New Sydney airport honours trailblazing pilot as first passengers welcomed

When she was a little girl, Nancy Bird would say "I'm an eppy-plane" as she leapt off fences with her arms outstretched.

It seems the first Australian woman to hold a commercial pilot's licence always wanted to fly.

On Sunday, Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) opens to passengers, who will see a large artistic tribute to the pioneer above the domestic departure gates.

"I think being able to see the artworks and her presence there at the airport is a real permanent reminder — not just to me, but to my kids and all the family — that she was a special woman," Nancy's grandson Baron Walton said.

"I think one of her greatest impacts is being a visual example, to women in Australia, of what was possible."

WSI chief executive Simon Hickey said the tribute would be a permanent fixture at the airport.

"Nancy-Bird Walton's story is one of courage, curiosity, and determination, and one that continues to inspire all Australians to this day," he said.

Nancy was born in Kew, NSW, in 1915. She left school at 13 to work in her dad's shop at Mount George and that year, 1928, she took a joy flight at a country show in Wingham and her passion for flying was ignited.

'That's a woman in the air'

In 1933 Nancy started attending Charles Kingsford Smith's flying school in Sydney.

"The social norms was that it was not a place for a woman and Kingsford Smith even said that himself, although his actions showed that he was willing to teach them how to fly," Mr Walton said.

"She just did what no-one thought a young girl would do."

Nancy gained her commercial licence when she was 19 and bought her first plane, a Gipsy Moth she named Vincere. The word "woman" was emblazoned across the underside of the biplane's lower wing.

"She used to fly over those hangars quite low so that everyone could see the young girl that they [had told]: 'You'll never fly, you'll never be a pilot — it's not your place," Mr Walton said.

"It was also a way of showing that that's a woman in the air and everybody knew who it was at the time."

In 1935, Nancy began "barnstorming" — offering joy flights — at country shows for 10 shillings a pop.

She did this with pilot Peggy McKillop and they became known as "Little Bird" and "Big Bird". But Nancy would become better known by the name she was given on her next adventure.

'Angel of the Outback'

During the barnstorming tour in 1935, Nancy was recruited to the Royal Far West Children's Health Scheme by the Reverend Stanley Drummond.

From her base in Bourke, she began delivering medical assistance — including emergency services and maternity care — to people in isolated areas.

It was during that time that Nancy heard the phrase that would become the title of her 1990 memoir, courtesy of a patient who could not contain his disbelief when he clapped eyes on the "Angel of the Outback".

"A farmer was in trouble and needed medical assistance urgently," Mr Walton said.

"And when the plane landed to take him to the doctor, this tiny little woman hopped out of the plane and he just said, 'My God! It's a woman' — so that's the name of her book."

That was not the only surprise Nancy delivered during her time in Bourke. Aided by nurses sweltering under red coats and false beards, she also brought Christmas presents to children far from Santa's usual flight path.

'She wasn't just a pilot'

In 1937 Nancy embarked on a world tour to promote an airline and met Charles Walton when she was on her way back home.

The Englishman referred to the 24-year-old as "Nancy-Bird" and she adopted the name, along with his surname, when they married in 1939.

During World War II Nancy-Bird recruited and trained female support staff for the Royal Australian Air Force. In 1950 she founded the Australian Women Pilots' Association.

Baron Walton said his nan, who supported charities and received a number of accolades throughout her life, was "was a social reformer".

"She was really passionate about what it meant to be Australian and about helping people that really needed it," he said.

"I've had lots of conversations with the kids about Nan, around the notion that you determine your own destiny — not a person, a group of people, or society."

In 2008 Qantas named its first Airbus A380 in her honour.

"Nan loved the party, even at 92," Mr Walton said.

"She really hung out for it and made a joking comment at the christening of the aircraft: 'I said I'd stick around, and I'm here.'"

Nancy-Bird died at the age of 93 on January 13, 2009, but she continues to inspire successive generations.

"The amazing thing about Nancy was she wasn't just a pilot, she was a daring person, who moved women in that time," Baron's daughter Maysa Walton said.

"She would always say, "If you're doing something that you know is right and it's annoying other people, that's usually a good sign.'"

On Saturday Nancy-Bird Walton will be honoured at the Camden Haven Show in Kendall, which will feature a flyover from a Tiger Moth, weather permitting.

The first passenger flight from Western Sydney International Airport will depart for the Gold Coast on Sunday.