200915
8 x 50p Sikorski Hoverfly Sheetlet for £4.00

200916
8 x 50p Blackburn Dart Sheetlet for £4.00

Selected highlights of a Centenary of Naval Aviation 1909 - 2009

On 7th May 1909 the British Admiralty ordered the construction of the first ‘aerial scout airship’, specifically for naval and military purposes, and began the history of naval aviation celebrated in 2009.

Three years later Lt Samson made the first take off from a moving ship (HMS Hibernia) at sea which is depicted in the Tristan da Cunha £1.50 Souvenir Sheet.

On 1 April 1918 , the Admiralty passed all its air assets to the newly formed Royal Air Force, and this included all the aircraft and men. They had entered the First World War with a total of 93 machines and on relinquishing control, some 3,000 aircraft and 55,000 servicemen were handed over.

In 1924, HMS Hermes was commissioned as the first aircraft carrier specifically designed for the task.

At the end of the Second World War, the Royal Navy had around 11,000 aircraft.

The Fleet started to employ helicopters for anti-submarine work from the mid-1950’s.

The Sea Harrier vertical landing and take off aircraft came into service in 1979.

In 2009, it is planned that work will start on two new Queen Elizabeth Class ‘super- carriers’. At 60,000 tons, these will be the largest ships to ever have been built for the Royal Navy.

Abridged from a history of Naval Aviation supplied by the Fleet Air Arm

Naval Aviation and Tristan da Cunha

The ability of Royal Naval ships to carry helicopters has proved a huge benefit to Tristan da Cunha , as visiting ships can land personnel and cargo when the harbour is closed, and often the aircraft can be used to reach the outer islands and the Tristan mountain. There are several examples of how helicopters can benefit the isolated community, for example in carrying out scientific research and bringing equipment ashore. It was a helicopter from HMS Endurance that provided return transport for the Denstone Expedition to Inaccessible Island in 1983.

From the February 2009 Tristan Newsletter :
This interesting stamp issue features design by CASCO Studio from ships paintings by John Batchelor and printing by BDT International Security Printing.

The 6 x 50p stamps are available as a mint set for £3 feature four sailing vessels, including the Tudor Mary Rose, the tea clipper Cutty Sark, 1902 steel hulled 3 masted ship Suomen Joutsen (pictured passing Tristan) and the first HMS Endurance. Also featured is cruise ship MS Explorer, which had visited Tristan, but sank after hitting an iceberg in November 2007. Finally the series features the new Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel Lyme Bay which brought Operation Zest to Tristan in 2008.