From flying Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to becoming the first woman ever appointed Chief Pilot for an Australian airline, Captain Georgina Sutton has carved out a legacy that will inspire generations to come.
Earlier this month, Sutton touched down from her final Qantas Group flight, closing a remarkable 36-year career that began with a teenage obsession in a wooden glider and soared all the way to the flight deck of the Boeing 747 and 787 Dreamliner.
Her journey took her from scenic flights over South Australia’s rugged Flinders Ranges to the honor of piloting inaugural jumbo jet services to London. Along the way, she not only trained future aviators but also led Jetstar as Chief Pilot for its Dreamliner fleet, a milestone for women in aviation.
Reflecting on her career, Sutton recalls highlights that few can match: flying the Queen to Australia, carrying her own father over Antarctica, and reuniting Australians on repatriation flights. Her final trip to New York ended with fire truck salutes, balloons, and celebrations fit for an aviation pioneer.
Now, as she trades her captain’s stripes for a life of riverbank sunsets and outback adventures, Captain Sutton leaves behind a powerful message: dreams that take flight at 15 can carry you to the skies of history.