Description

A superb and diverse collection of 28 aviation‑themed first day covers, many of which are signed by pilots, squadron leaders, test pilots and commanding officers. This set spans major aviation anniversaries, historic commemorative flights, glider launches, jet milestones, trans‑Atlantic missions and Antarctic operations.

A highly collectible bundle for aviation enthusiasts, ATC collectors, military historians and philatelists.

What’s Included – Full Breakdown of All 28 Covers

1. Air Training Corps – 20th Anniversary (Newhaven Squadron)

2 covers

• Avro Anson Mk 21

• De Havilland Chipmunk T.10

• Silver Wedding stamp

• Both signed by Sqdn. Ldr. G. Johnston

• Flown air experience flights at RAF Manston

2. ATC – 30th Anniversary First Glider Launch from Water (Lake Windermere)

2 covers

• Slingsby Falcon Glider

• “Glider Mail” cachets

• Flown in Slingsby T31B gliders

• Signed by pilots and ATC personnel

• Flight times recorded (4 mins 25 secs / 4 mins 23 secs)

3. ATC – Hovercraft & Chipmunk Commemorative Flights

1 cover

• Chipmunk T.10 flight across the Solent

• SRN6 Hovercraft mail

• Signed

• European Communities 1973 stamp

4. ATC – 30th Anniversary First Flight of the Gloster Meteor Mk.1

3 covers

• Gloster Meteor Mk.1

• Tutankhamun stamp

• All signed by pilots

• Flown Chipmunk T.10 commemorative flights

• Flight times recorded (24 mins / 30 mins 20 secs)

5. ATC – 30th Anniversary First Towed Glider Across the Atlantic (Waco Hadrian I)

4 covers

• Montreal → Prestwick 1943 anniversary

• Canadian & British stamps

• Signed by Wing Commanders, Captains and pilots

• Includes glider school flights and DC‑3 commercial commemorative flight

• Route maps included on some covers

6. ATC – 60th Anniversary First UK Parachute Descent (1914)

1 cover

• Grahame‑White Type X Charabanc

• Parachute Mail cachet

• Signed by pilot R. Paget and parachutist Rfn. T. Day

• Includes free‑fall details

7. ATC – 33rd Anniversary Battle of Britain

2 covers

• Supermarine Spitfire Mk.1a

• One flown in Spitfire Mk IX (signed by Adrian C. Swire)

• One flown in Messerschmitt 108 (signed by L. Walton)

• Jersey and Silver Wedding stamps

8. ATC – 60th Anniversary First Flight Across the North Sea (Blériot XI)

2 covers

• Norwegian & British stamps

• Signed by pilots

• Includes Royal Norwegian Air Force Saab Safir flight

• Includes Air Anglia Fokker F27 Friendship flight

• Detailed comparisons of 1914 vs 1974 flights

9. Hawker Siddeley Aviation – 21st Anniversary First Flight of the Hawker Hunter F1

2 covers

• Hunter XL612 test flight (signed by J. Hawkins)

• Hawker Siddeley Hawk XX154 first flight (signed by A.P.S. Jones)

• Escorted by Hunter XL612

• Full test flight details included

10. Bristol Brabazon – 25th Anniversary First Flight (1949)

1 cover

• Bristol Type 167 Brabazon

• Flown on Concorde 01 (pre‑production)

• Signed by test pilot John Cochrane

• “Flown in Concorde” cachet

• Robert the Bruce stamp

11. Canadian Armed Forces – 407 Squadron Standard Presentation

4 covers

• Lockheed Hudson Mk V

• Canadair CP‑107 Argus Mk I

• All signed by commanding officers

• Includes Arctic operations, Hawaii operations, Abbotsford Air Show

• Lazo, BC postmarks

12. Royal New Zealand Air Force – Operation Icecube 12 (Antarctica)

6 covers

• C‑130H Hercules flights

• All flown Christchurch → McMurdo Sound

• All with Ross Dependency Antarctic stamps

• All with full crew lists and flight times

• Several signed by captains and crew

• Includes flights NML 836, 837, 838, 839, 840, 841

H2: Why This Set Is Special

• 28 covers total

• Many signed by pilots, squadron leaders, test pilots, commanding officers

• Multiple flown covers with detailed flight logs

• International scope: UK, Canada, Iceland, Norway, New Zealand, Antarctica

• Historic aircraft featured:

  • Spitfire Mk IX

  • Messerschmitt 108

  • Gloster Meteor Mk.1

  • Waco Hadrian I

  • Slingsby gliders

  • Chipmunk T.10

  • Hawker Hunter F1

  • Hawker Siddeley Hawk

  • Bristol Brabazon

  • Concorde 01

  • Lockheed Hudson Mk V

  • Canadair Argus Mk I

  • C‑130H Hercules

  • Fokker Friendship

  • Saab Safir

• Rich philatelic value: rare stamps, special cancellations, anniversary cachets

• Perfect for aviation collectors, ATC historians, and military philatelists