cddstamps on aircraft & aerophilately

Paraguay – aircraft on stamps  – Part I  

Hello and welcome again to a new series of aircraft on stamps.  A short series as I only have a few days before I will be on a plane myself, to Australia. So Paraguay it is. I thought Australia deserved more than a few  days of writing.

This first stamp is from a 1929 issue. I have no idea what aircraft it is or even if it is just an artist impression which is  most likely as it would have difficulty flying with no tail!!!!!! 

Interesting early aviation history –    and this below from the  introduction to Aerial Operations in the Revolutions of 1922 and 1947 in Paraguay: The First Dogfights in South America (Latin America@War) Paperback – January 4, 2019 by Antonio Luis Sapienza (Author) –  so with all credit and acknowledgement  to him

In the first half of the 20th Century, there were several revolutions in Paraguay, starting in 1904, then 1908, 1911-12, 1922-23, 1936 and finally 1947.

In 1922, a huge internal crisis in the Liberal Party led to a bloody revolution and for the first time in the history of the country, both sides decided to use aerial power against the enemy.

There were not any airplanes available in Paraguay at that time, and very few pilots, just three, so both the government led by President Eusebio Ayala, and the revolutionaries led by a couple of Army colonels, Chirife and Mendoza, searched for foreign pilots and planes in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Many First World War veterans emigrated to Latin America in search of a better life, either opening flight schools or offering their services in local conflicts. That is how some of them came to Paraguay with their own aircraft, which were bought by either the government or the revolutionaries.

The three Paraguayan pilots offered their services to the government, which soon established the first air base near the capital, in a wide open field called ‘Ñu-Guazú’ (a Guaraní name meaning ‘Big Field’).

Meanwhile, the rebels organized their own air base, first near the city of Villarrica, and later in Cangó.

The main types used by both sides were the Ansaldo SVA5 and SVA10, but the government also managed to purchase a Breguet XIV, an Armstrong Whitworth FK.8, a SPAD S.20 and a couple of SAML A.3. Inevitably the first dogfights took place, and also bombing raids, strafing enemy troops, and recce missions on both sides. Finally, in mid-1923, the revolutionaries were defeated and one of the consequences was the foundation of the Military Aviation School.

More tomorrow.  Have a lovely day.

Michael  cddstamps.com …. Please visit my online store https://www.hipstamp.com/store/cddstamps    where I have some interesting aviation related covers and stamps.

Fiji – aircraft on stamps – Part VII  

Hello,  moving to 1978 and the Aviation Anniversaries issue.  4 stamps, 2 showing the Southern Cross, a Fokker F.VII/3m which was incorrectly described on the stamps, another showing a  Wright Flyer and one showing a Bristol F28.  I show them all but in my view not that impressive a selection even if they are all for memorable aviation achievements for the issue theme.

I have written about the Southern Cross many times and also the Wright Flyer so let’s have a brief look at the Bristol F28.  It was a British WW I fighter biplane also used as a reconnaissance aircraft.  It had the nicknames, Brisfit or Biff.    Development of the initial version saw it become a successful single seater fighter aircraft and it remained operational into the early 1930s.  What it or the Wright Flyer has to do with Fiji is still something I am trying to fathom out!!!!

 More during the week.  It has to get better,  right!!!!

Michael  cddstamps.com …. Please visit my online store https://www.hipstamp.com/store/cddstamps    where I have some interesting aviation related covers and stamps.

Fiji – aircraft on stamps – Part VI  

Hello,    half way through the weekend already, how did that happen?   Oh well been good so far.   Hope same for you.  Yes it is another 1-11.   

Notice the artistic features?  Two come immediately to mind;  the little probes, antennas, three of them, are on this image on the top of the fuselage towards the engine, whereas  none were on the previous image –  and there is no line – a cable – from the top of the tail to a point  above the word Air on the fuselage,  which is present an the actual aircraft.  Photoshoppping images even back then 😊  although I think the  previous image was more artistic likelihood😊

This from the 1976 issue to commemorate the  25^th Anniversary of  Air Services in Fiji. 

Michael  cddstamps.com …. Please visit my online store https://www.hipstamp.com/store/cddstamps    where I have some interesting aviation related covers and stamps.

Fiji – aircraft on stamps – Part V  

Hello, one of my favourite aircraft, well from a nostalgia perspective I guess you could say.   The BAC 1-11. I did a series on this  some time back.  Lovely little aircraft, just a bit noisy I seem to recall 😊

This from the 1974  UPU issue  and it shows a 1-11of Air Pacific as the airline was known back then. It is now Fiji Airways.

