'NANCY BIRD - TICKLED PINK AT NINETY'

143 x 130cm  (56 x 51 inches) Oil on canvas

Painted for the 2006 Archibald Prize

Private Collection Qantas Airways Ltd

Nancy inspects her portrait in Sydney

Nancy Bird-Walton - Pioneer Aviator   (1915 - 2009)

Nancy was Australia's first lady of Aviation. At age 17 she began flying lessons with Charles Kingsford Smith in Mascot, NSW and by 19 became the youngest commercially licensed female pilot in the British Commonwealth. Nancy was awarded the 'Order of the British Empire' in 1966 and the 'Order of Australia' in 1990. She also founded the Australian Women's Pilots Association in 1950.

 Qantas Airways will be naming their first Airbus A380 'Nancy-Bird Walton' in honour of this remarkable and humble lady.

Nancy Bird-Walton passed away peacefully on the 13th January 2009

Rest in peace Nancy you will be missed