This Plaque is located in the Arrivals Hall at the Qantas Sydney Domestic Airport.

A reminder of Nancy's early barnstorming days in the country.

Nancy-Bird's 90th Birthday Party, hosted by the then Chairman Geoff Dixon. Many distinguished guests attended the party, including Australian born NASA Astronaut Andy Thomas.

The first Qantas A380 appropriately named "Nancy-Bird Walton"

Aviation Writer meeting Dr. Andy Thomas, the first Australian specifically trained as a Space Shuttle Astronaut. Dr. Scully-Power, an Oceanographer, was a Mission Specialist.

Australian Astronaut Andy Thomas (3rd from left) with the crew of Space Shuttle Discovery, Mission STS-114, the first Shuttle flight after the Challenger disaster.

Good friend Dr. Paul Scully-Power AM, DSM, the first Australian to go into Space as a Mission Specialist aboard Space Shuttle Challenger in 1984 (Mission STS-13)

This portrait of Dr. Paul Scully-Power hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra ACT.

Space Shuttle Discovery blasts the Launch Tower on takeoff

Beautiful shot of Space Shuttle Discovery emerging from heavy cloud

First met Dick Smith AC when he became Patron, along with Nancy-Bird Walton AO, OBE, of the Australian Aviation Museum.

Aviation Writer with Colonel Robert Morgan, original Commander of B-17 "Memphis Belle". Colonel Morgan also flew 50 missions over Japan in B-29 "Dauntless Dotty".

Colonel Robert Morgan (3rd from left) and his Memphis Belle Crew

The original Memphis Belle has been undergoing years of restoration. It will go on public display May 17th, 2018 in Dayton Ohio.

The USAF admired Colonel Morgan so much they allowed him to take the controls of a Rockwell B-1 Lancer Bomber !

Robert Henry Maxwell (Bobby) Gibbes, DSO, DFC and Bar, OAM (6 May 1916 – 11 April 2007) was a leading Australian fighter ace of World War II, and the longest-serving wartime Commanding Officer of No. 3 Squadron RAAF. He was officially credited with a total of 10¼ victories, though other estimates ga...

Bobby Gibbes in the cockpit of his beloved Spitfire.

a smiling Bobby Gibbes with a few of his Squadron Pilots.

This Spitfire in the Temora Collection is painted in the livery of Bobby Gibbes WWII aircraft, featuring the "Sharks Teeth" nose !

Group Captain Brian "Black Jack" Walker DSO, (right) WWII Commanding Officer of 30 Squadron RAAF and later Chief Test Pilot for de Havilland Aircraft at Bankstown. Standing with Black Jack is former Royal Aero Club Instructor Sammy Dodd. On the 18th of April, 1950 Black Jack landed a Vampire Jet on...

Black Jack Walker signing copies of his book "Lion Over Korea". I remember this book signing well. After being introduced to the audience, Black Jack stood up and said "I suppose you all want to know what's in my book". He hesitated for a moment and announced "Then buy a bloody copy" and sat down....

Jack Curtis began his flying career with the Royal Australian Air Force during World War Two, flying a range of aircraft types, including Kittyhawk fighters with 450 Squadron. After the war, he joined Trans Australia Airlines and served throughout Australia and New Guinea. While with TAA , Jack...

Dakota National Air (DNA) had at one time 7 DC3/Dakota aircraft on Bankstown Airport, based at the Australian Aviation Museum for Charter Flights over Sydney and return flights to Temora.

The skies above southern Britain echoed recently to the sound of massed Spitfires and Hurricanes as the iconic aircraft took to the skies over south-east England to commemorate 75 years since the heaviest day of fighting during the Battle of Britain. The Twin Seat Spitfire of Australian Carolyn Grac...

A trio of beautiful Hawker Hurricanes, the oft forgotten heroes of the Battle of Britain.

World War II Air Transport Auxiliary pilot Mary Ellis with one of the Spitfire planes which featured in the flypast. ATA Pilots flew a wide variety of aircraft during WWII, often delivering Spitfires in the morning and Lancasters in the afternoon !

This photo was taken at the 2015 Anzac Day Luncheon for the Spitfire Association. All are former Spitfire Pilots. On the extreme left is Nat Gould, who fought in 6 theatres of war during WWII, including Russia. Nat flew for both the Navy and Air Force.

The first restored Blenheim crash occurred when an overzealous Air Force Pilot tried to land on a runway far too short for the Blenheim. He was showing off to former Blenheim crew on the ground, and was only scheduled to do a low pass over the strip. The aircraft crashed, fortunately with no loss o...

