Philatelic cover

Trevor Jordan writes that just over 50 years ago, on the 7th September, 1953, Neville Duke, then Chief Test Pilot of Hawker Aircraft Ltd, set a World's Absolute Speed Record of 727.6 mph in the prototype Hunter, WB188, now in the Tangmere Museum.

Twenty five years later, in September, 1978, at the SBAC show at Farnborough, John Farley, then Chief Test Pilot, Dunsfold, of BAe's Kingston-Brough Division, performed the first public 'Ski-Jump' take-offs in the first Sea Harrier to fly, XZ450. Also at the show was a Britten-Norman Islander, G-FANS, fitted experimentally with Dowty-Rotol ducted fans. It was flown by Neville Duke.

On the 7th September, 1978, the 25th anniversary of that world speed record, 50 of the philatelic covers designed for and flown on the first flight of the Sea Harrier were carried on both XZ450 and G-FANS.

For various reasons the covers lay dormant until the 14th May this year, when the Association visited the Tangmere Museum and they were signed by Neville Duke and John Farley.

They are now available, first come, first served, at Ł15 (one per applicant). Net proceeds will be donated to the Kingston Aviation Heritage Memorial Fund. If you would like one of these uniquely interesting covers, first please telephone Trevor Jordan on 020 8994 2018 to check availability.