Michael  cddstamps.com …. Please visit my online store https://www.hipstamp.com/store/cddstamps    where I have some interesting aviation related covers and stamps.

Fiji – aircraft on stamps – Part IV  

Hello, after a while I feel I am showing the same aircraft even if on a different stamp. Only to be expected I guess after showing so many  stamps.  This one you will no doubt recognize as a Sunderland flying boat, a Short S.25  to be precise.

The stamp was issued in 1969, one of a set of 3 commemorating the inauguration of the University of the South Pacific.  The image shows the site of the University at what is now the former Royal New Zealand Air Force seaplane station at Laucala Bay near Suva.

The Short S.25 was a British flying boat patrol bomber built for the RAF. The aircraft got its name from the town of Sunderland in the north of England.  It was one of the most powerful and widely used flying boats used throughout the WW II  especially by various allied air forces including the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

More soon…. 😊

Michael  cddstamps.com …. Please visit my online store https://www.hipstamp.com/store/cddstamps    where I have some interesting aviation related covers and stamps.

Fiji – aircraft on stamps – Part III  

Hello  just showing one of the 4 stamps issued in 1968 to commemorate the 40^th anniversary of Kingsford Smith’s Pacific flight  which  landed in Suva.  Only one because I see no relevance to the 1928 flight  in the other three stamps  Nice stamps but for other  events.

The “Southern Cross” was a Fokker FVIIB-3m three-engined monoplane.  Kingsford-Smith and his crew  flew what was a record breaking flight across the Pacific from the USA to Australia with stops at Honolulu and Fiji. The aircraft landed on Albert Park cricket ground in Suva.

I could not possibly express in a few words the flight so I recommend a read of this from the Australia National Archives.  You can feel you are flying with them.  https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/46021267

Michael  cddstamps.com …. Please visit my online store https://www.hipstamp.com/store/cddstamps    where I have some interesting aviation related covers and stamps.

Fiji – aircraft on stamps – Part II  

Hello, welcome back, Part II and two of the three stamps from the 1964 issue to commemorate the 25^th anniversary of the first Fiji -Tonga Airmail service.

This, with the 3d value, shows the Short S.30  modified G class flying boat ZK-AMA. It was flown by Tasman Empire Airways and named Aotearoa – which means long white cloud.

A rather lovely stamp in my view and certainly an aircraft with a fascinating operational history which I  seriously recommend reading from here   https://aussieairliners.org/shortfb/zk-ama/zkama.html  If only to see some brilliant images of the aircraft back in the 1930s and 1940s.  the website is very clear that it is “illegal” to copy their images so I won’t risk anyone’s rath, but I do recommend a look. Some brilliant photographs.

Finding history of this flight has proven a challenge but I did find this – as part of the Tasman Empire Airways plan to set up a regular trans Tasman service between Australia and New Zealand the Aotearoa operated. a survey flight between New Zealand and Fiji in September 1939 – with no official mail carried to Tonga – then a second flight  from Suva to Nukualofa (in Tonga) on 21st October 1939 and then on the 23rd October on to Auckland.  It carried approximately 2000 letters to Auckland from Suva and 250 from Nukualofa. If any readers can improve on that or correct me I welcome  emails.

The second stamp shows a de Haviland Heron of Fiji Airways as well as the Short S.30. I have written about the Heron before,  so just a brief reminder then; it was a British propeller aircraft  that first flew in May 1950  and was a development of the Dove with a stretched fuselage and two additional engines.  I am not sure why the Heron is being shown; I welcome thoughts on that one?

More Fiji over the coming week.  I hope you join me.

Michael  cddstamps.com …. Please visit my online store https://www.hipstamp.com/store/cddstamps    where I have some interesting aviation related covers and stamps.

Fiji – aircraft on stamps – Part I  

Hello,  yes a new series.  Took me a while to decide but here it is Fiji.  Some interesting stamps in the earlier issues from the 1950s through 1970s.  After that too many issues so with one exception  I hope you enjoy seeing the stamps and the aircraft I have selected

This first stamp, issued in 1954, shows Nadi airport and a Comet and a Boeing 707.  A year or so ago I wrote a series on the Comet.   So I won’t repeat all that about the aircraft.  I visited the airport when it looked like this. So fond memories from all those years ago.    One little bit of trivia for you.  In 1963 a Pan Am 707 flying Nadi LAX set a new commercial flight speed record flying the sector in under three hours. There is so much to read about those years and especially the 707.   Try this one if you have the time. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/air-space-magazine/707-flight-changed-everything-180971219/

More Fiji over the coming week.  I hope you join me.

