Nancy-Bird Walton dies aged 93

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


In October last year, she attended the inaugural Australian landing of Qantas' first super passenger jet the A380, named the Nancy-Bird Walton in her honour.


"I was asked if Qantas could name this plane after me at my 90th birthday three years ago and I made it my decision to stay alive,'' she said at the ceremony in Sydney.
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I am very glad she got to see and hopefully fly in the plane named after her, may she rest in peace.
 
May she RIP, and may many follow in her footsteps, the world these days needs more pioneers like her!
 
RIP Nancy!

Interesting suggestion on the news.com.au comments - Someone has flagged the possibility of renaming Tullamarine to Nancy-Bird Walton Intl Airport (per SYD/Kingsford Smith).
 
RIP Nancy-Bird Walton.

I too am glad she got to fly in the A380. I think Qantas was fantastic to name the first delivered after her.
 
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Amazing woman.

Really glad that QF put her name on the first A380 (although I didn't know who she was until then) and that she got to see it.

I have seen 'her' plane but not yet travelled in it. Hopefully one day.

RIP NBW!
 
Condolences to all that were close to her .. and kudos to Qantas for naming the first A380 after her.

I am flying to the U.S. in May - I hope I have the privilege of flying on the aircraft named after her.

Perhaps the new expansion Int'l terminal at Tulla could be named in her honour ? You would be able to board the NBW A380 at NBW terminal :)
 
FYI (I am trying to dig up something in text)

Qantas have approved a flyby of one of its A380 aircraft to coincide with Nancy Bird-Walton's state funeral.

It is not gauranteed that it will be VH-OQA however steps have been put in place to have it on the ground once it arrives as QF31 this evening.
 
Is it Nancy-Bird Walton that is doing the flyover? Or one of the others?
 
As famed aviation pioneer Nancy-Bird Walton is farewelled at a state funeral, the Qantas A380 named in her honour will perform a flyover across Sydney.
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Yes it will be VH-OQA
 
oz_mark said:
Is it Nancy-Bird Walton that is doing the flyover? Or one of the others?
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My understanding is they're trying to manipulate the schedules (to allow it to be NBW) but cant guarantee it.
 
docjames said:
My understanding is they're trying to manipulate the schedules (to allow it to be NBW) but cant guarantee it.
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VH-OQA has already been grounded and will be doing the fly-over.

That was finalised a couple of hours ago
 
also, in case the other fly-by later in the day was missed...

Further to discussions at this morning's CSOG meeting regarding the State Funeral for Nancy 'Bird' Walton AO OBE, Tony Pipe (OPSE) has advised that the Tiger Moths have been requested to do their flyover at 1645hrs on Wednesday 21 January.

This decision was reached after discussions with Anna Holman. The reason for this is that the family will be at their private reception at Royal Sydney Golf Club at Rose Bay by that stage and will in fact be able to see the fly over.

CASA have approved the activity
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