Airplane Stamps

Series - Canadian Aircraft, Flying Boats

Issued 15 November 1979

The transportation theme, which began with ships, will continue in a new series of stamps devoted to Canadian aircraft. Flying boats will be featured in the first issue. These water-borne aircraft greatly improved access to lakes and rivers opened up by the canoe. Robert Bradford and Jacques Charette collaborated on the design of the flying boat stamps. Mr. Bradford, curator of the Aviation and Space Division of the National Museum of Science and Technology did the paintings of the four aircraft. Ottawa graphic designer Jacques Charette prepared the designs and typography.

Title: Canadair CL-215

Observing that the World War II aircraft converted into water bombers were growing obsolete, Canadair of Montreal designed and built the CL-215 amphibian. It first flew in 1967 and remains the worlds only aircraft designed specifically for water bombing. The CL-215 has made over 80 drops a day because it can fill its tanks while in motion, skimming across a lake or ocean at speeds of over 100 kilometres an hour, through waves reaching heights of two meters. The amphibians sturdy structure enables it to withstand this sort of treatment as well as the strong thermal currents encountered near fires. The CL-215 has proved itself not only in fire fighting, but lso in pesticide and herbicide spraying, utility transport, patrol flying, aerial survey, and search-and-rescue work. Several overseas governments have purchased the aircraft. This 17-cent stamp shows a Canadair CL-215 with the yellow and red finish of the aircraft operated by the province of Quebec.

Title: Curtiss HS-2L

In 1917 the United States created the Curtiss HS-2L as a patrol bomber for antisubmarine work. After the war the Canadian government, the Ontario Provincial Air Service, Laurentide Air Service, and other organizations flew the HS-2L for everything from forest fire patrols and mercy flights to patrols against rumrunners nd opium smugglers. The HS-2L had personality. If the Liberty engine overheated, it spewed scalding radiator water on the crew. This fickle, noisy monster often failed, forcing the flight mechanic to repair it in the air or at remote, bug-infested lakes. With its wooden hull, the HS-2L soaked up gallons of water, reducing its payload significantly because of the excess weight; and it was such a fragile craft that one sank after hitting a whisky bottle in Toronto Harbour. Despite its defects, the Curtiss HS-2L ushered in the era of bush flying in Canada. This 17-cent stamp shows a Curtiss HS-2L (G-CAOS) of the Ontario Provincial Air Service.

Title: Vickers Vedette

Canadian Vickers Limited built the Vedette, a three-seater flying boat designed for forest-fire patrols and photographic work. The Vedette went through six marks (versions) after the first one flew in 1924. The aircraft boasted a maximum speed of 90 miles an hour, though some pilots claimed it took off at 85 miles an hour, flew at 85 miles an hour and landed at 85 miles an hour. The company exported several of the planes to Chile and a number were purchased by the RCAF, which based them in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Others served in a coast-to-coast photographic survey. The Vedette starred in a number of spectacular mercy missions, and some airmen even took it up for aerial goose hunting. The Vedette saw service with the RCAF until the beginning of World War II. This 35-cent stamp features a Vickers Vedette in the finish and markings of the RCAF before World War II.

Title: Consolidated Canso

In the early 1930's, the United States Navy issued specifications for a long-range flying boat. Designed by Consolidated Aircraft, it later became known as the Catalina. After the Second World War broke out, the RCAF ordered a large number for antisubmarine duty. These 149 were built as amphibians, according to RCAF specifications, by Boeing at Vancouver and by Canadian Vickers at Montreal. They were called Cansos. The RCAF flew the Canso until 1962 for search and rescue, Arctic survey, and general transport duties. The stamp shows the aircraft in which Flight Lieutenant David Hornell of Mimico, Ontario, won the Victoria Cross. Ignoring concentrated antiaircraft fire on his blazing plane, he attacked a surfaced U-boat and sank it with depth charges. He skilfully crash-landed, but died from exposure in the Atlantic's icy waters. Robert Bradford and Jacques Charette collaborated on the design of the flying boat stamps. This 35-cent stamp features the all-white Canso (9754) flown by Flt. Lt. David Hornell, V.C.

