daniel
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Post by daniel on Mar 20, 2021 0:48:07 GMT
The Schneider Trophy or The Coupe d'Aviation Maritime Jacques Schneider was awarded for an air competition held twelve times from 1913 to 1931, for seaplanes and flying boats, held on a time trial basis. It was named after, and sponsored by, French financier and aircraft enthusiast Jacques Schneider. France won the first race in 1913 held in Monaco. The winning country would host the next race. If any nation won the race 3 times in 5 years they would win the trophy outright The race resulted in some of the fastest aircraft in World War II with the Italian Macchi C.202 Folgore, the North American P-51 Mustang and the British Supermarine Spitfire designed by R J Mitchell. In 1931 at Calshot, with all other competitors dropping out, Britain won the race (setting a new world speed record) for the third time in succession and retained the trophy. These covers mark the 50th anniversary of that event. The first one has a miniature sheet of Cinderellas showing various winners and is a Royal Air Force cover postmarked British Forces Postal Service, RAF St Athan, dated 12th September 1981, pilot and navigator signed. The second, flown on a replica Supermarine S.5, is postmarked Calshot, 13th September 1981.  Scan_20210319 by Daniel, on Flickr |
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Post by stamphinger on Aug 22, 2021 21:53:24 GMT
Here is a 1943 free frank post card from someone who may have been in the Navy's V-12 officers training program at Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburg, Kansas sent to a friend. I have collected it for the real photo image of a Grumman F3F-2 Navy pursuit plane of the 1930s. The F3F-2s joined the fleet in 1936 and were the last biplane pursuit airplane used by the U.S. military services. F3F-2s were nicknamed "Flying Barrels." It was withdrawn from service in 1941 before the U.S's entry into WW II. It remained as a training aircraft until 1943. The color looks a little faded, but is still a great addition to my Aircraft on Covers collection.
Don StampHinger  |
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Post by stamphinger on Sept 20, 2021 16:06:30 GMT
A first-day cover for the 1959 Belgian 6 francs stamp, Sc. 538, issued to commemorate the inauguration of jet service with Sabena Airlines. The stamp and cover depict a Boeing 707 in flight. The 707 was the first U.S. produced aircraft to enter airline service with Pan American Airways in October 1958. It was a versatile airplane capable of being manufactured as an passenger or cargo aircraft for civilian use and for the military as the K-135, tanker, and A-3 Sentry AWACS (airborne warning and control system) for aerial surveillance. A 707 cruised at 605 mph and had a range of 4,300 miles, a significant milepost for air travel. I purchased this cover for my Aircraft on Covers collection.
Don StampHinger  |
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Post by stamphinger on Feb 6, 2022 18:04:06 GMT
A photo post card of Douglas B-18 "Bolos" in flight. The B-18 Bolo was America's front line bomber in the late 1930s. It was developed to replace the Martin B-10 bombers, but by the time America entered WW II the Bolo also was obsolete and was being replaced by Boeing B-17s and Consolidated B-24s. The Bolos that remained in service were used for submarine reconnaissance and multi-engine training. The number 340 in the lower left corner of the photo side suggests that the U.S. Army Air Corps distributed a series of these aircraft cards/aviation scenes. The message on the card asking that only one bottle of Scotch whisky be added to the B-Hive Tavern's order has me thinking that, perhaps, its customers were not big Scotch drinkers.    I collected this Arizona Highways commercial cover for its unusual airmail designater also serving as a cachet, but it has an interesting aircraft image too. The aircraft looks like a Convair 240 series airliner. However, it might also be a Martin 2-0-2 airliner. The two airplanes are remarkable similar in appearance and both were developed in 1947 as possible replacements for the then aging Douglas DC-3s, which neither were. Not enough detail in the image to really distinguish between the two designs. Don StampHinger
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Post by stamphinger on Mar 1, 2022 20:24:59 GMT
A couple new, postaly used aircraft post cards for my Aircraft on Covers collection. The first carries an image of a Consolidated PB2Y-2, a patrol bomber/anti-submarine/transport aircraft used by the U.S. Navy during WW II. It first flew in 1937 and was used throughout the war, mostly in the Pacific Theater. Production halted at the end of the war and only one, non-flying, Coronado remains today.
