2001 - Aircraft.

         Over the years there have been many stamps depicting aircraft going right back the earliest airmail stamps in the 1930s. Collecting New Zealand stamps showing aircraft would make a very large and interesting thematic collection. Maybe one day we might do more with this idea in this blog.

         Aircraft have played an important, though sometimes unnoticed, role in the life of New Zealanders. Both within our own boundaries and in our connection with the rest of the world, they have made significant contributions to defence, agriculture, transportation, industry and in bringing people together. This issue gave due recognition to the aircraft that have shaped our aviation history and affected the way we live. Great pictures of aircraft that made a big difference in New Zealand.

The Stamps.

40c - Douglas DC-3.

What a versatile vehicle this was. The Douglas DC-3 was first used by the Royal New Zealand Airforce (RNZAF) as long-distance transport into the Pacific theatre of WWII. In post-war years it became the mainstay of domestic travel, the one shown belonged to NAC the main domestic airline of New Zealand. It was even used for dropping water in fire-fighting and for aerial topdressing in the rural sector.

2015 75 Anniversary of Air New Zealand.

1955 Stamp Centenary.

80c - Fletcher FU24 Topdresser.

The Fletcher FU24 Topdresser is the mainstay of the country’s aerial topdressing fleet and which could be called a Kiwi icon. It was made in New Zealand, designed especially for the role of applying fertiliser to New Zealand farmland. These amazing little aircraft were well suited to working from grass strips found on farms all over New Zealand. They could get right down in valleys and climb steeply over hills and ridges to deliver their loads to the most difficult of places.

90c - de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth.

The Tiger Moth, a versatile and very forgiving aircraft, was first used by aero clubs in the 1930s before being taken up by the air force to become the standard wartime RNZAF trainer. After the war, it was again used by aero clubs for training and general flights. When the idea came up of aerial topdressing, it was military Tiger Moths the were used in the first experiments, pioneering the industry until purpose-built aircraft such as the Fletcher FU24 took over.

$1.30 - Fokker FVIIb/3m (Southern Cross).

Flown by Charles Kingsford Smith the Southern Cross was the first aircraft to make a trans-Tasman crossing. The early pioneering flights made by aviators such as Kingsford Smith linked New Zealand to the rest of the world in a way ships could never do.

1958 First Trans-Tasman Flight 30th Anniversary.

$1.50 - de Havilland DH100 Vampire.

The Vampire was the RNZAF’s first operational jet aircraft. I've always liked the Vampire design. When I first saw one fly over Blockhouse Bay I thought like "Wow! What a great aircraft." RNZAF No. 14 Squadron was equipped with sixteen de Havilland Vampire jets in 1952 but since World War II was over, they saw no action, mainly being used for peacekeeping roles in locations such as Cyprus and Singapore. By the late 1960s, the aging Vampires were mainly only used for training until they were finally retired. One air-worthy one can still be found in Inglewood, Taranaki while another 8 can be found on static display at various places around New Zealand.

$2.00 - Boeing and Westervelt Seaplane.
Flown by George Bolt this plane carried the first domestic official airmail in New Zealand. On 16 December 1919, a Boeing Seaplane piloted by Captain Bolt had the distinction of flying the first officially assigned airmail in New Zealand from Auckland to Dargaville.  The Boeing Seaplane covered the 112 miles in just over one hour thirty minutes.
See 1974 Vintage Aircraft.

Set of six Maxi Cards.
I do not like the distracting way these pictures appear to zoom towards their centre.

First Day Cover - 2nd May 2001. 

Miniature Sheet Booklet.
Collectable booklet containing a range of miniature sheets, six incorporated the individual stamp and one comprised of the set of six stamps. As well as including the stamps, it told the story behind each aircraft.

Technical Information.
Date of issue: 2 May 2001.
The number of stamps: Six.
Denominations and designs: 40c Douglas CD-3, 80c Fletcher FU24 Topdresser, 90c de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth, $1.30 Fokker FVIIb/3m (Southern Cross), $1.50 de Havilland DH100 Vampire, $2.00 Boeing & Westervelt Seaplane.
Stamps and first-day cover designed: Rob Poulton, Auckland, New Zealand.
The number of stamps per sheet: 25.
The number of colours: Four process colours.
Printer and process: Southern Colour Print, New Zealand by lithography.
Stamp size: 28mm x 39.71mm.
Perforation gauge: 14.
Paper type: 103 gsm De la Rue red phosphor coated.
Special blocks: Plate/imprint blocks could be obtained by purchasing at least six stamps from a sheet. Barcode, value blocks and logo blocks could be obtained by purchasing at least two stamps from a sheet. Barcode blocks were available in A format for sheet stamps.
Period of sale: These stamps remained on sale until 1 May 2002.

Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZ

You can visit their website and Online Catalogue at, http://stampsnz.com/

Information & images for this post came from.

New Zealand Post (Stamps)