New Sydney airport honours trailblazing pilot as first passengers welcomed
Sydney’s second airport is named after the first Australian woman licensed to fly paying passengers. But who was the ‘Angel in the Outback’, Nancy-Bird Walton?
Nancy Bird Walton, the first Australian woman to hold a commercial pilot's licence, had a lifelong passion for flying that began in her childhood. Despite social norms discouraging women from pursuing such a career, Nancy persisted and became a trailblazer in the industry. Her dedication led her to establish the Royal Far West Children's Health Scheme, where she delivered medical aid to remote areas, earning her the nickname "the Angel of the Outback".
Nancy married Englishman Charles Walton in 1939, adopting his surname. During World War II, she trained female support staff for the Royal Australian Air Force and later founded the Australian Women Pilots Association. In 2008, Qantas named its first Airbus A380 in her honor. The Western Sydney International Airport, named in her honor, opened on Sunday, featuring an artistic tribute to the pioneering pilot above the domestic departure gates.
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