The third "destruction" of Bristol Blenheim Mk.I L6739, G-BPIV occurred during a landing accident at Duxford. John Romain, who is now an accomplished Pilot and Warbirds Flight Instructor (including Spitfires), must have been feeling a mixture of apprehension and relief when the aircraft once again t...

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster recreating the famous Dambusters Raid

Commemorative Air Force (CAF) B-25 Miss Mitchell

CAF Consolidated B-24 "Diamond Lil" on the flight line at HQ Midland

CAF Sea Fury in Australian Navy markings.

Aviation Writer with Brigadier General Paul Tibbets, Commander of B-29 Enola Gay, the aircraft responsible for dropping the Atom Bomb on Hiroshima during WWII on the 6th of August, 1945.

B-29 "Enola Gay", the aircraft famous for dropping an Atom Bomb on Hiroshima, with Command Pilot Brigadier General Paul Tibbets

The Enola Gay Crew

The world's only fully operational B-29 "Fifi", pride and joy of the Commemorative Air Force based in Midland, Texas. Aviation Writer is the CAF Australian Wing Leader

Brigadier General David "Tex" Hill, Flight Commander of General Claire Chennault's famous "Flying Tigers" with Aviation Writer at CAF HQ in Midland, Texas

Tex Hill (second from left) with fellow Flying Tiger Pilots

Lieutenant Claire L. Chennault, Commander of the Flying Tigers

The Flying Tigers Leather Jacket

The Flying Tiger logo, signed by some of the "Volunteer" Pilots, including Tex Hill.

P-40 Fighter in Flying Tiger Livery

RAAF Squadron Leader Bryan Monkton, WWII Catalina Commander and Founder of Trans Oceanic Airways (TOA) and South Pacific Air Lines (SPAL).

Trans Oceanic Airways (TOA)

TOA Flying Boat taxying up to the Rose Bay Hangar

Sunderland Schematic

Maintenance on the TOA Sunderland engines in the 1950s. Rose Bay Flying Boat Base is in the background.

Captain Monkton at the controls of Sandringham Flying Boat Pacific Chieften, after delivering the aircraft from the US Virgin Islands to London for the new (briefly) owner, Edward Hulten. The last of the Lord Howe Island Flying Boats, Pacific Chieftan is now in the hands of Kermit Weeks, Founder of ...

Bryan Monkton (centre) in the cockpit of Sandringham "Beachcomber" with (left) Charles Blair, former US Air Force Brigadier General, Pan Am Clipper Captain and owner of Antilles Air Boats, with wife Hollywood actress Maureen O'Hara in their US Virgin Islands base.

The Antilles Airlines Grumman Goose, one of a number used by Charles Blair for his water based airline. Sadly he was killed in this aircraft when it lost an engine crashed into the sea.

South Pacific Air Lines (SPAL) Short Solent on display at the Oakland Air Museum (formerly the Western Aerospace Museum). This aircraft was briefly featured in the movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark", with Harrison Ford as a passenger.

Sir Patrick Gordon (PG) Taylor, saviour of Kingsford Smith's Southern Cross when he transferred oil from a dead engine to the remaining engine to keep the aircraft flying on a TransPacific flight, once worked for Trans Oceanic Airways as a Line Captain. Bryan Monkton was a close friend of PG Taylor'...

Bryan Monkton enjoying his favourite pastime when not flying - sailing his beloved yacht Utiekah.

A newspaper article on Bryan Monkton's epic delivery flight of a Beechcraft Bonanza from the USA to Sydney for Connellan Airways, destined for services in the outback of Australia. This aircraft is currently on display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Nowra NSW.

Something for the Trivia buffs : When Rolls Royce vehicles were first imported into Australia, they came with engine and chassis only ! The bodywork was custom created by local Coach Builders. Bryan Monkton's Mother purchased the first Rolls Royce imported into Australia as a complete vehicle !

Aviation Writer in the cockpit of the Trans Oceanic Airways Sunderland "Beachcomber", on display at the Southampton Hall of Aviation, UK

The wonderful story of Bryan Monkton's amazing aviation Flying Boat adventures. I first met Bryan when he gave the Annual Arthur Butler Memorial Lecture at the Powerhouse Museum in the Year 2000. Bryan mentioned he was writing his memoirs and, as we both lived in the Southern Highlands of Sydney, ...

Bryan Monkton's son Kym (right) at the launch of "The Boats I Flew" in 2006, appropriately held at Rose Bay

Rosemary Arnold was a special guest at the launch of Bryan Monton's book. A great help to Bryan in his early days of writing, Rosemary herself has many claims to fame . She was Australia's first female commercial helicopter pilot. She also wrote her own book, First Females Above Australia, is "Fl...