Michael  cddstamps.com …. Please visit my online store https://www.hipstamp.com/store/cddstamps    where I have some interesting aviation related covers and stamps.

Welcome, and yes this is the final piece in the US aircraft on stamps series.   I think my longest series but then there are just so many stamps to choose from, and I have only shown a selection of issues up to 1952.  We’d be here for ever if I kept going  😊

To finish I am showing this stamp which is rather special.   Yes this breaks the 1950s and earlier trend as it was issued in 1968,  but  what a lovely little aircraft.  I could write plenty about it but I will leave it to you to find out more…. Perhaps.

The competition.  First Prize, a set of the three 1949 Universal Postal Union stamps which I showed in Part XII.  Scroll back a few pages    Then 5 runner up prizes of this stamp.

How to win, just send an answer to cddstamps@ gmail.com   The question to answer:

Is the  “Curtiss Jenny” really the correct name of the aircraft?   Yes or No will do, but by all means impress  me with your research! I will give each entry a number as they arrive in the mail box and using a random number generator will choose the first 6 numbers. Closing date for entries is October 7th 2023.

Just some trivia: the stamp commemorated the 50th anniversary of the first regularly scheduled air mail  service and was issued in Washington, DC, on May 15, 1968.  The aircraft shown on the stamp was the actual one that carried mail on the Washington-New York City run when air mail was first established on May 15, 1918.    You can read the registration 38262 on the side of the aircraft.  This will make your reading even more interesting   https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/s-c-38262/ The stamp was designed by Hordur Karlsson and was printed in black on the Giori press.  The blue background and blue and red rudder segments were printed by lithography.  It was issued in panes of 50 with a quantity of 60,000,000.  So I have a few I can give away 😊

What next?. Readers idea are most welcomed. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks for reading my series.   I hope to get at least 6 competition entries 😊

Michael  cddstamps.com …. Please visit my online store https://www.hipstamp.com/store/cddstamps    where I have some interesting aviation related covers and stamps.

USA – aircraft on stamps – Part XIV  

Welcome  back again.   I really like seeing this stamp so am showing it again. I previously used it in a piece when I wrote about the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, which is of course the aircraft shown on the stamp.

Anyway. I enjoy looking at what are for sale even though I have a few in my collection.  

It was issued in 1952, 18.8 million printed in fact, and it shows Diamond Head, Honolulu. It was issued as an additional value to cover the air parcel post rate of one pound (that is pound weight of course!). 

One thing to look for with this stamp, if you are looking to add one to your collection, is the quality of the printing. As far as I can determine  the inks differed and you can find nice clean bright colours,  as described in the catalogs, or you can see many that are very deep shades.  I prefer the cleaner brighter images myself.   The deep shade makes me think it is a stamp issued showing a night or early evening view of the Head. This one I bought  just to see the comparison.

And sadly, dare I even bother repeating myself, please don’t go down the “grading” rabbit hole. It’s your money so I guess your choice but at least look around first.  This is shown in catalogs for  $4.75  or equivalent, in very fine (the standard expectation) mint never hinged condition. 

Now my top copy is rather nicely centered so I could look to follow in the footsteps of  many sellers and ask what? $USD $100, I’ll even provide a certificate saying how well centered it is, easy to print on my computer, and my copy won’t have a tone stain on the reverse, or, perhaps  you might prefer to buy a nice corner block of 4 with lovely centering for around $10.   Decisions, decisions eh!!!!  😊

One other thing to look for when buying this, or in fact any stamp, is the colour, as I say  there are printing differences.

But this? I don’t think the stamp ever had this shade.  Probably scanner setting but   worth checking.  And yes I cropped a block to show this clearly.

See you tomorrow I hope.  Part 15 and the last part in this series and with a competition.  Yes you can win something I have written about these past weeks.   But what next?  Ideas welcomed of course and you can email me at cddstamps@gmail.com

Michael  cddstamps.com …. Please visit my online store https://www.hipstamp.com/store/cddstamps    where I have some interesting aviation related covers and stamps.