Patricia Graham (pilot)

Patricia Graham
Died 2016
Occupation aviator

Patricia Graham (died 2016) was an Australian aviator.

Life

In 1950, Graham was a founding member of the Australian Women Pilots' Association.[1] She gained her Commercial B class licence in Australia in the 1950s, but was not able to find work in Australia.[2] Instead, in 1952, Graham joined Gibbes Sepik Airways in Papua New Guinea, a bush airline founded by Royal Australian Air Force ace Bobby Gibbes, as a pilot.[3] The airline carried cargo and passengers around the country, and Graham initially flew Lockheed L-18s, later progressing to the role of captain on Noorduyn Norseman aircraft.[4] She also flew Auster aircraft.[3] Graham was the first female commercial pilot to fly in the country.[4]

In later life, Graham regained her fixed wing licence at Archerfield Airport in Brisbane, Australia. In 2015 she was a special guest at the 65th anniversary celebrations of the Australian Women Pilots’ Association and Archerfield Airport’s first Brisbane Open House.[2]

Graham died in 2016.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "GRAHAM | Pioneer Women Hall of Fame". pioneerwomen.com.au. Retrieved 2016-12-26.
  2. 1 2 3 "Plane Torque" (PDF). Archerfield Airport. May 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Patricia Graham: Australian Female Pilot | HistoryNet". www.historynet.com. Retrieved 2016-12-26.
  4. 1 2 "Flight Crews - Gibbes Sepik Airways". www.aussieairliners.org. Retrieved 2016-12-26.
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