A two-view model drawing of a PB2Y-2 aircraft from the internet
The second is a real photo image of what is, perhaps, the most iconic aircraft of the 20th century, a Douglas DC-3 in flight past the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay in 1939. The caption on the card identifies this as a United Airlines airplane. The DC-3 made air travel comfortable for passengers and profitable for the airlines. It was also a front-line aircraft during WW II for the U.S. Army Air Force, and the allied nations. A few DC-3 remain flying in a variety of roles.
Don StampHinger
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Post by stamphinger on Apr 11, 2022 20:01:58 GMT
A Martin 4-0-4 airliner flown by Eastern Air Lines between 1951 and 1962. The 4-0-4 was developed to replace the airlines' aging DC-3 aircraft. Initial sales were to Eastern (60 aircraft) and Trans World Airlines (40). The only other buyer was the U.S. Coast Guard (2). The airplane carried 40 passengers, cruised at 280 mph and had a range of just over 1.000 miles. It was a pressurized airplane with a service altitude of 29,000 feet allowing it to fly above most weather. Eastern called the aircraft a Silver Falcon while TWA labeled them Skyliners. Most were eventually sold by Eastern and TWA to smaller short-haul airlines.
As an aside, this post card provided by Eastern Air Lines to passengers has an unusual post mark. It reads International Airport, Fla with no city designation. I have not seen one of them before.
Don StampHinger   |
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renden
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Posts: 9,162 
What I collect: Canada-USA-France-Lithuania-Austria--Germany-Mauritius-French Colonies in Africa
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Post by renden on Apr 11, 2022 20:04:41 GMT
A Martin 4-0-4 airliner flown by Eastern Air Lines between 1951 and 1962. The 4-0-4 was developed to replace the airlines' aging DC-3 aircraft. Initial sales were to Eastern (60 aircraft) and Trans World Airlines (40). The only other buyer was the U.S. Coast Guard (2). The airplane carried 40 passengers, cruised at 280 mph and had a range of just over 1.000 miles. It was a pressurized airplane with a service altitude of 29,000 feet allowing it to fly above most weather. Eastern called the aircraft a Silver Falcon while TWA labeled them Skyliners. Most were eventually sold by Eastern and TWA to smaller short-haul airlines.
As an aside, this post card provided by Eastern Air Lines to passengers has an unusual post mark. It reads International Airport, Fla with no city designation. I have not seen one of them before.
Don StampHinger Don, always a "pleasure" to read your Posts/pics etc - History !!! I am a newbie LOL !! René |
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Post by stamphinger on Apr 11, 2022 20:27:43 GMT
Thanks for the kind words, Rene.
Don
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tomiseksj
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Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,385
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Apr 23, 2022 22:25:19 GMT
The most recent acquisition for my China Clipper collection: a first day cover for the 25 cent Trans Pacific Air Mail stamp (Scott C20; Nov 22, 1935) and first flight cover for the San Francisco to Honolulu leg of foreign air mail route 14 , San Francisco to Manila, Philippine Islands. Mellone's Planty Photo Encyclopedia of Cacheted First Day Covers identifies this cachet as C20-18a. The cachet maker was W. H. Espenshade.  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2022 11:15:40 GMT
Although not being an aeroplane, here is a type of aircraft that most people seem to have forgotten.  No doubt there are many covers relating to these airships that are prized by many collectors worldwide. Apparently they were very vulnerable, as per this Wikipedia article on the disaster of the Hindenburg in 1937 > en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindenburg_disaster. |
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gbcc
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Posts: 1,066
What I collect: GB First day covers, event covers and postmarks, GB Slogans
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Post by gbcc on May 16, 2022 16:38:01 GMT
2009_Concorde - Queen of The Skies Heathrow Hounslow Middx postmark Captain David Rowland Cover image and image of insert information card below. Geoff (GBCC) www.gbcovercollector.co.uk  |
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jdtrue66
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Inactive
Posts: 287
What I collect: US&US FDC, Keys & Locks, NUDES, Rubber Ducks, USS NJ covers
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Post by jdtrue66 on May 23, 2022 2:12:30 GMT
No aircraft on the cover but I sure count it as an aviation cover.  |
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gbcc
Member
Posts: 1,066
What I collect: GB First day covers, event covers and postmarks, GB Slogans
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Post by gbcc on May 31, 2022 18:47:03 GMT
