Pakistan:100th Anniversary Of Powered Flight (1903-2003)

Here is a beautiful FDC from Pakistan. It is a lovely cover issued on the centenary celebrations of the First Powered Flight in 2003. 2003 marked a historic year in aviation. On 17 December 1903, the sands of Kitty Hawk, North California witnessed a breathtaking spectacle in human history. On this epoch-making date, a 100 years ago, two brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, stunned the world by staging a successful flight in their first piloted biplane. Their intense preoccupation with flying was fuelled not by economic necessity but mostly from their imaginative determination to cross one of the last technological barriers to human flight-stability in the air. The event changed the course of history. The year 2003 therefore was a year to celebrate the past and embrace the future.

At the dawn of the centennial year of powered flight on 17 December 2003, aviation technology has traversed a long distance, interspersed with phenomenal strides, over the past one hundred years. This is true of all kinds of aviation-commercial, general , military and space-focused. In just 100 years man has progressed from those first hesitant hops to conquering the globe and beyond it into space. Distances have amazingly shrunk, and man has already stepped on the moon. Every place on earth is now only hours away-rather than weeks or months before the aeroplane. The story of the preceding century is one of unceasing innovation, vision and outstanding courage in unlocking the secrets of flight and extending the boundaries of performance.

Air power, it appears, has acquired for itself the mantle of authority to fulfill the prophecies of its ardent advocates like Glulo Douhet, and perhaps exceeds his vision of the potential of air bombardment. Winston Churchill, minced no words in acknowledging the role of air power when he stated:

"For good or ill, air mastery is today the supreme expression of military power. And fleets and armies, however necessary and important must accept subordinate rank. This is a memorable milestone in the march of man."

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of powered flight, 2 x commemorative postage stamps were issued by Pakistan Post which reflect its deep sense of belonging to this historic moment. The set is one of my personal favorites. I absolutely love them.