Series - Canadian Aircraft, Canadian Military Aircraft

Issued 10 November 1980

Military flying is the pillar of Canadian aviation. The military gave thousands of young Canadian aviators their start and provided Canadian manufacturers invaluable experience in the design and production of modern aircraft. The military aircraft stamps were designed by Robert Bradford and Jacques Charette. Mr. Bradford prepared the paintings that appear in the typographic format designed by Mr. Charette.

Title: Avro Canada CF-100

Soon after the Second World War, Canadian authorities decided that to stave off the Soviet bomber threat, the R.C.A.F needed an all-weather, day and night fighter capable of operating in the Arctic. Since no such aircraft existed, and since the R.C.A.F wanted to avoid over-dependence on foreign manufacturers, Avro Canada began work on the CF-100 in 1946. It first flew on 19 January l950. The CF-100 became the R.C.A.F's first jet fighter to be designed and built in Canada, and the world's first straight-winged combat aircraft to break the sound barrier. Avro eventually produced 692 of the aircraft, exporting 53 to Belgium. The R.C.A.F still uses CF-100's for electronic warfare training. The aircraft on the stamp are of R.C.A.F. Squadron No. 428, known as the "Ghost Squadron". This squadron was based at Uplands Airport, Ottawa, until disbanded in 1961.

Title: Avro Lancaster

The Avro Lancaster evolved from the Manchester, an unsuccessful two-engined bomber. The Lancaster first flew on 9 January 1941, and entered combat on 3 March 1942. The airplane eventually flew 156,000 wartime sorties, dropping 608,612 tons of high-explosive bombs and 51,513,106 incendiaries. The twelve R.C.A.F squadrons that flew the Lancaster contributed greatly to these totals. Two Canadians won the Victoria Cross in Lancasters: Andrew Charles Mynarski burned to death trying to save a man trapped in the rear turret; Ian Willoughby Bazalgette completed his mission despite heavy damage to his aircraft... to save two crew members unable to bail out, he crash-landed the machine, but died when it blew up. Victory Aircraft Limited of Malton, Ontario, built 430 Lancasters. The Lancaster served the postwar R.C.A.F in air/sea rescue maritime reconnaissance, and a photo-reconnaissance project that completed the mapping of Canada from the air. Shown on the stamp is Serial No. KB700, the "Ruhr Express", the first Lancaster built in Canada by Victory Aircraft. The aircraft was operated by R.C.A. F Squadron No. 405. "City of Vancouver Squadron".

Title: Curtiss JN-4 Canuck

The Imperial Munitions Board took over the Curtiss Aircraft factory in Toronto early in 1917. Rechristened Canadian Aeroplanes, Limited, the operation began large-scale production of the JN-4, a British-American-designed trainer. By the end of the First World War, the company had turned out approximately 2900 "Jennies", including 680 for export to the United States as well as some for spare parts. Thousands of Canadian airmen trained in the JN-4. It carried Canada's first airmail on a flight from Montreal to Toronto. Canada's first registered commercial aircraft was a JN-4, owned by a Regina company. The first aircraft to fly across the mountains of Western Canada was a JN-4, piloted by Captain Ernest C. Hoy, D.F.C., of Vancouver. The stamp shows an aircraft of the 85th Squadron stationed at Camp Borden, Ontario, and is depicted in the colour scheme of R.A.F. First World War trainers.

