Western Sydney airport named after Australian aviation icon Nancy-Bird Walton

Sydney's second airport has been named in honour of Nancy-Bird Walton, one of Australia's pioneer aviators and the founder of the Australian Women's Pilots' Association (AWPA).

Nancy-Bird Walton, AO, OBE was a pioneering Australian aviator, known as "The Angel of the Outback", and the founder and patron of the Australian Women Pilots'. Source: AAP

Sydney's second major airport will be known as the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, named after the pioneering aviator.

The federal government says the five-point-three-billion dollar airport will become a major economic contributor to Western Sydney, creating 28-thousand jobs within five years of opening in 2026.

Nancy-Bird Walton took flying lessons from another pioneer, Charles Kingsford Smith, who made the first trans-Pacific flight from the United States to Australia and whose name graces Sydney's other international airport.

She gained her class A flying licence when only 17-years-old and went on to pioneer outback ambulance services and found the Australian Women's Pilot's Association.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says it's fitting the names of each adorn the two airports.

Nancy-Bird Walton at the Kingsford Smith flying school. Source: Wikipedia

More in English via SBS News.