Cuban Stamps

Cuban Stamps

Cuba is a island nation 150 km away from the United States. Mexico, 210 km away from the archipelagos islands of the country Cuba. Cuba has 11 million people. 

Granville Gee Bee R2

The Granville Gee Bee R2 is an American plane made by the Granville brothers, Howell and Zantford. The plane is a aircraft that can fly where ever the plane wants to. The Gee Bee R2 has very smooth handling, making the plane easy to fly in. 

The R1 is very close in shape to the R2, but much less dangerous.The R1 has a reputation of being a very dangerous plane. But the Granville Gee Bee R2 is even better. 

Mustang TF 51

The Mustang TF 51 is a airplane from Stallion 51. It is one of the models of planes with an estimated 16 dual controlled Mustangs in the world. 

Mustang TF 51 was put into storage in 1990 because of a plane crash in Seattle, Washington. The Mustang TF 51 was later needed by the Vintage Birds. This started the restoration of the plane. 

Then in 2005, the plane was made and sold in pilots and collectors around the globe. 

Spitfire Supermarine MK

The Spitfire Supermarine MK first flew in 1936, three years before World War II. Four years later, the mighty Spitfire tangled with German fighters and bombers in the Battle of Britain. 

The plane wasn't meant for long range flight, but an aircraft for scrambling into the air at a moment's notice to defend the British Isles. They were bombers. Going down to shoot and fire, then up.

    

  

Lavochkine La-9

The Lavochkine La-9 is a Soviet fighter produced a few years after World War II. 

Lavochine La-9 had an all-metal construction and a laminar flow wing. 

The elimination of wood for the airframe made great improved fuel capacity and four cannon armament. 

Soviet Union, East Germany, China, North Korea and Romania have used the Lavochkine La-9. There is only one Lavochine La-9 in airworthy condition in the world. 

Winston ( Vulcan Iron Works)

This train is a train that runs from coal, and was built in June, 1912, two years before the first World War, when it was a time in the need of trains. 

It weighed 40,000 pounds and the boiler pressure is 110. The gauge of the train is 36'' and it has 11 times 16 cylinders. 

This train was very important to Vulcan Iron Works and to people who needed supplies from the train that was built for the people's use.  

Baldwin 2-6-0

Theme: Railway

Issued: December 30th, 1996

Format: Stamp

Size: 48 by 31 mm

Series: Espamer's '98 (Locomotives)

American Locomotive Co. 2-6-4

Series: Espamer's '98 (Locomotives)

Theme: Railway

Issued on: Demember 30th, 1996

Format: Stamp

Baldwin 0-4-0

Series: Espamer's '98 (Locomotives)

Theme: Railway

Issued on: December 30th, 1996

Format: Stamp

Minho Douro 0-6-0

Country: Cuba

Series: Espamer '98 (Locomotives)

Theme: Railways

Issued on: December 30th, 1996

Format: Stamp 

Size: 49 by 31.5 mm

Baldwin 0-4-2 (1878)

Country: Cuba

Series: Steam Locomotives of Cuba's Sugar Mills

Format: Stamp

Issued on: September 30th, 1996

American 2-6-0 (1904)

The American 2-6-0 was built in 1904, a train built by ALEO, or American Locomotive Company. This train was built under the eye of Baldwin, the train company that owned American Locomotive Company. 

It was a hit for American Locomotive Company and Baldwin because it was a good selling train that earned them lots of money in the First World War, when trains were needed for supplies.

But after the Great War, Baldwin and American Locomotive Company faced were facing extinction not because of the train, but because people were not interested in trains, so the train was sold to Watson's Sand and Gravel Company. 

Baldwin 4-6-0 (1906)

Country: Cuba

Series: Steam Locomotives of Cuba's Sugar Mills

Theme: Railways

Issued on: September 30th, 1996

Format: Stamp 

Roger 2-4-4 (1914)

Country: Cuba

Series: Steam Locomotives of Cuba's Sugar Mills

Theme: Railways

Issued on: September 30th, 1996

Format: Stamp

Baldwin 2-8-0 Consolidation

The Baldwin 2-8-0 Consolidation was first designed in the 1880's by one of their owning companies, Lehigh and Mahanoy in Lehigh Valley. 

At first, it was a good train; in its time, it could go much faster easier than most train in its time. As the 1900's rolled along, the First World War came. That was a time for trains like Baldwin's. 

