Royal Mail launches online gallery to mark the anniversary of the first scheduled airmail flight in 1911.

The gallery charts the history of airmail from earliest forms using carrier pigeons and hot air balloons to modern day jets.

Gustav Hamel flew the world's first scheduled flight of revolutionary new service on 9 September 1911.

Royal Mail's operation at Heathrow Worldwide Distribution Centre now dispatches over 700,000 items every night, to over 250 destinations around the world.

  • Royal Mail launches online gallery to mark the anniversary of the first scheduled airmail flight in 1911.
  • The gallery charts the history of airmail from earliest forms using carrier pigeons and hot air balloons to modern day jets.
  • Gustav Hamel flew the world's first scheduled flight of revolutionary new service on 9 September 1911.
  • Royal Mail's operation at Heathrow Worldwide Distribution Centre now dispatches over 700,000 items every night, to over 250 destinations around the world.

106 years ago this Saturday - 9 September 1911 - British aviation pioneer Gustav Hamel successfully piloted the inaugural flight of the world's first scheduled airmail service. The month-long service included a total of 16 flights.

The flights carried mail between Hendon, London and the Postmaster General's office in Windsor. Gustav flew in his Bleriot airplane, covering around 20 miles in just 18 minutes. He even managed to write a postcard of his own mid-flight.

Sir Walter Windham, and early supporter of air transport, came up with the idea of a scheduled airmail service to commemorate the coronation of King George V. He tested the concept in February 1911 (six months before Gustav's flight) at an exhibition in the United Provinces of Agra and Oubh, British India (as it was known at the time).

Following the end of the First World War, the RAF and Royal Engineers ran the first scheduled international airmail from December 1918, initially to provide troops stationed in Germany with a fast and secure mail service.

This was quickly followed in 1919 by the UK's first commercial cross-channel route. Chief pilot of Aircraft Transport and Travel (a forerunner of British Airways), Lt Henry 'Jerry' Shaw, was the first to fly a mail-carrying commercial flight across the English Channel in his Havilland DH.9 biplane. The aircraft took off at RAF Hendon to land in Paris-Le Bourget in a journey that took 2 hours and 30 minutes. Last year, Royal Mail recreated Lt Shaw's proving flight for this new service as part of its 500 years celebration.

In 1929, United Nations agency the Universal Postal Union agreed comprehensive rules for airmail at its annual conference in London. Over the next 30 years, Britain became the world's largest airmail carrier. As volumes of letters and interest in sending international airmail grew, the postal service launched blue airmail post-boxes with higher postage charges and later final collection times.

Airmail today in numbers

Today, Royal Mail exports to over 250 destinations using scheduled flights of 55 airlines from London Heathrow and London Gatwick airports. Royal Mail dispatches around 700,000 items every night. Royal Mail's Heathrow Worldwide Distribution Centre has a floor area of 51,000 metres - that's about the size of six football pitches. This fully-automated facility has seven miles of conveyor systems to help sort international items swiftly and efficiently.

Domestic mail now also regularly travels by plane. Airports used for internal mail include Exeter, Stanstead, Edinburgh and Belfast. You might even catch a glimpse of the Boeing 737 that flies in full Royal Mail livery.

Early airborne post began with hot air balloons

Before the introduction of the airplane, the first airborne vehicle to carry mail came in 1785, when a hot air balloon flew from Dover to Calais. Balloon pilots Jean Pierre Blanchard and John Jefferies delivered a letter written by William Franklin in the UK (son of United States founding father Benjamin Franklin) to his son, who was serving as a diplomat in Paris.

Balloons continued to transport mail throughout the 19century. Both pigeon post and balloon mail proved invaluable during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870 to 1871. They allowed important mail to travel in and out of Paris while the city was besieged by Prussian forces.

Royal Mail spokesperson David Gold commented: 'Airmail in the UK has a long history of world firsts. Gustav Hamel was only 21 when he completed the first ever scheduled airmail delivery and is remembered as an exceptionally brave and talented young man.'

'His legacy continues today with Royal Mail's international and domestic operations. Our incredible team work every day and night to ensure that mail gets where it's going quickly and safely - no matter how far.'

See how airmail has evolved over the years here: http://gallery.royalmailgroup.com/airmail

Ends

Media Inquiries

Henry Perry

henry.perry@royalmail.com

020 7449 8246

Note to editors

About Royal Mail plc

Royal Mail plc is the parent company of Royal Mail Group Limited, the leading provider of postal and delivery services in the UK and the UK's designated universal postal service provider. UK Parcels, International and Letters ('UKPIL') comprises the company's UK and international parcels and letters delivery businesses operating under the 'Royal Mail' and 'Parcelforce Worldwide' brands. Through the Royal Mail Core Network, the company delivers a one-price-goes-anywhere service on a range of parcels and letters products. Royal Mail has the capability to deliver to more than 29 million addresses in the UK, six days a week (excluding UK public holidays). Parcelforce Worldwide operates a separate UK network which collects and delivers express parcels. Royal Mail also owns General Logistics Systems (GLS)which operates one of the largest ground-based, deferred parcel delivery networks in Europe.

Royal Mail plc published this content on 07 September 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 07 September 2017 12:37:02 UTC.

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