Aero-philately

2026-02-20T19:16:00.000-08:00

Stefan Banic - inventor of the parachute. He invented the first usable parachute which was patented in the US on 25th August 1914. The parachute opened through a system of cords and the design overcame the problem of drifting.

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2024-02-28T19:52:00.000-08:00

1911 World’s First Official Aerial Post.

M. Henri Pequet flew into aviation history from the U.P. exhibition grounds at Allahabad in a Humber-Sommer biplane on 18^th February 1911 to Naini, 6 miles across the Jamuna, He carried a bag of around 6500 pieces of mail, which he delivered to postal officials on landing. So the distinction of staging the world’s first Official Aerial Post goes to India. It is reported that the flight was witnessed by over a million people, including the Governor, Sir John Hewitt.

This was not the first time mail was transported by air. In September 1870- January 1871 sixty-six hot air balloons left Paris, carrying correspondence (and carrier pigeons) from besieged Parisians.

But this was indeed the first official airplane mail delivery in the world.

During the decade after the Wright Bros first manned airplane flight in Dec 1903, pilots barnstormed around world flying planes and even carrying some mail. But the mail carried was unofficial in that it was not sanctioned by postal authorities.. Covers were carried by the pilots and usually mailed in the normal course after landing. Some notations were made, sometimes some special mark was affixed to show that the it was flown. These pilots were the pioneers of airmail.

Background of the 1^st Aerial Post in India:

Walter Windham a British aviation pioneer, organized aerial demonstration flights for the United Provinces Exhibition in Allahabad during the Maha Kumbh 1911. He had brought Pequet to India with 6 biplanes. The event marked the first time airplanes flew in India. An appeal from Rev. W.E.S. Holland, a chaplain of the Holy Trinity Church, Allahabad, spurred the event. He had appealed to Windham for help in fundraising for a new youth hostel. Windham conceived the aerial post and obtained approval from the post office for officially sanctioned mail. Postal officials asked Windham to design the cancel. All the mail flown was cancelled with the large circular cancellor, most were in magenta but a few examples exist with black ink. An additional surcharge to the regular postage rate was required as a donation for the Church Hostel Building.

The news of the proposed flight received a lot of publicity and around 6500 letters & postcards were received to be flown on the first flight. Also flown were 40 postcards which depicted the pilot and machine and were autographed by him.

The flight generated so much of interest so that even those who had no interest in philately felt they had to have a souvenir of this flight for them or friends.

I have a flown cover in my collection with the sender’s letter.

This flight demonstrated the potential of aviation in faster mail delivery but it was only after 2 decades that regular airmail services were started in India.

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2024-02-28T18:06:00.000-08:00

I am going to revive the blog after a long break in response to several requests. I will attempt to relate Indian airmail postal history.

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2021-08-24T05:34:00.001-07:00

1935. 1st Tuesday dispatch. London-Calcutta.

1927. RAF Display Flight. Flown Risalpur-Delhi and then to Calcutta. Cover has a special " By Aeroplane" label. Delhi RAF delivery stamp & Calcutta delivery stamp.

This cover could be an unique cover - a non-philatelic first flight cover. Cover mailed from Poona addressed to England would have gone to Bombay then to Karachi to catch the Imperial Airway flight to London. It went to Karachi from Bombay on the return Madras-Karachi first flight. The cachet was applied at Bombay.

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2017-09-25T21:15:00.001-07:00

India International Balloon Mela '85

Showing scans of balloon flight covers flown during India International Balloon Mela 1985. Only 100 of each were flown and numbered. Name of the balloon, balloon pilot and landing site were stamped on the reverse.

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2017-09-19T21:28:00.001-07:00

A long time has passed since my last post. I'm posting some more Concorde covers.

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2017-04-21T05:37:00.001-07:00

Concorde flight covers.

Posting scans of some Concorde flight covers from my collection.

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2017-03-03T00:44:00.003-08:00

I have listed some aviation theme stamps on eBay. Please have a look:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/amecvi11/m.html?item=162415643054&ssPageName=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

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New page: Lufthansa FFCs to/from India

2016-03-09T04:43:00.002-08:00

I have a added a new page of a checklist of Lufthansa first flight covers to/from India . I hope this helps collectors as there is no listing of Lufthansa covers relating to India.

Its still under construction but do go through what I have listed and give me your comments and suggestions.

the link:

http://aerophilatelist.blogspot.in/p/lufthansa-first-flight-covers-tofrom.html

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Lufthansa first flight cover signed by crew.

2015-11-08T00:30:00.000-08:00

Recently acquired a unique Lufthansa first flight cover flown from New Delhi to Cairo. LH 649 operated by Boeing jet 720B. The cover has been signed by the entire crew. The Captain's signature appears in green just below the cachet.

Concorde World Flight 1987.

2015-11-06T00:33:00.000-08:00

Air France organized a world flight of Concorde aircraft from 30th September, 1987 to 16th October 1987. The last leg of the flight was New Delhi-Bahrain-Paris.

Here are covers flown from Kathmandu to New Delhi and New Delhi to Paris. Also showing the certificate that the covers were flown and the schedule.