In the Second War World, it was even more popular than before. Railways were ordering the train on demand. But it reached it point when Baldwin had financial problem and closed its gates. 

There are only two Baldwin 2-8-0 Consolidations in the world. 

DC-3 (Douglas Commercial)

The DC-3 was built in the 1930's it is said to change the name of aircraft flying. This plane was actually built to compete with United Airlines, their rival company. 

At the time, Douglas was owned by a company named TWA (Transcontinental Western Airlines), and this was a project for the company. But there was to be a DC-1. It was good for business. 

There was also a DC-2, and it was good too. But the DC-3 was even better than the two. DC-3's were flooding the skies of the United States. 

They went all over the world; To Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, all over North America, and finally Latin America. 

The first airline in Latin America to buy DC-3's was Cubana, a Cuban airline and the biggest in Cuba. It was a hit for Douglas and TWA. 

But soon the Second World War came and many DC-3's were warplanes for the United States and their Allied forces. 

But after the war, it was still popular from the time the plane was built. And today, there are still in the skies, not as warplanes, but as roaming the skies freely.

Lockheed Constellation

At first, there was no Constellation.Lockheed was working on a different project. But that didn't work out, so the Lockheed Constellation was born. 

It was built in the late 1930's, and when it done building, the Second War World erupted. The Constellation was a warplane fighting against their enemies. 

But after the war, airlines in Europe, North America and South America were requesting for this plane. For the Lockheed company, this was good. 

Even if the plane had seen the brink of World War II, its body and its soul is to fly to other places around the world, to help on their journey to be alive.    

Airbus a330

 This plane was sold to the public after some of the projects of other planes in the family of a330's. The a330 was better in sales than the others in the a330 group. 

The first planes were sold to Air Inter, a French airline. Then other airlines like Air China, Air Canada and many others were buying the planes rapidly. 

But later in the years, Boeing sold a plane that was like the a330, but lighter. Airbus followed that path by building a new model of the a330, under a different name. 

But Airbus never stopped selling the a330; it is staying in the world, flying, right now, no matter if it is heavy or not.     

Sources

http://colnect.com/en/stamps/list/country/2675-Cuba/year/1996/face_value/65-65/min_accuracy/low/theme/356-Railways

http://colnect.com/en/stamps/list/country/2675-Cuba/emission/2-Commemorative/face_value/65-65/min_accuracy/low/theme/356-Railways

http://colnect.com/en/stamps/stamp/309795-Baldwin_0-4-0-Espamer98_Locomotives-Cuba


http://colnect.com/en/stamps/list/theme/356-Railways/face_value/15-15/min_accuracy/very_low/printing/0-Unknown

http://colnect.com/en/stamps/list/country/2675-Cuba/face_value/65-65/min_accuracy/low/theme/356-Railways

http://colnect.com/en/stamps/list/page/4/country/2675-Cuba/theme/356-Railways

http://colnect.com/en/stamps/list/country/2675-Cuba/catalog/182-Michel/series/74266-Steam_locomotives_of_Cubas_sugar_mills

Smithsonian Museum

Wikipedia

 

         

  

     

Nicaraguan Stamps

Nicaragua

Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American isthmus, bordering Honduras to the north, Costa Rica to the south. The country has a population of 6 million people. 

Charlies Lindbergh

Charlies Lindbergh is a American aviator, author, inventor, an explorer and a social activist. He was awarded the Medal of Honor. 

On January 5, 1928, Charlies and the Spirit of St. Louis flew from Tegucigalpa, Honduras to Managua, Nicaragua in 2 hours and 35 minutes. 

Two days later, Charlies Lindbergh flew to Managua, Nicaragua to San Jose, Costa Rica in 3 hours and 25 minutes. 

During World War II, Charlies was flying to Nazi-Germany (at the time) for information about the Germans. He flew many times and even was in conversation with Hitler at a party. 

 People in the United States were thinking that Lindbergh was with the Germans. Charlies was really thinking about moving into Germany. He said that he would rather see America with Germany than with the Soviet Union. But he was indeed American as he didn't move into Germany. 

Charlies Lindbergh was born on February 4th, 1902 in Detroit, Michigan. He died on August 26th, 1974 in Kipahulu, Hawaii of lymphoma.

Sources from Wikipedia            

    

Equatorial Guinea Stamps

Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea is a small country in Central Africa. The country has a population of 736,000 people. It is known to be a country with low human rights. 

