW Air Ambulance, 'Clear the Runway', which book Nancy commissioned.

It's funny that the media should keep saying she was a pupil of Smithy's, when in fact her instructor was OB (Pat) Hall, as NBW so graphically recounts in 'Born To Fly'.

No connection between her late husband Charles and the late Vic Walton, incidentally.

RIP old girl, old pal.

[Brian Abraham]

fantome, you prove once again how unreliable memory is. Dug the record out of the cupboard and I owe you a beer.

[teresa green]

I stand corrected Fantome, however my belief is that Nancy requested that instead of flowers at her funeral, she wants all to donate to the RFDS, so typical of her. Does anybody know what the flypast is going to consist of?

[teresa green]

Just a suggestion, on Amy Johnson day, many moons ago, we, all on take off, said it was for Amy. I don't think the ATC would mind one bit, for those of you who are taking off on that day, ( Weds) say it is for Nancy, you will find most pilots will follow. A fitting tribute.:D

[Fantome]

Nancy on this morning at 1005 EST with Margaret Throsby on ABC Classic FM. A repeat of an interview made some years ago, with Nancy's choice of music between chatting segments.

[Fris B. Fairing]

Just a suggestion, on Amy Johnson day, many moons ago, we, all on take off, said it was for Amy. I don't think the ATC would mind one bit, for those of you who are taking off on that day, ( Weds) say it is for Nancy, you will find most pilots will follow. A fitting tribute.

Teresa

That is a top suggestion. Perhaps you could make it a new thread and ask the Mods to stickyfy it.

Gives me 48 hrs to get a PPL and an aeroplane.

Rgds

[Feather #3]

From another place;

"A380 VH-OQA operating as QF6601 will perform the flyover at Nancy-Bird's funeral on Wednesday.

The routing will be to hold off the Manly area, track 1500ft through the Heads down Sydney Harbour, followed by a climbing left turn to 2100ft to cross the City, following George St from North to South.

ETD: 1115

ETA: 1220 "


G'day ;)

[sthaussiepilot]

:D :D Good On You Qantas :):ok:

[cogwheel]

Top tribute to a Great Lady.......

[PollyHarvey]

I was very sad to hear of her death. I've been watching the 'Flying Sheilas' documentary that is about her, it's a real tribute she really was fantastic. I got it from here i think: DFT Enterprises, Film Distribution and Online Sales (http://www.dftenterprises.com/)

[redsnail]

Good one QF. :ok:

[Dick Smith]

I would like to congratulate Qantas on the tremendous effort they made to put the A380 over Sydney to commemorate Nancy-Bird Walton’s wonderful life.

When I heard the A380 named Nancy-Bird Walton was going to fly over the city, I just couldn’t believe the fortunate situation that the plane was in Sydney. It appears it had arrived earlier that morning and had to depart again at 3.30pm.

Everyone leapt in and worked hard to ensure it could get airborne. I was standing outside St Andrew’s Cathedral at 12.00pm when it flew over, incredibly low. It was a magnificent sight and a very fitting credit for Nancy.

Thanks to everyone at Qantas for a great effort.

[Mr Bomb]

I was lucky enough to have the privilege of flying Nancy-Bird to an airshow a couple of years back. She was still sharp as a tack, with, as others have said, a wicked sense of humour. On my poor attempt at landing she said "current for another 90 days"!

RIP Nancy, you have done so much for so many people and touched everyone who is and who has been, at all interested in Aviation in our country.

RIP.

Cheers
Mr B

[Whirlybird]

Did anyone go to her funeral yesterday?

[teresa green]

I did, it was a fitting farewell for such a lovely girl. All the airline heavies were there and the RAAF. Great to see so many girls from the AWPA and female airline crew both pilots and cabin crew, some in uniform. The RFDS were very visable, and there were ATC and Govt reps from CBR, the country people came to honor their hero, and the LAMES were well represented, the A380 brought the house down and there was tears and applause, she would have loved it, but would have been amazed,knowing Nancy, her family were struggling, as you would imagine, but must have been pleased. A fitting farewell for a great lady.:D

[beamender99]

Also recognised in the UK
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article5510080.ece

Nancy-Bird Walton - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/4424732/Nancy-Bird-Walton.html)

[aseanaero]

Was she still flying in her 90's ?

I met her once at a flying competition at Edinburgh Air Base in Adelaide in the late '80s or early 90's. She was still flying then so she would have been in her early '70s.

[Tmbstory]

A sad loss to Aviation and will be remembered. A true Pioneer and a role model for future pilots.

Her 78 rpm Morse code record, for many of us, was a good hard examination for the endorsement and a credit to her.

[Time Bomb Ted]

I'd like to publicly thank Dick Smith for flying Nancy to Roma.

Thank you Dick. It was the last time I spoke to her and I thank you for the opportunity to do so at the AWPA AGM in Roma last year.

Dick sent his Citation with his Daughter and her husband to escort Nancy to the AWPA meeting in Roma. Richard the Citation pilot was always the gentleman and we had a wonderful night.

Thanks again Dick.

Regards

TBT

[missy]

I wonder whether Qantas have thought of re-registering VHOQA to VHNBW?

[RampDog]

I've posted some links to some aviation images on another PPRUNE thread recently and for anyone interested, there is a newspaper clipping on Nancy Bird from The Sunday Telegraph October 1961 which describes her as "the mother of 2 teenagers in her suburban home".
Pictures by rampdoggie - Photobucket (http://photobucket.com/rampdog_on_pprune)
I guess it took us a while to realize what a trailblazer she really was. How many Aussies realise that we didn't get our first female commercial airline pilot until 1979, when Debbie Wardley beat Ansett in the High Court for the right to fly "with the boys". She then went on in 1985 to become the first Aussie female to crew an international flight as the FO on an Ansett B737 Sydney-Brisbane-Vila.
Who can tell us where she is now, and how her career progressed?
Debbie are you there?

[Pole Vaulter]

Last I heard and it was some years back Debbie was flying for a KLM subsidery. That may have changed by now. She was one gutsy lady.

[tipsy2]

I believe Deb is Flight Safety Manager at Jetstar.

[Fantome]

Her book LETTING FLY is worth hunting out.