Gabrielle (Gaby) Kennard OAM, another special guest at the book launch. Gabrielle was the first Australian Woman to circumnavigate the globe by single engine aircraft, beginning in 1989.

Sunderland Schematic

This collection of Aviation and Business related photographs and stories comes from travel all over the world, and involvement with the Australian Warbirds Association, Australian Aviation Museum, Australian National Maritime Museum, Commemorative Air Force (USA), Australian Spitfire Association, Imperial War Museum Duxford, The Fighter Collection Duxford and Fantasy of Flight Florida, going back over many years.

*Click on the photos below for the full story behind each one

It has been my privilege and pleasure to meet a number of well known Aviators in my travels, including Nancy Bird Walton AO, OBE • Dick Smith AO • Dr. Paul Scully-Power DSM • Andy Thomas AO • Alex Henshaw MBE • Brigadier General David Lee "Tex" Hill DSC, DFC (USA), DFC (UK), Silver Star, Legion of Merit • Kermit Weeks • Roald Dahl** • Wing Commander Bobby Gibbes DSO, DFC & Bar, AOM* • Bruce Watson DFC* • Ted Sly DFC* • Commander Nat Gould** • TOA Flying Boat and Comet Captain John Poate* • Keith and Senja Robey • George Paul** • Colonel Robert Morgan • Colonel Hank Potter • Brigadier General Paul Tibbetts • Squadron Leader Bryan Monkton • Former United Airlines 747 Captain Bob Blue • Sid Marshall • Kym Bonython AC, DFC, AFC • Commander Ken May • Group Captain William (Bull) Garing CBE, DFC, DSC (US) • Lang Kidby • General Charles "Chuck" Yeager Silver Star, Bronze Star • Allana Arnott • Janine Shepherd • Rosemary Arnold • Gabrielle (Gaby) Kennard OAM • Commander David Hobbs (RAN Yeovilton Museum) • Doug Fawcett • Group Captain Brian (Black Jack) Walker DSO • Betty Jo Reed (US WASP) Pilot • WWII Boeing B-29 Crewman Colonel Mack Palmer • Steve Weatherstone, former East West Airlines Captain - Aircruising Australia Fokker F-27 Captain - Dash 8 Captain - RAN Fokker F-27 Commander • the late Captain Jack Curtis, the world's oldest licensed DC-3 Captain among others.

* RAAF and RAF WWII Spitfire Pilots

** RAAF, RAF, RAN, RN

Please come aboard...

This Plaque is located in the Arrivals Hall at the Qantas Sydney Domestic Airport.

A reminder of Nancy's early barnstorming days in the country.

Nancy-Bird's 90th Birthday Party, hosted by the then Chairman Geoff Dixon. Many distinguished guests attended the party, including Australian born NASA Astronaut Andy Thomas.

The first Qantas A380 appropriately named "Nancy-Bird Walton"

Aviation Writer meeting Dr. Andy Thomas, the first Australian specifically trained as a Space Shuttle Astronaut. Dr. Scully-Power, an Oceanographer, was a Mission Specialist.

Australian Astronaut Andy Thomas (3rd from left) with the crew of Space Shuttle Discovery, Mission STS-114, the first Shuttle flight after the Challenger disaster.

Good friend Dr. Paul Scully-Power AM, DSM, the first Australian to go into Space as a Mission Specialist aboard Space Shuttle Challenger in 1984 (Mission STS-13)

This portrait of Dr. Paul Scully-Power hangs in the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra ACT.

Space Shuttle Discovery blasts the Launch Tower on takeoff

Beautiful shot of Space Shuttle Discovery emerging from heavy cloud

First met Dick Smith AC when he became Patron, along with Nancy-Bird Walton AO, OBE, of the Australian Aviation Museum.

Aviation Writer with Colonel Robert Morgan, original Commander of B-17 "Memphis Belle". Colonel Morgan also flew 50 missions over Japan in B-29 "Dauntless Dotty".

Colonel Robert Morgan (3rd from left) and his Memphis Belle Crew

The original Memphis Belle has been undergoing years of restoration. It will go on public display May 17th, 2018 in Dayton Ohio.

The USAF admired Colonel Morgan so much they allowed him to take the controls of a Rockwell B-1 Lancer Bomber !

Bobby Gibbes in the cockpit of his beloved Spitfire.

a smiling Bobby Gibbes with a few of his Squadron Pilots.