Mark Spitz is an American swimmer who won 11 Olympic medals, 9 of them gold, one sliver and one bronze. In the Munich 1972 summer Olympics, he won seven gold medals being the second most decorated Olympian of all time. 

       

Ulrike Meyfarth is a German high jumper. In the Munich 1972 summer Olympics, she jumped 1.92 meters, breaking the world record and at 16 years old. In her whole life, she won two gold medal and a silver.

Valeri Borzov is a Ukrainian sprinter who competed for the former USSR. In the Munich '72 summer Olympics, Valeri won the gold medal in the 100 m sprint. In the 200 m, he won another gold. In Olympic sprinting, he won two gold medals, one sliver, and two bronze.

Mary Peters is a British pentathlon athlete. In the Munich summer Olympics, she won the gold medal in Pentathlon by ten points. 

Sawao Kato is a Japanese gymnast who won 2 gold medals in the Munich summer Olympics. He also won three gold medals in the Mexico '76 summer Olympics. 

Klaus Wolfermann is a German javelin thrower throwing for the former West Germany. In the  summer Olympic Games in 1972, he won the gold medal in javelin. In 1973, he set a world record for the javelin event. 

  Olga Korbut is a Belarusian gymnast who competed for former USSR. In the Games in 1972, Olga won three gold medals and a sliver in gymnastics. Olga has won all together in Olympic medals four gold medal and two sliver.

Finn (dinghy)

Current Specifications
Class Symbol
Crew	1
LOA	4.5 m (14 ft 9 in)
LWL	4.34 m (14 ft 3 in)
Beam	1.47 m (4 ft 10 in)
Draft	0.17 m (6.7 in)
Hull weight	107 kg (236 lb)
Mast height	6.66 m (21 ft 10 in)
Mainsail area	10.6 m2 (114 sq ft)
D-PN	90.1[1]
RYA PN	1060[2]
Infobox last updated: 13 Aug 2012 [1]
Olympic Class

The Finn dinghy is the men's single-handed, cat-rigged Olympic class for sailing. It was designed by Swedish canoe designer, Rickard Sarby, in 1949 for the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki. Since the 1952 debut of the boat, the design has been in every summer Olympics, making it one of the most prolific Olympic sailboats as it is the longest serving dinghy in the Olympic Regatta.^[3] It currently fills the slot for the Heavyweight Dinghy at the Olympic games. It has been contended that the Finn is the most physical and tactical singlehander sailboat in the world.^[4]

Although the Finn hull has changed little since 1949, there have been developments to the rig. The original spars were made of wood until the late 60’s and early 70’s when there was a slow change to aluminum masts. Aluminum is significantly more flexible and gives more control over sail shape. It became common place after the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich when they were first supplied to Olympic sailors. Recently, carbon fiber masts have become common place in competitive Finn fleets. The sails too have gone through revolution and are now commonly made of Kevlar. The class rules are overseen by the International Finn Association.

Year	Gold	Silver	Bronze
1972 West Germany   details	France (FRA) Serge Maury	Greece (GRE) Ilias Hatzipavlis	Soviet Union (URS) Viktor Potapov

The Dragon

The Dragon was designed by Norwegian Johan Anker in 1929. In 1948 the Dragon became an Olympic Class, a status it retained until the Munich Olympics in 1972. The Dragon's long keel and elegant metre-boat lines remain unchanged, but today Dragons are constructed using the latest technology to make the boat durable and easy to maintain. GRP construction was introduced in 1973 and the rigging has been regularly updated.

The Dragon Class is actively represented in over 26 countries in 5 Continents. There were 1444 boats registered in 2004 and the number of boats built has averaged 45 per year. There are many more which are used for day sailing or cruising. The World Championships are held in every odd year and the European Championships are held annually. The Gold Cup, which can only be held in certain specified European countries, is unique in that all six races count without discard. It is held annually and often attracts over 100 entries, usually starting in one fleet.

A strong Class Association manages the class rules carefully to ensure safety, high quality and uniformity. Spars and sails have a wide range of adjustment during racing, allowing a skillful crew to optimize the boat for any conditions. Crew weight limits, and restrictions on hiking out allow the Dragon to be raced successfully by a range of ages and genders. It is possible to trail the Dragon behind many four-wheel drive vehicles. It is often dry-sailed. It may be raced against boats of other classes, employing a Portsmouth Yardstick handicap of 986^[1] or a D-PN of 89.5.^[2]

Since 2008 the Dragon is one of the Vintage Yachting Classes at the Vintage Yachting Games.

