An overflow crowd packed St Andrew’s Cathedral for the state funeral of pioneer aviatrix Nancy Bird-Walton.

The 93 year old died at home after a life of historic aviation achievements, including becoming the first woman commercial pilot in Australia.

The service began after a flyover by the Qantas A380 aircraft which was last year named after Nancy Bird-Walton.

Archbishop Peter Jensen described her as “the sort of person fit to be a national treasure. Hers was a life of achievement again the odds, and, furthermore, achievement which paved the way for others.”

He recalled wise advice she had given about leadership.

“She said something brilliant about this once at a school speech day: "You'll never reach your greatest potential if you walk past the dish-washer without emptying it or leave your costume on the bathroom floor.' Hers was an Australian life which we can all admire and of which we may all feel proud. She was a sort of extraordinary, ordinary Australian, of her generation.”

The funeral was held in the place where her flying teacher, Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith, had been a choir boy.

The current choir backed singer Kamahl as he sang Amazing Grace.

Dr Jensen said Mrs Bird-Walton had once said meeting her husband was the best thing that had happened in her life.

“With the wisdom of a lifetime, she put relationships at the top of the list as to what life can offer, even above the great accomplishment which made her justly famous. We gather today to thank God for her accomplishments; we gather to thank God for the remarkable person she was; and we gather to hear from God for our own benefit the words of the one who, in the face of death, put relationship with him at the top of the human experience: "Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms" I am going there to prepare a place for you.'”