This Spitfire in the Temora Collection is painted in the livery of Bobby Gibbes WWII aircraft, featuring the "Sharks Teeth" nose !

Jack Curtis began his flying career with the Royal Australian Air Force during World War Two, flying a range of aircraft types, including Kittyhawk fighters with 450 Squadron. After the war, he joined Trans Australia Airlines and served throughout Australia and New Guinea. While with TAA , Jack...

Dakota National Air (DNA) had at one time 7 DC3/Dakota aircraft on Bankstown Airport, based at the Australian Aviation Museum for Charter Flights over Sydney and return flights to Temora.

A trio of beautiful Hawker Hurricanes, the oft forgotten heroes of the Battle of Britain.

World War II Air Transport Auxiliary pilot Mary Ellis with one of the Spitfire planes which featured in the flypast. ATA Pilots flew a wide variety of aircraft during WWII, often delivering Spitfires in the morning and Lancasters in the afternoon !

This photo was taken at the 2015 Anzac Day Luncheon for the Spitfire Association. All are former Spitfire Pilots. On the extreme left is Nat Gould, who fought in 6 theatres of war during WWII, including Russia. Nat flew for both the Navy and Air Force.

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster recreating the famous Dambusters Raid

Commemorative Air Force (CAF) B-25 Miss Mitchell

CAF Consolidated B-24 "Diamond Lil" on the flight line at HQ Midland

CAF Sea Fury in Australian Navy markings.

Aviation Writer with Brigadier General Paul Tibbets, Commander of B-29 Enola Gay, the aircraft responsible for dropping the Atom Bomb on Hiroshima during WWII on the 6th of August, 1945.

B-29 "Enola Gay", the aircraft famous for dropping an Atom Bomb on Hiroshima, with Command Pilot Brigadier General Paul Tibbets

The Enola Gay Crew

The world's only fully operational B-29 "Fifi", pride and joy of the Commemorative Air Force based in Midland, Texas. Aviation Writer is the CAF Australian Wing Leader

Brigadier General David "Tex" Hill, Flight Commander of General Claire Chennault's famous "Flying Tigers" with Aviation Writer at CAF HQ in Midland, Texas

Tex Hill (second from left) with fellow Flying Tiger Pilots

Lieutenant Claire L. Chennault, Commander of the Flying Tigers

The Flying Tigers Leather Jacket

The Flying Tiger logo, signed by some of the "Volunteer" Pilots, including Tex Hill.

P-40 Fighter in Flying Tiger Livery

RAAF Squadron Leader Bryan Monkton, WWII Catalina Commander and Founder of Trans Oceanic Airways (TOA) and South Pacific Air Lines (SPAL).

Trans Oceanic Airways (TOA)

TOA Flying Boat taxying up to the Rose Bay Hangar

Sunderland Schematic

Maintenance on the TOA Sunderland engines in the 1950s. Rose Bay Flying Boat Base is in the background.

Bryan Monkton (centre) in the cockpit of Sandringham "Beachcomber" with (left) Charles Blair, former US Air Force Brigadier General, Pan Am Clipper Captain and owner of Antilles Air Boats, with wife Hollywood actress Maureen O'Hara in their US Virgin Islands base.

The Antilles Airlines Grumman Goose, one of a number used by Charles Blair for his water based airline. Sadly he was killed in this aircraft when it lost an engine crashed into the sea.

South Pacific Air Lines (SPAL) Short Solent on display at the Oakland Air Museum (formerly the Western Aerospace Museum). This aircraft was briefly featured in the movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark", with Harrison Ford as a passenger.

Bryan Monkton enjoying his favourite pastime when not flying - sailing his beloved yacht Utiekah.

A newspaper article on Bryan Monkton's epic delivery flight of a Beechcraft Bonanza from the USA to Sydney for Connellan Airways, destined for services in the outback of Australia. This aircraft is currently on display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Nowra NSW.

Something for the Trivia buffs : When Rolls Royce vehicles were first imported into Australia, they came with engine and chassis only ! The bodywork was custom created by local Coach Builders. Bryan Monkton's Mother purchased the first Rolls Royce imported into Australia as a complete vehicle !

Aviation Writer in the cockpit of the Trans Oceanic Airways Sunderland "Beachcomber", on display at the Southampton Hall of Aviation, UK

Bryan Monkton's son Kym (right) at the launch of "The Boats I Flew" in 2006, appropriately held at Rose Bay

Gabrielle (Gaby) Kennard OAM, another special guest at the book launch. Gabrielle was the first Australian Woman to circumnavigate the globe by single engine aircraft, beginning in 1989.

Sunderland Schematic