Soling

A Soling is a class of open keelboat designed by Jan Linge of Norway in 1965. In 1968, it was chosen from among many other boats to be the men's triple-handed boat for the 1972 Olympics. The Soling remained an Olympic boat until its final Olympic appearance at the 2000 Olympics. Since 2008 the Soling has been one of the Vintage Yachting Classes at the Vintage Yachting Games.

The Soling is a strong boat designed for any wind and sea conditions and is fun to sail. Fitness, sailing and team skills are basic requirements for good racing. The boats are made of fibreglass reinforced polyester and are One-design boats coming from an authorized single plug and mould, making competition as even as possible. Masts are made of aluminium alloy and the best known brand is Abbott, although Proctor, Børresen Bådebyggeri and other brands might be available in the market.

The lifetime of a Soling is long. Those produced in the early days still sail beautifully and some are still in competition (more than 30 years after being built). The average competition life of a Soling boat is considered 15 years making the Soling a perfect cost / benefit boat for racing purposes.

Sails are made of Dacron and the most used brands are: Doyle, North Sails, Elvstrøm Sails, UK-Halsey.

Characteristic for the Soling is the droop-hiking technique.^[3][4]

The Flying Dutchman (dinghy)

The Flying Dutchman (FD) is a 20-foot one-design high-performance two-person monohull racing dinghy. Developed in the early 1950s, its large sail area per unit weight allow it to plane easily when sailing upwind. The boat utilizes a trapeze harness for the crew and hiking straps for the skipper to counterbalance the wind force on its sails. It made its Olympic debut at the 1960 Olympics Games.

The FD is still one of the fastest racing dinghies in the world.^[3] She carries a mainsail, a very large foresail genoa, and a large spinnaker for running and reaching. The FD has been the basis for many important innovations in sailing over the past half century:

Mr. Loeff, chairman of the Dutch Yachting Federation, agreed to discuss the boat at the November meeting of the IYRU, but required he see her sail first. As no prototype yet existed, this was hardly feasible to accomplish, but Conrad had the mould and hull built in one week, and the mast cut, stepped and the boat rigged in another. The boat was designed to be very simple, and consequently inexpensive to produce. The easily repeatable measurement system defined by Uss van Essen aided to that end. It took to the water against the 12m² Sharpie and the Tornado dinghy at Loosdrecht one week before the IYRU meetings. Mr. Loeff was impressed, and took the plans to the IYRU for discussion. It was decided to hold trials for the new boat class in the summer of 1952 in the Netherlands, and the name of the design, Flying Dutchman, was born. 

Star (sailboat)

The International Star (or Starboat) is a 6.9 m (22.7 ft) one-design racing keelboat for two people.

The boat must weigh at least 671 kg (1479.3 lb) with a maximum total sail area of 26.5 m² (285 ft²). It is sloop-rigged, with a mainsail larger in proportional size than any other boat of its length. Unlike most modern racing boats, it does not use a spinnaker when sailing downwind. Instead, when running downwind a whisker pole is used to hold the jib out to windward for correct wind flow. Early Stars were built from wood, but modern boats are generally made of fiberglass.

The Star class pioneered an unusual circular boom vang track, which allows the vang to effectively hold the boom down even when the boom is turned far outboard on a downwind run. Another notable aspect of Star sailing is the extreme hiking position adopted by the crew and at times the helmsman, who normally use a harness to help hang low off the windward side of the boat with only their lower legs inside.

The Star was designed in 1910 by Francis Sweisguth—draftsman for William Gardner's Naval Architect office—and the first 22 were built in Port Washington, New York by Ike Smith during the winter of 1910-11. Since that time, over 8,400 boats have been built. The Star has been an Olympic Gamesclass since 1932. Although far from a modern design, the class remains popular today, with about 2,000 boats in active racing fleets in North America and Europe.

As a result of the 2011 Mid-Year Meeting in St. Petersburg, keelboats were removed from Sailing at the 2016 Summer Olympics, and therefore the Star class will not be in competition in Rio de Janeiro.^[1]

Sources from Wikipeda

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_(keelboat)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finn_(dinghy)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soling

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flying_Dutchman_(dinghy)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_(sailboat)