Aviation great laid to rest

Australian aviation pioneer Nancy Bird Walton has found her final resting place, her
ashes scattered from the sky during an impressive aeronautical display near a museum
that showcases her achievements.

Named a Living National Treasure by the National Trust of Australia in 1997, Ms
Walton, 93, died from natural causes at her Mosman home on Sydney's north shore on
January 13.
Taught to fly by Charles Kingsford-Smith at age 17 in 1933, Ms Walton became
Australia's first commercially licensed female pilot two years later.
She went on to pioneer an air ambulance service for outback NSW.
Hundreds of people attended a state funeral held for Ms Walton in Sydney on January
21, and on Sunday her family scattered her ashes in the NSW Hunter region.
At about 11am (AEST), in overcast conditions, three Tiger Moth aircraft took off
from Luskintyre Airfield, one of them carrying Ms Bird's ashes and her grandson,
Paul Holman.
"They took her (ashes) for a couple of flights around the airfield and during the
second fly past of the `missing man' formation, released Nancy's ashes, which flew
up into the sky," Luskintyre Aviation Museum spokeswoman Fiona Carolan said.
"No sooner had the ashes been released than the dark skies parted and fine weather
appeared."
Several members of Ms Walton's family were on hand for the event.
The Luskintyre Aviation Flying Museum supports the preservation and operation of
vintage aircraft including a Gypsy Moth, the first aircraft purchased by Ms Walton.