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Sunday 8 June 2014

First Flights - Sunday Stamps

A set of stamps commemorating anniversaries was issued on 2 April 1969. It contained a stamp I have shown before.

Great Britain
And a stamp commemorating the first England-Australia flight made later in 1919.

Great Britain
The plane is a Vickers Vimy. The Australian Government had put up a £A10.000 prize for the first Australians to fly from Great Britain to Australia. Captain Ross MacPherson Smith. his (Lieutenant) brother Keith. and mechanics Wally Shiers and Jim Bennett were the crew that flew from Hounslow Heath in London to Darwin with as many as ten stops along the way.

How much quicker is it these days on a plane powered by the invention of Sir Frank Whittle.

Great Britain (issued 19 September 1967)
Now you should jet off to see what other air transport awaits at Viridian's Sunday-stamps-174.



12 comments:

Heleen said...

I think these a very beautiful serie. I love the combination of airplanes with newspaper - map/globe - another airplane in perspective.

Joy said...

I've not seen the Ausutalian fight stamp before. Its amazing to think of all those 10 stops on the way as they refueled and rested, not to mention the two engineers needed to ensure they kept flying. What an adventure.

Ana said...

this was a nice reminder for the non-stop Atlantic flight..and the stamp is really cool!

Postcardy said...

I was surprised that the England-Australia flight was so early. I always think of the world with England east and Australia west, which would be a much longer distance.

Lisa B said...

Such history contained in the stories behind the stamps. If only we had your Alcock and Brown stamp with the Alcock and Brown cancellation I have.

luvlinens said...

All nice stamps. I really like the one with the Jet engines. It is so unusual I think.

Little Nell said...

That’s a good contrast you’ve drawn between those early flights and those which happened courtesy of Frank Whittle. Very nice stamps.

viridian said...

The England -Aus trip must have been an adventure! Look at the geography they were covering. there must have been some interesting stops along the way.
Thank you for participating!

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Those are great stamps, Bob.
~

Jo said...

Love the prices, that's from a way back. Interesting pictures too.

Mail Adventures said...

Really cool designs!

Sheila @ A Postcard a Day said...

I can't have been too interested in stamps in the 60s because I don't recall any of them.