12:00a.m. 6th October 2008

| Mark Bode

Heather and Noel McDowell, of Golden Beach, are proud of their son Graeme who is the first officer on a new A380 Airbus opperated by Qantas. Photo: Che Chapman / 178690b

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Graeme McDowell is largely anonymous in the news photo.

The focus of the photo, taken at the naming ceremony of Qantas’ new Airbus A380 superjumbo in Sydney last week, is pioneering female Australian aviator Nancy-Bird Walton.

But right behind her is Mr McDowell, sitting comfortably in the first officer’s chair.

For this modest man, that’s the way it should be.

His mother, Golden Beach resident Heather McDowell, thinks otherwise.

Mrs McDowell and her husband Noel are so proud of their son’s achievements they want others to know.

The 43-year-old has been chosen ahead of more senior pilots to snare a coveted spot in the cockpit of the world’s largest passenger airliner. The former Royal Australian Air Force pilot’s first official flight will be Sydney to Los Angeles on October 24.

“We are very proud,” Mrs McDowell said.

“It’s just one of those amazing things and something that’s unexpected.”

Mr McDowell, who joined Qantas in 1995, switched from a Boeing 767 to an Airbus A330 as soon as he heard the A380 was coming.

He began simulated training for the A380 in 2003.

Mrs McDowell said her son was a born flyer.

“What he’s achieved is amazing,” she said.

“All he wanted to do as a little fella was fly.”

He told her the naming ceremony, which included a scenic flight around Sydney, was “fabulous”.

“It was a great day for him,” she said. “He was sort of in the background, what with all the VIPs, but he did get to meet Nancy-Bird Walton.”