Nancy Bird-Walton Dies..

[sthaussiepilot]

Good On You Qantas

[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

[redsnail]

Good one QF.

[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.

[beamender99]

UK reports

Also recognised in the UK
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...cle5510080.ece

Nancy-Bird Walton - Telegraph

[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]

Nancy Bird-Walton

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
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.