Title: Hawker Hurricane

In early 1934 Hawker Aircraft of Great Britain began designing a monoplane fighter to be powered by Rolls-Royce's latest engine. The aircraft, soon to gain fame as the Hurricane, first flew on 6 November 1935. One R.C.A.F. squadron and one squadron of Canadians in the R.A.F flew Hurricanes in the Battle of Britain. The aircraft quickly became outmoded as a daytime fighter but proved useful for other tasks. For instance, the R.C.A.F used it as a night tighter and for train strafing and shipping attacks. The Canadian Car and Foundry Company of Fort William, Ontario, produced 1451 Hurricanes. The aircraft illustrated on the stamp are Canadian-built Hurricanes from R.C.A.F. No. 1 Fighter Squadron, one of the units that participated in the Battle of Britain.

Series - Canadian Aircraft, Transport and Training Aircraft

Issued 24 November 1981

Robert Bradford painted the illustration, and graphic designer Jacques Charette developed the format and typography for the stamps.

Title: Canadair CL-41 Tutor

In 1958 Canadair Limited of Montreal decided to enter the jet training aircraft market with a private venture - the CL-41 Tutor basic jet trainer, the first aircraft of wholly original Canadair design. The design incorporated the views of RCAF pilots and service engineers who had vast experience under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The merits of the aircraft led to a decision by the government to purchase the CL-41 trainer in quantity for the RCAF. Between 1960-68, 212 Tutors were built by Canadair. Considerably more powerful than any other trainer in its class, the Tutor was well suited for adaptation to military use in ground attack duties. In Canada the CL-41 is still in service for basic training and is flown by the "Snowbirds" acrobatic team. The stamp depict a Canadair CL-41 Tutor in the finish of aircraft flown by the "Snowbirds".

Title: de Havilland Tiger Moth

Developed in Britain, the Tiger Moth elementary trainer first flew in 1931. De Havilland Canada built approximately 1, 500 Tiger Moths at their Toronto plant between 1937 and 1942, most of which were specially modified for Canadian conditions. The RCAF first used the Canadian model of the Tiger Moth for elementary pilot training in 1938. During the Second World War, thousands of pilots were trained on this aircraft at the Elementary Flying Training Schools operated under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Pilots remember the Tiger Moth as a pleasant aircraft to fly and one which was exceptionally responsive to the controls. The stamp depicts a de Havilland DH-82C Tiger Moth in Second World War trainer-yellow finish flying over Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

Series - Canadian Aircraft, Bush Aircraft

Issued 5 October 1982

In wilderness transportation, bush aircraft carry out the same work as the canoe. Both are practical devices. Yet an aura of glamour and adventure clings to them. The bush aircraft stamps were designed by Robert Bradford and Jacques Charette of Ottawa. The aircraft depicted show the diversity of Canadian bush flying: Roméo Vachon's FC-2W1 delivering airmail; the prototype Beaver, now in the National Aeronautical Collection; the Norseman as an air ambulance; and "Punch" Dickins' Super Universal G-CASK, perhaps the most famous of Canadian bush planes.

Title: Fairchild FC-2W1

Having improved the aerial camera and found it too sophisticated for existing aircraft, Sherman M. Fairchild, an American, built his own, the FC-1, forerunner of the FC-2W1. Although no FC-2W1's were built in Canada, the almost identical FC-2W2 and Model 71 were. Several FC-2W1's gained fame here. Piloted by Roméo Vachon, G-CAIP flew the first airmail run to Seven Islands and dropped the mail by parachute. In 1928 another FC-2W1, piloted by the "Duke" Schiller, helped rescue some German flyers stranded on the Strait of Belle Isle.

Title: de Havilland Canada Beaver

Shortly after the Second World War, the Ontario Provincial Air Service sought an aircraft to replace its aging fleet. De Havilland Canada examined the needs of the OPAS and of other bush operators and designed the Beaver. The prototype, shown on the stamp, first flew in August 1947. From then to 1968 de Havilland built almost 1,700 selling them in Canada and in more than sixty other countries. So sturdy and reliable is the aircraft that a used Beaver sells for more than its original price.

