Air Transport

As part of an ongoing series featuring transport, this set of four stamps depicted aircraft involved in important stages in the history of New Zealand's airmail transportation.

Boeing Seaplane - 3c
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.

Lockheed Electra - 4c
Introduced by Union Airlines in 1937, the aircraft, a 10 passenger craft with a 188 mph cruising speed was one of three later taken over by National Airways Corporation (NAC) now Air New Zealand.  "Kauka" the Electra featured on the stamp was the last used by NAC and it can now be seen in retirement at Auckland's Transport and Technology Museum.

Bristol Freighter - 5c
Essentially a cargo plane it was operated throughout New Zealand  by Safe Air Limited (previously Strait Air Freight Express Limited) and was a regular carrier of mail after 1958.

Short Flying Boat - 23c
This stamp features the Short Flying Boat "Aotearoa" which belonged to Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL)  now Air New Zealand.  The "Aotearoa" made the inaugural flight from Auckland to Sydney forging the final link of an aerial chain between New Zealand and overseas countries.  This chain was part of the Empire Airmail Scheme initiated by Imperial Airways (now British Airways).

Stamp bulletin

This stamp issue first appeared in New Zealand Post Stamp Bulletin No. 12 in August 1974.

Acknowledgments: Bulletin scanned and provided by John Biddlecombe of the New Zealand Society of Great Britain. Their web site offers further information useful to those interested in the stamps and postal history of New Zealand. Link: http://www.nzsgb.org.uk/