In August 12, 2004, 50 postage stamps from the Marshall Islands were featured as the World’s Greatest Aircraft.  The postage stamps were illustrated by renowned aviation artists Jack Fellows and Steve Ferguson.  It depicted 50 aircraft that have been pivotal in the history of powered flight.  The subject of the stamps was selected by the History of Powered Flight Advisory Board chaired by Colonel Walter J. Boyne (USAF, Ret.), former director of the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. 

World’s Greatest Aircraft features the Wright 1903 Flyer, the first powered airplane to demonstrate sustained flight under full pilot control; France’s Deperdussin Racer, the world’s fastest pre-World War I aircraft; Germany’s Fokker E1, considered to be the first true fighter plane by many people; and America’s Lockheed Vega, flown around the world by Wiley Post and by Amelia Earhart nonstop across the Atlantic. 

Also included among the 50 stamps are outstanding military aircraft from World Wars I and II: Britain’s Avro Lancaster, Germany’s Fokker D VII, Japan’s A6M Zero and
America’s P-51 Mustang.  Each stamp has a face value of $0.23.

Listed below are the complete 50 aircraft stamps in the issue:  

Wright 1903 Flyer, Bleriot X1, Curtiss Golden Flyer, Curtiss Flying Boat, Deperdussin Racer, Sikorsky Il’ya Muromets, Fokker E 1, Junkers J 1, S.E. 5a, Handley Page O/400, Fokker D VII, Junkers F 13, Lockheed Vega, M-130 Pan Am Clipper, Messerschmitt Bf 109, Spitfire, Junkers Ju 88, A6M Zero, Ilushin II-2, Heinkel He 178, C-47 Skytrain, Piper Cub, Avro Lancaster, B-17 Flying Fortress, Messerschmitt Me 262, B-29 Superfortress, P-51 Mustang, Yak 9, Bell Model 47, Bell X-1, Beechcraft Bonanza, An-225 Mriya, B-47 Stratojet, MIG-15, SAAB J35 Draken, B-52 Stratofortress, Boeing 367-80, U-2, C-130 Hercules, F-4 Phantom II, North American X-15, Sikorsky S-61 (HH-3E), Learjet 23, SR-71 Blackbird, Boeing 747, Concorde, Airbus A300, MIG-29, F-117A Nighthawk, F/A-22 Raptor

B-2 Spirit Northrop Grumman Stealth Bomber

The B-2 Spirit aircraft began as a black project identified as High Altitude Penetrating Bomber. Then it became the Advanced Technology Bomber, utilizing the code Senior Cejay. Afterwards, it became the B-2 Spirit. In 1980’s, 23 billion dollars were spent secretly for studies and advancement of the aircraft. In 1985, the aircraft became a low altitude bomber from a high altitude bomber, which they spent an extra cost for.

The B-2 was in service in three operations. Its first appearance was in the Kosovo War in 1999. It first brought the satellite guided JDAM in operations. Because of that, it was used in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and in Operation Iraqi Freedom. The B-2 is extremely computerized. And unlike those single seat fighter aircrafts, a crew can sleep inside a B-2, set his meals or use a toilet.

The B-2 Spirit is a stealth heavy bomber and has the ability of organizing both nuclear and conventional armaments. It is privately operated by the United States Air Force. Its advancement was a highlight in the upgrading program of the United States Department of Defense. The B-2 aircrafts 2nd generation stealth technology was to assist the aircraft’s penetration function to go on tremendous anti-aircraft protection.

“The Aviator” film is a critically acclaimed film, directed by Martin Scorsese, depicting two major events in the life of Howard Hughes, an eccentric aviation pioneer portrayed intensely by Leonardo di Caprio. The film depicted Hughes entry into Hollywood filmmaking and his nasty public battles with U.S. Sen. Owen Brewster over the usefulness of the planes that Hughes Aircraft built for the U.S. military during World War II.  His company, the Hughes Aircraft, was responsible for the H-4 Hercules, nicknamed “Spruce Goose” by detractors.  “The Aviator” features Hughes’ sexually charged private life and his prolific and public professional life.  The epic film also explores his fierce competition with Pan American Airways founder Juan Trippe and his right-hand man Noah Dietrich. 

The “Aviators” combination of digital technology, classic lighting techniques and outstanding production has captured the time period with an astounding accuracy.  The flying scenes are breathtaking and its cinematography, both in the air and on the ground is a thing of beauty.  The film received fairly high positive reviews, reporting that 180 out of the 203 reviews they tallied on the website Rotten Tomatoes, it scored a positive 89% and certification of fresh.  The film grossed $102M at the U.S. box office and $111M at the foreign box office.  The Aviator was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won 5, including Best Supporting Actress Cate Blanchett, for portraying the role of Katherine Hepburn.  The film also won the BAFTA Award for Best Film.

Another satisfied customer of their Van’s RV-4 model airplane shares their appreciation and thoughts about the Custom Model they had requested. As Mrs. Janet Kislinger wrote:

“The model looks good to my husband and I. Thank you for doing this.”

We would also like to thank you for patronizing us here at TMC Pacific Model Works and we are glad to have served you. If there are any changes and adjustments that you would want to be done with your model aircrafts, you are very much welcome to inform us and adjustments will easily be done.

Learn more about our Custom Models. Order yours today!