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Indian Air Transport Nationalization

2015-11-03T17:56:00.000-08:00

There were 9 Air Transport operators in India in 1953 most of who were facing problems.  From time to time many policies were framed to help the Airways Companies but they were not sufficient for them to survive. Then the Ministry of Communication, Government of India appointed the air Transport Inquiry Committee to scrutinise all the problems affecting the Indian Air Transport Industry and to recommend measures to stablize its economic position and ensure future development. A tentative decision to nationalize air industry was taken. 

The Air Corporation Bill was legislated into an Act by which two nationalized Air Corporations were formed on on 15th June 1953. These were Indian Airlines Corporation (for operation of internal air services in the country and adjacent countries like Burma, Ceylon and Pakistan) and the Air India International for operation of long distance International Services.

Nine companies were nationalized from 1st August, 1953:

1. Air India Ltd. 

2. Air Services of India Ltd. 

3. Airways India

4. Bharat Airways 

5. Deccan Airways 

6. Himalayan Aviation Ltd.

7. Indian National Airways 

8. Kalinga Airlines 

9.Air India International Ltd.

A Special Cover with a Commemorative Cancellation was issued on the occasion from all Philatelic Bureaux. The cancellation is found in black and violet inks. 

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2015-08-19T21:36:00.001-07:00

I have listed aircraft stamps for sale on my aviation stamps blog:

http://aviationstamps.blogspot.sg/

My prices are very reasonable and much lower than those quoted by sellers on ebay. Have a look.

Here are a few of the items listed:

Cameroon. 1976.Concorde's First Commercial Flight, Paris to Rio de Janeiro. SG MS769.

Cat. £.7.75. MNH. Price: US.$4

Cuba 2006 Aircraft. SG 1961-67. MNH

Cat. £7.70 MNH. Price: US.$3.50

Djibouti Republic. 1978 Air. Djibouti Aero Club.

SG 721-723. Cat. £3.75. FU Price: US.$1.75

Dominica. F1 fighter souvenir sheet.

SG SG MS251a. Cat. £.4.25. MNH. Price: US.$2.

French Southern & Antarctic Territories.

1969 1st Flight of Concorde. SG 53.

Cat. £60. MVLH Price: US.$20.

Gabon. 1983 Air. Ballooning Anniversaries.

SG 857-59. Cat. £4.05. MNH. Price US$2.

Gabon. 1967 Famous Aircraft. SG 88-90.

Cat. £25. MNH. Price US$12.

Samoa. 1998 80th Anniv of the Royal Air Force.

SG 1029-1032 Cat. £5.90 MNH. Price US$3.

Wallis & Futuna Islands.

1976. 1st Commercial Flight of Concorde.

SG 253. Cat. £48. MVLH Price US$18.

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2015-07-30T21:30:00.000-07:00

The 50th anniversary of the 1st aerial post in India was commemorated with a set 3 stamps on 18th February, 1961. A special commemorative flight was arranged over the original route. Special covers for this were issued and mail carried on the special flight received a circular handstamp and were backstamped at Naini.

5p stamp shows the First Aerial Post cancellation, 15p Air India Boeing 707 and Humber Sommer Biplane,

Re.1 H.Pequet flying Humber Sommer plane and "Äerial Post" cancellation.

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2015-07-24T22:14:00.001-07:00

New lots posted on ebay: click on the link or copy & paste in a new browser window.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/amecvi11/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

There are a lot of good & interesting items. First flight covers, FDCs, etc. There a couple of Gandhi postmark covers, Swiss FDCs etc.

Also listed are some early Air India covers.

I have listed 10 scarce India International Balloon Mela 1985 flown covers. Only 100 covers of each were flown on the balloons taking part in the mela. I have never seen these listed on ebay before. All the covers have details of the balloon, pilot, landing point.

Here are some previews:

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Air India First Flight covers

2015-07-21T08:35:00.002-07:00

Air India flew internationally on 8th June, 1948 when its Bombay - London service, via Cairo & Geneva was inaugurated. A special 12as postage stamp showing a Lockheed Constellation was issued to be used on mails sent on the first flight. This stamp was valid for one day only. Mails were postmarked with a special rectangular cachet. The aircraft used was a Lockheed Constellation L-749A named Malabar Princess, registration VT-CQP. However, some privately printed first flight covers had the aircraft name printed as "Rajput Princess". Air India issued special long covers which became their trademark in the next two decades.

I have posted some Air India First Flight covers in the Air India First Flight cover page. Here are some of the images:

Cover is signed by the pilot.

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2014-11-20T22:19:00.000-08:00

New page added title: Tata Air Mails 1932-46

History of Tata Airlines (precursor of Air India) told through aero-philately.

Click on the link:

http://aerophilatelist.blogspot.in/p/blog-page_24.html

2014-11-13T23:07:00.001-08:00

New page titled: Boeing 707 added to my blog on aviation stamps.

click on the link:

http://aviationstamps.blogspot.in/p/blog-page_13.html

2014-11-13T20:15:00.001-08:00

New lots listed on ebay. Have a look - click on the link:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/amecvi11/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

2014-07-19T01:22:00.002-07:00

I have listed some aviation stamps and some with other themes on Ebay. Click on this link:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/amecvi11/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

Have a look. Also have a look at my aviation stamps blog; I have revamped it:

http://aviationstamps.blogspot.com/

2014-05-24T21:21:00.001-07:00

I have listed some lots on ebay. Click onthe link to have a look:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/amecvi11/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

Thank you for looking.

