60 Years of Indian Naval Aviation (1953 - 2013)

Date of Issue: May 11, 2013

The Department of Posts, India - Maharashtra and Goa Circle issued a Special Cover to commemorate 60 Years (Diamond Jubilee) of Indian Naval Aviation, at a function held at INS Hansa, Goa.

The cover is creatively designed, with timeline showing the type of aircrafts inducted into the Naval Aviation arm over the last 60 years, and the newly commissioned MiG-29k fighter jet.

The first naval air station, INS Garuda, was inaugurated in Cochin on May 11, 1953.

Commissioning of INAS 303 MiG-29 Aircraft - Black Panthers

Date of Issue: May 11, 2013

The Department of Posts, India - Maharashtra and Goa circle issued a Special Cover to commemorate the Commissioning of Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 303 of MiG-29 Aircraft. Also called Black Panthers. On the right, is the Crest of INAS 303.

Defence Minister AK Antony commissioned the first MiG-29 K - supersonic fighter jets squadron into the Indian Navy at the INS Hansa in Goa, on May 11, 2013.

India has about 45 MiG-29K which have cost the exchequer $2.4 billion (over Rs. 13,200 crore). A squadron each will be positioned on board INS Vikramaditya and the indigenously-made aircraft carrier - INS Vikrant - that is expected to be launched on July 12, 2013. Till then the planes will fly from Goa.

This is the first-induction of fighters in the Navy since the Sea Harriers were commissioned in early 1980s.

In the 60 years of the Fleet Air Arm, this is the first time that the Indian Navy will be operating the aircraft that can fly faster than the speed of sound. Moreover, the ability of the MiG-29K to stay in air, cover distance with weapons is about four times more than the existing British made Sea Harrier aircraft. The MiG-29 can also be refuelled mid-air allowing it to cover longer distances.

"The MiG-29 K will be a game changer in Indian Ocean region. It will allow us to fly longer distances and maintain a better vigil. The arc of the influence of the Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean region now stands increased and strengthened," Flag officer Commanding Western Naval Command Admiral Shekhar Sinha, who is also senior-most aviator of the Indian Navy, said.

Source: Wikipedia, strapost.com, ndtv.com

Spanish Transatlantic Steamship - Jose Gallart - Postcard

Received this wonderful picture postcard today, from Spanish Postcrossing user - luiseme, showing Spanish Transatlantic Steamship - Jose Gallart, Barcelona. The advert says Regular direct services offered, stopping at various ports in the Mediterranean and the South American Coast.

Mongolia - 500th Anniv. of Discovery of Americas by Christopher Columbus

Many thanks to friend, Mr. Robert Schrijvers in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia for this letter with miniature sheet issued to commemorate 500th Anniversary of the Discovery of The Americas by Christopher Columbus.

A set of 7 stamps were also issued by Mongol Post to commemorate this event.

The letter is posted on May 15, 2013 and received on June 03, 2013.

To match the actual postage, more stamps are placed on the reverse side of the envelope. The first stamp shows image of Christopher Columbus, and second one showing his flagship Santa Maria. The logo of Colombian Stamp Expo 92 logo can also seen, which is used by most countries of the world which issued stamps for this event.

The background of the miniature sheet shows the northern hemisphere, and a line in red showing Mongolia is exactly on the other side of the world, to U.S.A.