In 1908, Farnborough was the site of the United Kingdom's first powered flight by the American, Samuel Franklin Cody. He took to the air in British Army Aircraft One. 2008 is also the 60th anniversary of the Farnborough Air Show.
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Set of 6 stamps:
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About the stamps
1st Class - The Red Arrows
The Red Arrows are the RAF's aerobatic display team. Formed in 1965
they have performed at
over 4000 displays in 53 countries. This photograph was taken at the
Dartmouth Airshow in 2006. Photograph by Leigh Harris.
48p - The RAF Falcons
The RAF Falcons are based at RAF Brize Norton as part of the No. 1
Parachute Training School.
All of the Falcons are selected from the RAF's Parachute Jumping
Instructors. Team members
receive further intensive training to ensure that together, they are
able to perform the highly
skilled freefall and canopy manoeuvres that culminate in the Team
safely landing, in quick
succession, in front of the spectators. Photograph taken at Biggin Hill
in 2006. Photograph by Andy Critchfield.
50p - Red Arrows Fly-past
Demonstrating the power of the Red Arrows to enthral an audience with
their aerobatic feats
a young fan enjoys the spectacle at Farnborough in 2006. Photograph
by Ellis Nadler.
56p - Avro Vulcan Prototypes and Avro 707s
The Avro Vulcan was a British delta wing subsonic bomber that was
operated by the Royal Air
Force from 1953 until 1984. The Vulcan was part of the RAF's V bomber
force, which fulfilled the
role of nuclear deterrence against the Soviet Union during the Cold
War. It was also used in a
conventional bombing role during the Falklands conflict with Argentina.
Only one example of the
type remains in flying condition. The Avro 707 was an experimental
aircraft built to test the delta
wing later incorporated into the Vulcan. This photograph was taken at
Farnborough in 1953. Photo: RAF Museum London.
72p - Robert Wyndham, the One-armed Parachutist
This photograph, taken in 1933, shows the parachutist Robert Wyndham
about to leap from an
aircraft. Wyndham's fame was due to him having only one arm. Photo:
RAF Museum London.
81p - WB Moorhouse rounds the Beacon at Hendon Air Race
This photograph taken around 1912 shows the aviator WB Moorhouse flying
in an air race at
Hendon. Moorhouse went on to become the first pilot to be awarded a
Victoria Cross in 1915
during the First World War. Photograph Royal Aeronautical Society.
The 100 Years of Aviation Generic Sheet, containing 20 x 1st class
Red Arrows stamps, features archive photography taken at air displays
over the past 100 years, including Samuel F Cody, the Bristol Bulldog,
the Cierva autogyro, English Electirc Lightning, Sikorsky R-4, Airbus
A380, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Supermarine Spitfire.
Columns 1-3 include double-size pictorial labels.
Technical details:
The stamps were designed by the Roundel agency. The 41 x 30mm stamps
are printed in gravure by De La Rue Security Print, Dunstable, perf
14.5 x 14, with PVA gum in sheets of 25/50. The Smilers sheet is
printed in litho by Cartor. All images are are
Copyright 2008 by Royal Mail.
As the Royal Mail fdc is not suitable for the Smilers stamps, we have produced an exclusive FDC for the sheet, to be sold in sets of 4. As the Smilers stamp from the sheet is not the same as that from the set, Smilers singles are also offered
Set of 4 covers each with 5 Smilers stamps - price £17.50,
Postmarked with L11022 and L11017 (2 covers of the set with each);
single stamp on cover price £3.75
Set
of 6 mint
Set of 6 on Royal Mail fdc
Set of 6 stamp cards
Presentation Pack
Smilers Mint sheet -
First postmarks available for the day of issue are shown below. These
may not be to scale.
Ref FD817 Philatelic Bureau Official Postmark |
Ref FD818 Farnborough, Official Postmark |
Ref FD818NP Farnborough, Official non-pictorial postmark |
Ref L11017 Farnborough |
Ref L11015 Avro Vulcan, Farnborough, Hants |
Ref L11022 Air Displays - A Celebration of Flight, Farnborough, Hants - British Aeroplane No 1 |
Ref L11021 100 Years of Aviation, Avro Lancaster, Duxford, Cambridgeshire |
Ref L11024 Trenchard House, Farnborough, Hants |
Ref L11020 Air Displays, Farnborough |
Ref L11023 Air Displays - A Celebration of Flight, Biggin Hill, Kent - Sopwith Camel |
Ref L11016 Air Displays, Farnborough, Hants |
Ref L11019 50th Anniv Year, RAFLET Stamp Club, Biggin Hill, Westerham, Kent |
Ref M11029 Air Shows, Red Arrows Lutterworth Public House (actually the 'Red Arrow') |
Ref M11030 Air Displays, Concord Road, Birmingham |
Ref N11032 Southport Airshow, Southport, Merseyside |
Other postmarks showing aircraft |
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Ref N11033 Air Displays, New Brighton, Wallassey |
Ref L11018 RAF 90th, Bletchley Park Post Office, Milton Keynes |
Ref L11025 Airfield Way, Hornchurch, Essex |
This page updated 4 July 2008
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