Lots on Ebay

2014-04-29T23:31:00.004-07:00

I have listed several first flight covers on ebay. Click on the link:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/amecvi11/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

Thanks for looking.

Hello everyone

2014-04-23T04:44:00.000-07:00

I had a problem with my esophagus and had to have a surgery in March. I was in hospital for most of March and have been home since early April. God heard the prayers of my loved ones and well wishers and has healed me internally. I am now on the mend and should be my usual self soon. I hope to resume posting in the next few days.

Apart from the posts, I have pages on various topics on the bar at the top. BOAC First Flights - covers flown to/from India etc. Click on the titles to view the contents. This is my contribution to Indian aero-philately. I will attempt to list first flight covers to/from India of various airlines. This will take some time but I will be working on it. I will display covers that I have in my collection to make it visually appealing.

New blog on aviation stamps

2014-03-09T10:29:00.001-07:00

I have started another blog which showcases my Aviation Stamps collection. This blog will eventually show all of my collection in pages under various heads; airlines, airports, various aircraft under heads like: concorde, airbus, air force planes etc. It will be sometime before I am able to show all I have, but a beginning has been made, see my blog: http://aviationstamps.blogspot.in/

I have uploaded scans to various pages: airships, airlines, airports, helicopters, concorde, Louis Bleriot stamps, parachutes. This blog will consist of pages rather than posts. See the bar on the top and click on the topics to see the contents.

Keep visiting it as I will update it regularly with more pages of different topics. I would love to have your feedback/comments, advice etc.

French Pioneer Aviators

2014-03-04T09:53:00.001-08:00

BARONESS de LAROCHE

The first woman to win her fixed wing pilot's license was the self-styled Baroness de la Roche (real name Elise Raymonde Deroche). She was taught to fly by Charles Voisin at their base at Chalons. Voisin's aircraft could only seat one person, so she operated the plane by herself while he stood on the ground and gave instructions. After she mastered taxiing around the airfield, she lifted off and flew 300 yards (270 m). On 8 March 1910, de Laroche became the first woman in the world to receive a pilot licence when the Aero-Club of France issued her licence #36 of the International Aeronautics Federation (F.A.I.) at the age of 24.

She participated in the aviation meetings at Heliopolis, Budapest, Rouen, and Saint Petersburg. During the show in St. Petersburg, she was personally congratulated by Tsar Nicholas II who also praised her for her bravery and audacity. There, she was presented once again as "Baroness" de Laroche. Thereafter, the title became commonly used. In July 1910 de Laroche was participating in the week long airshow at Reims in France. On 8 July her aeroplane crashed and she suffered such severe injuries that her recovery was in doubt, but two years later she was fit again and had returned to flying. On 25 November 1913 de Laroche won the Aero-Club of France's Femina Cup for a non-stop long-distance flight of over 4 hours duration.

de Laroche set two women's altitude records,in June 1919,one at 15,700 feet (4,800 m); and also the women's distance record, at 201 miles (323 km).

In the summer of 1919, de la Roche, who was also a talented engineer, reported to the airfield at Le Crotoy to copilot a new aircraft in hopes of becoming the first female test pilot. Unfortunately, the aircraft went into a dive on its landing approach and both the Baroness and the pilot were killed.

A statue of de la Roche stands at Le Bourget airport in France.

de Laroche can be seen on this stamp and souvenir sheet issued by France

in 2010.

Stamp issued by Gibraltar inscribed " Baroness Raymonde de Laroache, first woman with pilot's licence (8th March, 1910)"

Ferdinand Leon Delgrange

Another prominent aviator of the period was Ferdinand Leon Delgrange who was a contemporary of Farman. He bought one of the first Voisin aircraft in 1907 but did not modify it like Farman. On 23 June Delagrange set an endurance record of 18 minutes, 30 seconds at Milan. On 6 September Delagrange flew for 25km (15 miles) at Issy establishing a record having done it in 29 minutes, 53 seconds. On 17 October he established a world record (6 miles in 7 minutes, 36 seconds), and in December set a new monoplane record.

On 4th January 1910 Ferdinand Léon Delagrange, one of the greatest pilots of his time, was killed while flying at Pau. The machine was the Bleriot XI which Delagrange had used at the Doncaster meeting, and to which he had fitted a 50 horse-power Gnome engine, which proved too heavy. After two successful laps the strain of the engine was too much and one of the wing collapsed and the machine crashed killing Delgrange.

He was president of the Aéro-Club de France in 1908 and was awarded one of the first eight aviators certificates by the Aero Club de France on 7 January 1909.

Souvenir sheet issued by France in 2010 with a stamp showing Delgrange and sketches of the Voisin biplane.

Delgrange's biplane of 1907 can be seen on this stamp issued by

Equatorial Guinea in 1979