Just added in to the collection the signed cover for the 60th Anniversary of The First Direct Crossing of the Atlantic. This signed cover is double postmarked. The illustrated GB Special event postmark of the 14 June 1979 and on 21 June 1979 from Goose Airport Newfoundland. Of note it must have taken some planning to crew the 1979 flight with a pilot and navigator with the surnames Alcock and Browne ( ok not quite the same as has an 'E') I also attach another cover from the collection commemorating the same event with the same GB Illustrated postmark. Geoff (GBCC (GBCC) www.gbcovercollector.co.uk  |
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chrischross
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Inactive
Posts: 206
What I collect: France, French Africa, FSAT, French Polynesia
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Post by chrischross on Jun 14, 2022 20:42:41 GMT
This design is a bit simpler compared to most of the others in this thread, as the airplane design is merely in the cachet:  First scheduled air service from Douala to Casablanca, May 22nd, 1937. The recent Martin Bratzel book I picked up has an entire chapter on Cameroonian air covers, in which he says: source: pg. 303, The Postmarks and Postal History of Cameroun Under French Administration 1916-1959, M.P. Bratzel 2021 Edit: forgot to add, the plane on that cover is the Hydravion Sikorsky S-43 |
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JeffS
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Posts: 2,837
What I collect: Oranges Philately, US Slogan Cancels, Cape of Good Hope Triangulars, and Texas poster stamps and cinderellas
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Post by JeffS on Jun 14, 2022 22:10:39 GMT
chrischross I like when one can correctly determine the postal rate of neat covers such as this.
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Post by stamphinger on Jun 16, 2022 17:14:48 GMT
A souvenir post card from the 1933 Chicago Century of Progress exposition featuring a Boeing 247 airliner as an example of progress in air travel. The 247 doesn't get much philatelic attention and is infrequently seen on stamps and covers. The possible reason is that it was quickly eclipsed by the faster, more profitable, and better known Douglas DC-3. Nevertheless, the Boeing 247 was a remarkable airplane when introduced to airline service in 1934 and many consider it the first modern airliner.
The 247 was the first multi-engine airplane capable of flying on one engine. It had a cruising speed of 189 mph and a range of 745 miles. It featured a retractable landing gear and landed at only 62 mph. Unfortunately it only carried 10 passengers which made it unprofitable for airlines" use.
While the photo side of the card is a little dark, I consider it a great addition my Aircraft on Covers collection.
Don StampHinger
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Post by stamphinger on Jul 4, 2022 19:43:03 GMT
A Marshall Island's first-day cover depicting a Curtis P-40 War Hawk in flight in the cachet, on the stamp, and in the cancel. The P-40 is one of the iconic airplanes of WW II. More than 13,700 were built and put into service. The War Hawk first flew in 1938, served in all theaters, and remained in service throughout the war. This stamp and cover commemorate an early battle between U.S. flown P-40s in China and Japanese bombers on a run to Kunming, China, in which the P-40s destroyed all but one of the bombers.
Don StampHinger  |
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Post by stamphinger on Sept 5, 2022 23:54:30 GMT
This cover came to me as a solicitation for funds from the National Wasp WW II Museum, Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas. The WASP were Women Auxiliary Service Pilots, young women aviators who volunteered during WW II to ferry aircraft from one point to another, thus freeing male pilots to serve in combat positions. I saved this cover for its photographic image of a Boeing B-29 Superfortress, the aircraft that carried the air war to the Japanese home islands, initially from China bases, and then, later, from captured islands in the Pacific. It was a B-29 that dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
Don StampHinger  |
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Post by stamphinger on Sept 23, 2022 22:39:03 GMT
Two Chance-Vought F4U Corsairs banking over a drawing of the USS Lexington. The Corsair entered service in the South Pacific Theater in December of 1942 and many considered it the best performing combat aircraft in the U.S. Navy's lineup. Judging by the way the image skyline on the right follows the curve of the cancel, but doesn't cross into it, the water color illustration of the Corsairs and Lexington is, undoubtedly, an add on cachet. This, the second USS Lexington of the WW II period served from 1942 through WW II and was decomissioned in 1947, and then recomissioned in August 1955, one year before this cover was posted. Corsairs, while used in the Korean War, were taken out of Navy service in 1953. A note on the reverse suggests that the addressee is the artist.
 This second aircraft is probably a Douglas O-46, the O designation is for observation. There were 90 O-46 purchased by the US Army Air Force during 1936-1937, but not considered fast enough or having sufficient performance for combat conditions and were not used during WW II. O-46s were used mostly for anti-submarine patrol and removed from service in 1942. This 1941 post card with a real photo of an O-46 in a very high angle of attack is the only image of an O-46 I have seen on a cover, card, or stamp.
