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Through the years since the first
definitive issue of Pitcairn stamps was released in 1940, the philately of Pitcairn
Island has enjoyed a much-sought-after status among stamp collectors throughout
the world. Aircraft Over Pitcairn
This issue follows the 1989 "Aircraft" issue and is entitled "Aircraft over Pitcairn." It features a further four, very different aircraft. Although Pitcairn has no landing strip, contact with others is vitally important even if it is simply a plane flying overhead.
If the aircraft are lower than high-flying commercial aircraft they cause great excitement in Adamstown, the Pitcairn village, with most of the residents rushing outside to witness the event. Walrus (August 1937)
In 1937 Pitcairn was visited by the cruiser H.M.S. Leander and new signboards were erected to reaffirm British sovereignty. Each read: This island belongs to H.B.M. King George VI. It was visited by H.M.S. Leander on 6th of August 1937. Signed J.W. Rivers-Carnac, Capt. R.N.
In connection with the Leander's visits, Fligh Lieutenant R.A.R. Rae, from a Walrus single-engine amphibious biplane, took aerial photographs of each island. Flagpoles, with the Union Jack flying, were also erected and charted on each island. The visit was to ascertain their suitability for use as land and sea-plane bases in view of the then awakening interest in Trans-Pacific aviation. In 1938 the islands were formally incorporated into one administrative district known as the "Pitcairn Group of Islands." In December of 1940 the Royal Navy discovered that a Union Jack had been replaced by a Nazi Swastika. The landing party sent ashore also discovered this notice: With apologies to King George VI, this island is now the property of the Greater German Reich.
Alouette III (December 1971)
The French helicopter cruiser Jeanne d'Arc (10,575 tons, four 100mm guns, 8 helicopters, 6 Exocet missiles and a complement of 627) visited Pitcairn as part of a training exercise, along with the escort vessel Victor Schoelcher. One of the helicopters landed on Pitcairn and the Islanders were invited to visit the cruiser. "There were 'noisy birds' flying around all the time' wrote a correspondent for the Island's newspaper.
Dassault VP-BMS Falcon 900 (August 2002)
While little is known about this particular aeroplane, Google describes it as extraordinarily widely traveled, having been sighted all over the world. It describes it as a plane with a colorful history. It belongs to a Bermudan company 'Flying Lion' but is based in Boca Raton, Florida. Flying Lion is owned by Lord Ashcroft, formerly the British Conservative Party treasurer, who is alleged to have circumvented British political party funding rules by 'donating' the aircraft to transport Conservative MPs during election campaigns. Lord Ashcroft recently visited New Zealand in this aircraft, following his posting of a reward for the recovery of many famous medals stolen from the Waiouru Army Museum. In 2002 the Pitcairn Commissioner received this communication: "This is to inform you that our airspace has just been invaded by VP-BMS Falcon 900 which departed Tahiti Airport at 17th 19UTC and flew over and around Pitcairn several times at around 2000 UTC. A fax informing us of the flyover was here at Satcom when I came in a few minutes ago, after the event. Betty, Com. Officer."
Piper Comanche 260C (March 2007)
The April 2007 edition of Miscelland, the Pitcairn Island newspaper, wrote: "Is it a bird ... no, it's a plane! A rare and unusual event took place late last month in the skies over Pitcairn Island. At 7.45 a.m., on March 28, most residents were outside craning their necks and scanning the skies to follow the progress of a small blue and white plane as it circled around the Island several times before continuing on into the wild blue yonder."
For some of the younger Islanders it was the first time they had seen an aeroplane. It was, in fact, Wojciech Mirski who piloted his Piper Comanche during stage two of his world trip and dropped a small parcel, with a parachute and cow-bell attached, for his friend Meralda Warren, but despite several searches, it hasn't been found yet. The Islanders described it as like looking for a needle in a haystack, given the Island's luxuriant tropical growth!
Technical details: The designer of the stamps is Barry Spicer, Surrey Downs, South Australia http://www.barryspicer.com.au. Printer of the stamps is Southern Colour Print, Dunedin, New Zealand. The stamp printing process is Offset Litho. The stamp size is 40.0 mm x 30.0 mm horizontal. The sheet format is 2 panes of 20 stamps with a central gutter. The perforation guage is 13.33 x 13.60. The stamp denominations are: $1.00, $1.50, $1.80, and $2.50. The paper used is 104 gsm Tullis Russell non phosphor gummed paper. The period of sale of the stamps is 21 October 2009 for a period of two years.
Pitcairn Stamp Issues(Click small stamp
images to see larger views.) Since 1940, Pitcairn stamp issues have included: |
