AIRWOMAN'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21663, 1 December 1933, Page 12

AIRWOMAN'S DEATH

MRS. A. BRUSTAD FIRST DOMINION GIRL PILOT . KEEN ALPINE CLIMBER [BY TELEGRAPII —OWN CORRESPONDENT] . CHRISTCEURCH, Thursday The death occurred in the Amuri Hospital, Rothcrham, this mornii/g, of Mrs. Mary Lucy Aroha Brustad, who, as Miss Aroha Clifford, was well known throughout New Zealand as tho first woman to gain her pilot's licenco through an aero club. She was 25 years of age. Her death was due to pneumonia, and followed tho birth of a son at the hospital two days ago. ■ Mrs. Brustad was tho youngest daughter of Mr. and tho lato Mrs. Walter Clifford, of Garden Road, Fendalton, and a nicco of tho late Sir George Clifford. She was born in Wellington and received her education at St. Mary's Convent, Colombo Street, North Christchurch, and at Ascot Convent, England. Early in her teens sho became keenly interested in winter sports and alpine climbing. She was a very frequent visitor to the Hermitage, Mount Cook, and she became an expert skier and climber.

One of the most notable of her exploits in this region was tho "round trip" over Copland Pass (7-100 ft.) to Waiho and back to the Hermitage by way of Graham's Saddle (8739 ft.), a journey that called for great endurance and experience. She was accompanied on this trip by ]\Jr. All'. Brustad, then guide at tho Hermitage. She married Mr. Brustad in 1931. Mrs. Brustad was tho first pupil instructed by tho Canterbury Aero Club. In May, 1929, a month or two after tho club's inception, sho flow solo for tho first time in June, and was granted her "A" licenco when under tho age of 21 by Major L. M. Isitt, tho examiner, on August 5. After some experience of cross-country flying in New Zealand sho wont to England in 1931. Whilo there sho spent three months at the De Haviland factory, taking a private ownership course in mechanics. She was at this time a member of the London Aero Club and did a considerable amount of flying from the Stag Lane aerodrome. She purchased a machine of her own, a Puss Moth, and this she brought back to New Zealand with her. It was later acquired by tho New Zealand Permanent Air Force, which now uses it for aerial survey work. Mrs. Brustad resumed her fljing on her return to New Zealand and she was the first woman to pilot an aeroplane over Cook Strait in a flight from Wellington to Christchurch.

After her marriage to Mr. Brustad in September, 1931, she gave up active flying, although she maintained a keen interest in the activities of the Canterbury Aero Club. Mr. Brustad was stationed in Christchurch as an alpine guide and winter sports tutor until two or three months ago, when ho purchased a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Brustad settled in the Waiau district only two op three w6eks ago.