40 Sport Pilot. FOR RECREATIONAL PILOTS FOR RECREATIONAL PILOTS. Sport Pilot 41C
O-FOUNDER of the Australian Vintage
Aviation Society, Nathalie Gochel, held
the second annual Women of Aviation
Fly It Forward event at Caboolture in March.
The campaign is an opportunity for people
in aviation to donate their time and resources
to introduce women to the many facets of flying.
Each year focuses on a different theme re-
lated to celebrating women in aviation over the
past century. This year it was Serving with hon-
our: 100 years of female pilots in combat.
Local hangar owner, Ralph Cusack, donated
his large premises for the day. On entering the
hangar, visitors were presented with the first
50 years of military aviation - a WW1 Fokker
Triplane, a WW2 Bristol Beaufort bomber and aKorean War Mig 17. Everyone was free to exam-
ine and photograph them in detail.
Nathalie gave a presentation on the history
of women in combat, going back to 1915. She
finished with a history of Australian women pi-
lots from the very first - Florence Taylor who flew
a glider near Sydney in 1909 - through to the
first woman to obtain a licence - Millicent Bryant
in 1927 - right through to the first women pilots
and navigators to fly with the RAAF.
RAAF Squadron Leader, Amanda Gosling,
then spoke about life in today’s Air Force for
women pilots and engineers.
Members of the Australian Women Pilots
Association were on hand to assist on the day,
including President, Deb Evans who spokeabout the organisation and the support it has
provided women pilots for the past 65 years.
The organisation was founded by Nancy Bird
Walton in 1950.
David Kingshott, from Complete Aircraft
Care maintenance facility, is in the process of
restoring a C-47 (military DC-3) to flying condi-
tion and had one engine serviceable on the air-
frame. Several of the attendees got to start the
engine to watch it belch smoke and make noise.
Thanks to the Caboolture Aero Club and its
members who supplied their time and aircraft
free of charge, there were plenty of aircraft and
pilots available for joyrides. Everyone got to take
at least three rides during the day.
By far the most popular were the open cockpitDavid Kingshott and Rhianna Patrick
just prior to Rhi starting the right hand
engine on this WW2 C-47 Dakota
The unique Kiebitz
operated by Marcel
Vanhattem - just 54hpUniversity students writing their names
and personal slogans about the dayThe youngest girl – just six
years old. Very shy, but she had
a smile on her face all day. She
already knows she will be
a pilot when she grows upFEATURE STORY