Let's Go Flying

The aircraft on covers scans have motivated me to dig out a couple of my non-philatelic commercial covers I have that show aircraft. I collect aircraft on covers when I can find them as a complement to aircraft on stamps.

The first pictured is a good rendering of what I have identified as a Curtiss A-12 Shrike. I have never seen a Shrike pictured on a stamp, and only on this cover. Still, it was a significant airplane in the development of U.S. Army aviation. It and the P-26A were the first low-wing pursuit aircraft purchased by the USAAF and the Shrike was the first to enter service at Fort Crockett, Texas, in 1932. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft reports that a squadron of Shrikes was still on duty in Hawaii when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941.

The second photo is a colorful rendering of a Bristol F.2B from the WW I period. The F.2B was one of the most popular British aircraft to enter service and for its time, quite advance.

Don

DonSellos - Nice post! Thanks for sharing.

Here is an image of a stamp depicting a DeHavilland Twin Otter (DHC-6) mail plane in Vængir hf livery, designed by Icelandic artist Þröstur Magnússon, printed by lithography, and issued by Iceland on April 15, 1997, Scott No. 841, Facit No. 904, plus a photo of a Winair Twin Otter coming in for a landing.

- nethryk

Happy Birthday to French aviator, inventor and engineer Louis Charles Joseph Blériot (1872-1936). Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Louis Blériot and a depiction of the first working monoplane, which he designed, built and flew, designed and engraved by Georges Bétemps, and issued by Monaco on December 4, 1972 to commemorate the aviation pioneer's birth centenary, Scott No. 852, plus a photo of Louis Blériot. Bonus: Moustache.

- nethryk

A famous flyer for sure! Almost as many Bleriots depicted on world-wide postage stamps as DC-3s

Don

Luis Candelaria (1892-1963) was an Argentine army lieutenant and pilot who on April 13, 1918 flew a Morane-Saulnier Type L parasol wing monoplane over the Andes Mountains, linking the towns of Zapala, Argentina and Cunco, Chile, in a flight time of 2 hours and 30 minutes, reaching 4,000 meters above sea level. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of Lt. Candelaria and depicting his airplane, designed by Eduardo Miliavaca, printed by lithography, and issued by Argentina on November 27, 1971 to publicize the 25th "Aeronautics and Space Week," Scott No. 968, plus photos of Luis Candelaria and of a Morane-Saulnier Type L fighter aircraft.

- nethryk

Interesting stuff, as usual.

Any info on what became of the Lieutenant? Did he stay in the Air Force?

Don

DonSellos - Thanks! Sorry, but the only other significant thing I learned about Lt. Candelaria is that the San Carlos de Bariloche-Teniente Luis Candelaria International Airport in Argentina is named for him.

Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman (1892-1926) was an American civil aviator and the first female pilot of African American descent. Coleman was a popular barnstormer, primarily flying Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" biplanes at airshows before her premature death in an air accident. Here is an image of a stamp featuring a portrait of "Queen Bess," designed by American artist Chris Calle (1961- ), engraved by Thomas R. Hipschen (vignette) and Richard Everett (lettering), and issued by the USA on April 27, 1995 as one of the stamps in the Black Heritage series, Scott No. 2956, plus a photo of Bessie Coleman which may have been the model for this stamp's design, and a YouTube link to a video chronicling her life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPmMHuO5XSY

- nethryk

French Aéropostale pilot Emile Lécrivain (1897-1929) and his radio operator were both killed when their Latécoère 26 crashed off the Moroccan coast during a mail run between Dakar, Senegal and Casablanca, Morocco. Here is an image of an airmail stamp featuring a portrait of Emile Lécrivain, a depiction of his airplane, and a flight route map, designed and engraved by Jacques Combet, and issued by Senegal on January 31, 1970, Scott No. C75, plus a photo of an Aéropostale Latécoère 26 monoplane.

- nethryk

Pretty good likeness of the Latecoere on the stamp.

Don

This 1936 set from Spain is almost complete apart from the .50c which is the same design as the .30 only a different colour. Interested if someone has a 'spare'.

DonSellos - Agreed!

Here are images of the two stamps in a set depicting commercial airliners, designed by Finnish artist Pentti Rahikainen (1928- ), and issued by Finland on November 1, 1963 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Finnair, Scott Nos. 421 & 422, Facit Nos. 584 & 585, plus photos.

- nethryk

Convair CV-240, engraved by Birger Ekholm.


Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle, engraved by Reijo Achrén.

Nice stamps! There should be an award for "Exceptional Attention to Detail in the Engraving of Postage Stamps."

Don

DonSellos - Thanks!

The Latécoère 300 series of monoplane aircraft were French civil and military flying boats. Here is an image of an airmail stamp depicting the Laté 300 Croix du Sud ("Southern Cross") seaplane, designed and engraved by Jacques Combet, and issued by France on December 2, 1982, Scott No. C55, Y&T No. PA 56, plus an image of a photo of the Croix du Sud taken in Natal, Brazil in July, 1934. Note: This stamp is also inscribed with the names of the five men in the aircrew who were lost when the Croix du Sud disappeared while in flight over the Atlantic Ocean on December 7, 1936.

- nethryk