Travelling – come fly with me - women's firsts
Let’s travel in the shoes of some Australian women who have broken the mould and thrived in roles usually held by men.
Today in Australia, girls have more life choices than ever before. In the past, doors to many professions were firmly closed to women– or sometimes only half open – simply because they were told, “you are a woman”. A woman’s place was supposed to be in the home; and outside it seemed to be a “man’s world”.
While it’s one thing to participate actively and on equal footing in a “man’s world”, there are some women who have taken this to another level by generating a vision for the future and leading the way achieving the aims of such a vision. 1
I believe Nancy Bird Walton led the way in the aviation industry.
Nancy Bird Walton was born a bird without wings, but she found her own when she was just 13 years old. At a fair in 1928, Nancy took her first flight with a commercial pilot in a de Havilland Gipsy Moth. Back on the ground, her thoughts were filled with flying and she began saving her pocket money for flying lessons. 2
At a time when women were expected to raise families rather than fly planes, Nancy defied expectations. By the age of 17, she had convinced aviation legend Charles Kingsford Smith to give her flying lessons.
Initially, Charles had his doubts about whether Nancy could handle an aircraft alone. But her determination and quick progress impressed him. At just 17, she earned her Class A pilot’s licence, and by 19, she became the youngest Australian woman to obtain a commercial pilot’s licence. Reflecting on her early training, she once said, “My days went by in a sort of blur. I might have only 20 minutes in an aeroplane during the day, but I went out to the aerodrome every morning and stayed there until the fading light put a stop to flying for the day.”
Nancy’s first plane was a Gipsy Moth—the same model that had sparked her aviation dream. She named it ‘Vincere,’ meaning “to conquer.”
A year after buying her plane, she returned to the fairgrounds that had first inspired her, but this time, she was the pilot. She flew around Australia, offering joy flights to people who had never flown before—let alone with a female pilot. Alongside Peggy McKillop, she embarked on the ‘Ladies Flying Tour,’ covering more than 35,000 kilometres (22,000 miles).
She described her breathtaking aerial view of Australia: “I saw the vast great open spaces of this flat country. Huge artesian bore drains ran through the land like silver ribbons, and sheep by the thousands dotted the paddocks... Roly-poly grass raced before the wind, then piled high along the fence lines. Above all was the cloudless blue sky, stretching to the horizon.”
How many men did this? She was getting her flying hours up but also giving joy and, maybe for some, their first ever plane ride. All with a female pilot!
In 1935, in civil aviation internal regular services in Australia equated to 45,693 hours with 45,540 passengers.
Nancy was determined to use her flying skills to help others. In 1935, she and her Gipsy Moth were hired to operate an air ambulance service in outback New South Wales. Working for the Royal Far West Children’s Health Scheme, she transported young patients from remote areas to hospitals for treatment. With minimal technology available, she had to rely on telegraph lines, fences and barely legible road maps for navigation. Rabbit holes posed a constant danger for her plane’s wheels, but Nancy persisted. Her efforts saved many lives and earned her the nickname ‘Angel of the Outback.’
That same year, her mentor Charles Kingsford Smith tragically died in a plane crash over the Gulf of Bengal. Though deeply saddened, Nancy remained undeterred in her mission.
Click link - history of the Royal Far West Children's Health Scheme
During World War II, she continued serving her community as the commandant of the Australian Women’s Air Training Corps. Her pioneering work helped open doors for women in aviation, inspiring generations of female pilots.
In 1950, Nancy founded the Australian Women Pilots’ Association and served as its president for 40 years. She continued flying well into her later years, finally surrendering her pilot’s licence at the remarkable age of 90.
Nancy’s achievements extended far beyond Australia. In 1958, she became the first international competitor in the Powder Puff Derby, an all-female air race across America, finishing in an impressive fifth place.
Her contributions to aviation were widely recognized. In 1966, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. In her honor, the terminal at Bourke Airport in outback NSW bears her name, and the upcoming Western Sydney Airport, set to open in 2026, will also carry her legacy.
Nancy shared her incredible journey in two autobiographies: Born to Fly (1961) and My God, It’s a Woman (1990).
Nancy Bird Walton passed away in Sydney on 13 January 2009 at the age of 93. Her fearless spirit, determination and passion for aviation left an indelible mark on history, proving that dreams have no limits—not even the sky.
Facts
· According to a recent report from the Women in Aviation board, women make up less than 20% of the workforce in most aviation occupations and only 4.6% of air transport pilot jobs.
· Women pilots were also formerly called “aviatrices” (singular “aviatrix”). Women have been flying powered aircraft since 1908; prior to 1970, however, most were restricted to working privately or in support roles in the aviation industry. Aviation also allowed women to travel alone on unprecedented journeys.
· India has the highest number of female pilots in the world. They comprise 12.4% of pilots in major airlines.
· Ideally, becoming a pilot should only take 3 to 4 years, the time it takes to get your Bachelor of Science in Professional Flight. Getting an education is also good for a consistency of training.
· Recreational Pilot Licence (RPL) will cost around AUD$13,000 – $15,000. Private Pilot Licence (PPL) will cost AUD$30,000 – $33,000. Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) will cost around AUD$80,000.
Have you ever thought about becoming a pilot? I have and then realised it would take a long time and bucket loads of money to get the required flying hours. So unfortunately you literally can’t come fly with me!
Nancy Bird Walton had a vision, she took it to the next level generating opportunities for future generations and led the way for female pilots with unrelenting passion.
As Confucius says: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”
I was lucky enough to source Nancy Bird Walton’s book My God! It's a Woman from an online second-hand book shop and, when I received it, I realised it had been signed by the author in 1992. I hope the signature is authentic.
Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Lives – First in their field – Exhibition Catalogue. I visited this fascinating exhibition in Northern Territory 2011.
Museum of History New South Wales