Daughter of test pilot shoots for the sky

Swinburne student pilot Chrissy Lindorff - daughter of a former distinguished test pilot - has been awarded the Australian Women Pilots Association's (AWPA) top annual scholarship.

The $8000 scholarship will help enable Chrissy, 21, to realise her dream of becoming a Qantas captain like her late father, Neil Lindorff.

Chrissy always wanted to fly, but had instead settled for a marketing degree. When her beloved father died unexpectedly of pancreatic cancer at an early age, it was the turning point in her career arc.

"My enthusiasm for flying came from my Dad who was a Royal Australian Air Force pilot, and was also accepted into England's Empire Test Pilot school - which is a top gun-type place. He later joined Qantas,'' she said.

In 1986, Captain Lindorff served with the Empire school, the UK equivalent of the US Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force base, Nevada immortalised in Hollywood docu-drama, The Right Stuff. Lindorff knew famed test pilot, Chuck Yeagher, the first pilot to break the sound barrier in the X-1 in 1947, and hero of the film.

Like many people who dream of flying for a living, Ms Lindorff was not confident she had the maths and science skills necessary to work as the captain of a commercial airliner.

"I had always wanted to do it, but didn't think I was smart enough. Dad passed away in December 2008 and I decided to at least give my dream a go and if I failed at it, at least I wouldn't be living a life wondering what could have been and know I at least tried.''

To her surprise and joy, Ms Lindorff scored 100 per cent on both her first Basic Aeronautical Knowledge (Aeroplane) exam, and her pre-General Flying Progress Test along with other in-house exams.

"I then got 93 per cent on my Private Pilots Licence exam. That was a difficult exam as it covers all seven subjects, so there is a lot to know. So I stuck at it and haven't looked back!''

Chrissy is now in her second year of the TAFE-level Advanced Diploma of Aviation, the achievement of which would technically qualify her to fly commercial aircraft if she had the necessary flight hours.

Prior to the award ceremony, her plan was to work as an instructor and volunteer ‘Angel' care flight pilot to build up the hundreds of flight hours for a commercial job, before going to a big airline.

However in his address to the AWPA ceremony, Air Force Chief, Air Marshal Mark Binskin AO, urged the talented young female pilots to consider a career as a Defence force pilot, or combat pilot.

Chrissy met the Air chief and said: "It would be amazing to be able to do it, so again I figured why not at least give it a go!''

Swinburne TAFE Aviation head, Bruce Rogers, said Chrissy is highly dedicated, often working four jobs to pay for her flying, and her flight instructor was very satisfied and impressed with her progress.

"Her potential to be a top aviator is enhanced by her learning at Swinburne, and you often find that students who are following in parents' footsteps have an aptitude higher than others who do not follow their parents,'' Mr Rogers - himself a former Empire engineer - said.

Swinburne TAFE has 40 first and second year pilot students, many of whom articulate to the university's larger higher education aviation program to achieve extra flight ratings.

Swinburne Bachelor of Aviation (Piloting) final year student Ella Krohn was also awarded an AWPA scholarship.