Title: Noorduyn Norseman

In 1934 Robert Noorduyn, an expatriate Dutchman, arrived in Montreal. There he produced a rugged, high-wing, single-engined monoplane with the ability to take off and land in a short distance with a good load. The plane first flew in 1935. Sales were slow until the Second World War. The RCAF used the Norseman for wireless and navigational training and later for search and rescue. The Saskatchewan Government Air Ambulance Service owned the aircraft depicted on the stamp.

Title: Fokker Super Universal

This aircraft evolved from the Fokker Universal designed by Robert Noorduyn. Canadian Vickers Limited of Montreal built about fifteen Super Universals. In 1928 "Punch" Dickins piloted G-CASK, an American-built Super Universal, 3,965 miles in a celebrated aerial exploration of the Barren Grounds. In 1929 another Arctic expedition was forced to abandon G-CASK. When recovered eleven months later, it started with little trouble. Another Super Universal that sank in the Burnside River flew perfectly when salvaged.

Series - Air Forces

Issued 4 September 1999

King George V authorized the Canadian Air Force (CAF) to be redesignated as the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) effective in 1924, but the history of Canada's military in the air began even earlier. To honour the creation of the RCAF, Canada Post will issue this pane of 16 authentically detailed aircraft stamps. The stamps will also be available as part of a four-piece Official First Day Cover set. During The Great War (1914-1918), Canadians flocked to join the British air services. By war's end, one in four Royal Air Force (RAF) officers was Canadian. More than 1,600 Canadian airmen gave their lives. Between the two world wars, the RCAF was involved with various military and civilian duties, flying supplies to the north, performing aerial surveys, and carrying out forestry and fire detection patrols. During World War II, Canada's air force grew to be the fourth-largest allied air power. Some 247,000 Canadian men and women wore the proud RCAF blue around the world and more than 17,000 aircrew perished. The RCAF provided a transportation squadron during the Korean War (1950-1953), then joined in the defence of North America and Western Europe and provided land-force transportation and search-and-rescue (SAR) service at home. The air force returned to combat in the Gulf War (1990-1991) and in 1999 with NATO forces in the Balkans. Always concerned about authenticity, Canada Post selected the 16 featured aircraft after consulting a panel of eminent historians, aviation experts, and representatives from the Office of Air Force Heritage and History. The selection criteria called for a range of planes that marked significant milestones in the development of Canada's air force. Consideration was given to visual appeal, time period, aircraft finish and affiliation with specific air-force units. Aircraft previously featured on Canadian stamps were excluded from the previous process. This De Haviland Mosquito F.B. VI was flown by Squadron Leader Bannock and Flying Officer Bruce of No. 418 Squadron. They proved the most successful team against jet-powered German V-1 flying bombs, destroying 18. "The researchers deserve a lot of the credit when it comes to this set," said Tiit Telmet of Toronto's Telmet Design Associates. "The authenticity they were able to help us achieve is outstanding." Illustrator Garry Lay concurs. "Each of these aircraft drawings represented 30 to 40 hours of computer drawing time alone - largely because we went through so many revisions in our attempts to be accurate." The exhaustive research, impeccable detail and fine artistry that have gone into the production of this special series ensure that it will be a favourite with philatelists and aircraft enthusiasts alike.

De Havilland Mosquito F.B. VI	Sopwith F.1 Camel
De Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter	De Havilland Canada CC-108 Caribou
Canadair CL-28 Argus MK.2	Canadair (North American) F-86 Sabre 6
McDonnell Douglas CF-18	Sopwith 5.F.1 Dolphin
Armstrong Whitworth Siskin IIIA	Canadian Vickers (Northrop) Delta II
Sikorsky CH-124A Sea King	Vickers-Armstrong Wellington MK.II
Avro Anson MK.I	Canadair (Lockheed) CF-104G Starfighter
Burgess-Dunne	Avro 504K
Fokker DR.-1, Canadair CT-114 Tutor	H101 Salto, Canadair CT-114 Tutor
De Havilland DH100 Vampire MK.III, Canadair CT-114 Tutor	Stearman A-75, H101 Salto