Quick Facts
Biography
Patricia Graham (died 2016) was an Australian aviator.
Life
In 1950, Graham was a founding member of the Australian Women Pilots' Association. She gained her Commercial B class licence in Australia in the 1950s, but was not able to find work in Australia. 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. 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. She also flew Auster aircraft. Graham was the first female commercial pilot to fly in the country.
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.
Graham died in 2016.