Don StampHinger  |
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Post by stamphinger on Oct 22, 2022 22:31:19 GMT
On June 16, 2022, I posted above a real photo post card of a Boeing 247 in flight with comments about it being the first modern airliner, unsuccessful comercially only because it carried only 10 passengers, not enough for airlines to operate it profitably.
I have added this cover commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Wright Bros flight on Decemeber 17,1903, also featuring a Boeing 247 in the cachet, for the excellent rendering of the aircraft, for the attractive art deco cachet, and for the appropriate use of the 1928 Aeronatuics Conference Issue for postage. An added collecting point for me is the cover being addressed to Carl W. Becken, a Minneapolis dealer/collector of coins and stamps and avid airmail enthusiast. The 247 first flew in February 1933, so this is an early depiction philatelically. Boeing produced a total of 75 of these airplanes.
Don StampHinger
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Post by stamphinger on Oct 22, 2022 23:37:57 GMT
I recently purchased this Poland Occupied Nations first-day cover, primarily for its cachet featuring diving Ju-87s (Stukas). Stuka is an abbreviation for sturzkampfflugzeug. Stukas were effective dive bombers and close ground support aircraft, but they were slow and lightly armed, vulnerable to Allied fighter aircraft. They remained in production from 1937 to late 1944.
Another reason for purchasing this FDC was its hybrid nature. First, the cover's airmail border indicates it was initially designed for the 1934 American Air Mail Society convention and the first day of issue for the 16 cents air mail special delivery stamp, Sc. CE-1. The cachet is a cut out from the Occupied Nations FDC series produced by Pent-Arts and pasted onto his cover. The end result is a somewhat cluttered cover, but one of the few that depicts the JU-87 aircraft.
Don StampHinger An internet image of a Ju-87
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Post by stamphinger on Jan 31, 2023 23:34:15 GMT
A post card with a photo of a Farman 221 French bomber inflight circa 1936. The Farmans were kind of clunky looking airplane, but they were France's first-line bombers in the mid to late 1930s. While it is not clear in the photo card, these were four-engine aircraft with the engines in a push/pull configuration. They had a crew of five, cruised at 170mph, a range of 1,400 miles and carried up to 4,900 lbs of bombs. The 221 first flew in 1933 and only 10 of this variant were built for the French Air Force. They entered service in 1936
Unfortunately, the postmark on this card is illegible and the recipient tried to obliterate his/her name. The stamp used is from the long-running Sower series dating from 1906 to 1937. Given the dates of service for this aircraft, I estimate the card was posted around 1937.
Don StampHinger
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Post by stamphinger on Feb 4, 2023 22:55:32 GMT
A WW II era personal post card depicting a Lockheed P-38 Lightning from a serviceman, possibly in one of the college officer training programs to his mother. The Lightning first flew in January 1939 and went on to become one of America's best fighter aircraft. It flew fast, 400+ mph, high, up to 44,000 feet, and had a combat range of 1,300. Armament was two 50 caliber machine guns and a 20mm canon in the nose. Its engines were turbocharged and its propellers counter rotating.
It was the best escort for bombers until the advent of the P-51 Mustang and the P-47 Republic Thunderbolt later in the war. It operated in all theaters of the war and had an excellent combat record. America's highest scoring ace, Richard Bong, flew a P-38 for all of his 40 kills. Lockheed produced over 10,000 Lightnings between 1941 and 1945. Unfortunately, the sender wrote his message in pencil and it is difficult to read, but it appears he was hoping to fly a P-38 during his service.
Don StampHinger
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daniel
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Post by daniel on Feb 4, 2023 23:46:52 GMT
Don, stamphinger , maybe the scan has made it legible. There's nothing very revealing and there's no punctuation but I believe it reads: "Hello Mother Well hows things back home Am fine not much news So Good luck + get on this one if you go places Nick" |
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Post by stamphinger on Feb 5, 2023 16:58:56 GMT
Thanks, Daniel. Not the scanner's fault. Looks the same holding it in my hand. Thanks for the translation. Poor message composition on the sender's part.
Don
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Post by stamphinger on Feb 6, 2023 0:07:14 GMT
A philatelic post card commemorating the first flight on AM-31 route extension, Fort Lauderdale to NYC. The card depicts a Douglas DC-7B in flight. The DC-7 was the last piston engine airliner designed and manufactured by Douglas Aircraft. It was in production from 1953-1958 with 338 produced. The DC-7 was considered a long haul airplane capable of non-stop coast to coast flight and trans-Atlantic flight from NYC to London and Paris. Prevailing westerly winds, however,, often overcame its ability to make the westward return flights on schedule or without a refueling stop. The DC-7 was a short-lived aircraft, being surpassed by its successor, the DC-8 jetliner. No DC-7s remain in airline service today. Note, however, the short description on the message side of the card outlining the service provided on a National Airlines Star Flight, superior luxury service, music, gourmet dining, flowers and a Starlight lounge -- a far cry from today's cattle car flights featuring a small sack of pretzels and a half can of soft drink. Nice New York City airmail facility receiving cancel.
Don StampHinger  |
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Post by stamphinger on Apr 5, 2023 18:26:34 GMT
Aircraft topicalists won't find many stamps or covers depicting a Brewster Buffalo. The Buffalo, manufactured by the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation first flew in December 1937 and was selected by the U.S. Navy the following year as a front-line carrier fighter aircraft. Unfortunately, it was obsolete when America entered WW II in December 1941 and Brewster squadrons suffered heavy losses against the Japanese Zero at the Battle of Midway. Its reputation plummeted and it was quickly withdrawn and served in a training role for the remainder of the war. Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Finland purchased the Buffalo for their air forces and Finland used it successfully in the Winter War (1939-1940) against Russia and again in 1941 -1944 as a German ally against Russia. Thirty-six Finnish pilots flying Buffalos became aces.
It is the Buffalo's Finnish connection that produced this first-day cover for the Gustaf Mannerheim 4c Champion of Library stamp (Sc. 1165). Mannerheim was Finland's top military commander and subsequently its president. Finnish Brewster Buffalo pilots were awarded the Mannerheim Cross for their service flying against the Soviet Union.
The Buffalo flew at a top speed of 321 mph and cruised at 161 mph. There were 509 built. Its range was 965 miles. Armaments were two 50 caliber guns in the nose and wings.
Don Stamphinger
This is an internet photo of a Finnish Brewster Buffalo with markings similar to the image on the cover.  |
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Post by stamphinger on May 3, 2023 16:40:02 GMT
This cover dating from the closing days of WW II in Asia appears to be hand made. It looks as if the sender cut a photo out of a magazine and pasted in on the front of a #6 envelope and mailed it to his wife. Posting was at APO 390 which was in Pandaveswar, India in August 1945.
The aircraft is a Fairy Firefly, a aircraft carrier airplane developed by Fairy Aviation Company (England) as a fighter/bomber. The Firefly had a maximum speed of 350 mph and cruised at 210 mph. Armament was four 20mm canon and it was capable of carrying rockets and bombs. The aircraft had a crew of two, the pilot and radio operator/observer. It entered Royal Navy service in 1943 and remained in service until 1956. Don Stamphinger  |
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Post by stamphinger on May 9, 2023 17:03:19 GMT
A WW II era free franked post card showing a formation of a Vought OS2U Kingfishers. The Kingfisher first flew in 1938 and was used widely by the U.S. Navy as an observation aircraft on cruisers and battleships during WW II. . At sea, the Kingfisher was launched by catapult, but also operated from land bases. 1519 were built and delivered during WW II. I previously posted a cover with a Kingfisher cachet and accompanying photos of how it was recovered by ships after a flight
Don StampHinger  |
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renden
Member
Posts: 9,162
What I collect: Canada-USA-France-Lithuania-Austria--Germany-Mauritius-French Colonies in Africa
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Post by renden on Jun 2, 2023 17:12:38 GMT
This is my 1st post of a flight cover, so be patient with me - hope it is in the proper thread  Cover received by paul1 from the U.K. This envelope was sent from St Louis, MO to Vancouver B.C. - Postmarked with 2 C10 U.S. airmail stamps, St Louis, Feb 20, 1928 (C. Lindbergh's Monoplane - Spirit of St Louis. The Stamps (2) represent the annual St Louis auto show, dated and the other mentions what I believe is Lindbergh's as Chief Pilot between St Louis and Chicaago - 278 miles - Contract Air Maial # 2 (CAM2). Thanks to Paul for sending this cover !! - René  |
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