| 2020. Israeli Air Force Helicopters |
Following on from the long series issued in 2019 depicting the fighter aircraft used by the Israel Air Force throughout its more than 70 years of history (see articles, published in VARIABLE 52, 53 & 55), Israel Post continues the aircraft theme in 2020 with another long series showcasing IAF helicopters, in chronological order.
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In line with the concept of the earlier annual series, the first design introduces the series, with a composition depicting the images of the first and last helicopters in the series i.e. the earliest and the most modern machines; from the small Hiller 360 to the modern gunship helicopter the Boeing AH-64 Apache Longbow.
The design of all the issues and the illustrations of the first day covers are by Ra'anan Weiss & Igal Gabay. |
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The rolls of labels are manufactured, on self-adhesive paper with a flexo digital imprint, by Tadbick Ltd. The size of the label is 58 x 27 mm, with perforated vertical edges.
The postal machine prints its unique code on the stamp (00001, used by the philatelic service, in the image) and the face value (NIS 2.50) in the upper right hand corner. Data in black is thermal transfer printed. |
This first design was only obtainable, from January 1st 2020 and later on, from all aCon SPU STAMP postal kiosks. In some machines, this first design will be used throughout the year, whilst in others it will only be available for a few months, until the release of the next new design of the series.
With no changes in the main postal rates since 2018, the six values programmed in the postal kiosks, on the date of issue, were NIS 2.50 (domestic postage rate) - 4.10 - 6.50 - 7.40 - 8.30 - 9.00.
The images below show the introduction dates of the new design in the ten postal kiosks in operation at different post offices across the country.
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| Detail of the special postmark, and pictorial first day cover |
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The Hiller 360 was the first helicopter in service with the Israel Air Force.
In 1951, Israel acquired two of these small, US-made helicopters, used primarily for communication and rescue missions. One of the Hillers crashed into a hillside in 1954 and was put out of service. The other Hiller was retired in 1959. |
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This design was available, from February 4th 2020, from the back office printer used by the philatelic service (code 00001), and also from postal kiosk 00326, installed in the Rishon LeZion post office. |
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Detail of the special postmark, and pictorial first day cover |
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| One of the main helicopter bases of the Israel Air Force is near this city, in central Israel. |
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The third design of the series depicts a Sikorsky H-34, or S-58 as it's known by the US manufacturer.
The Israeli Air Force acquired more than 30 Sikorsky S-58 transport helicopters, which were in operation between 1957 and 1969. |
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As with the previous issue, this design was also available from February 4th 2020, and with two different codes, 00001 of the philatelic service, and 00220, the code of the postal kiosk installed at the Beer Sheva branch. |
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Detail of the special postmark, and pictorial first day cover |
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| The Israeli Air Force Museum, near the city of Beer Sheva, exhibits most of the aircraft and helicopters used by the IAF. |
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Following on from the two February releases (article and VARIABLE 56), Israel Post issued two new designs in April in the series showcasing Israeli Air Force helicopters.
The Aérospatiale SA321 Super Frelon is a heavy military transport helicopter, produced by the French company Aérospatiale. In 1965 the IAF acquired 12 SA321K helicopters, with the Hebrew knickname 'Tzir'a' (Wasp), which remained in operation until 1991. |
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This stamp design was available, from April 21st 2020, from two aCon units; the back office printer used by the philatelic service (code 00001), and also from postal kiosk 00930, installed in the Afula post office. |
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Detail of the special postmark, and pictorial first day cover |
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Following the chronology of IAF helicopter procurements, the next design depicts the Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion, manufactured by the American company Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation.
The Israeli Air Force acquired this troop carrying and assault helicopter in 1969, when the French Government refused to sell the Israelis anymore Super Frelons. These helicopters received the Hebrew name of 'Yas'ur' (Petrel). The 23 surviving CH-53s were refitted and updated in 2008 and are still in operation today. |
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As with the previous issue, this design was also available from April 21st 2020, with two different codes, 00001 the philatelic service and 00714, the code of the postal kiosk installed at the Haifa branch. |
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Detail of the special postmark, and pictorial first day cover |
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In 1975, the Israeli Air Force acquired the first Bell AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters, manufactured by the American company Bell Helicopter Textron.
The IAF eventually came to have more than 50 Cobra helicopters in service, some of which were on loan from the United States Navy. These helicopters received the Hebrew name 'Tzefa' (Viper), and were in service until 2013. |
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The Bell AH-1F Cobra stamp design was available from June 9th 2020, with two different codes, 00001 the philatelic service and 00220, the code of the postal kiosk installed at the Beer Sheva branch. |
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Detail of the special postmark, and pictorial first day cover |
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The seventh design in this extensive series depicts the Bell 212, a medium-sized transport helicopter manufactured by the American company Bell Helicopter.
The Israeli Air Force acquired this model in 1975, and its Hebrew nickname is 'Anafa' (Heron). Still in operation, it has been used during many rescue operations. |
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As with the Bell AH-1F Cobra issue, this design was also available from June 9th 2020, from the printer used by the philatelic service (code 00001), and also from the postal kiosk 00326, installed in the Rishon LeZion post office. |
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Detail of the special postmark, and pictorial first day cover |
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The eighth design in the series depicting helicopters in service with the Israel Air Force is dedicated to the Boeing AH-64D-I Apache Longbow, an attack helicopter developed by the American company McDonell Douglas.
The first helicopters of this type arrived in Israel in September 1990, and the Israeli Air Force currently has 48 Apache Longbow helicopters, with some being United States Army surplus. |
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As with previous issues this design was available, from September 9th 2020, printed with two different codes, 00001 from the back office equipment used by the philatelic service and in this case, 00930 from the kiosk installed in the Afula branch. |
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Detail of the special postmark, and pictorial first day cover |
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The final design of the series depicts the Sikorsky S-70A-50 Black Hawk, a medium-size transport helicopter manufactured by the American company Sikorsky Aircraft.
In 1994, after the Gulf War, the United States Army offered ten Black Hawk helicopters to the Israel Air Force. These were nicknamed 'Yanshuf' the hebrew word for Owl. In the following years, the Israel Air Force acquired a further 38 new helicopters of this model. |
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Released together with the previous design in September 9th 2020, this issue was available with two different codes, 00001 from the philatelic service, and 00714 from the postal kiosk installed at the Haifa post office. |
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Detail of the special postmark, and pictorial first day cover |
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In November 2020, Israel Post released a new special souvenir folder containing all the designs of the series depicting the most representative helicopters used by the Israel Air Force throughout its 70-year history.
The folder (depicted below) contains the nine stamps of the series; the introductory design and the eight helicopter stamps with their corresponding special first day postmarks together with information on each featured aircraft.
The stamp with the first design appears again on the cover (right picture), in this case with the special postmark marking the 55th anniversary of Operation Kachal, a large military night operation which inserted special forces into the Sinai using three Sikorsky H-34 helicopters. |
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| 2020. Season's Greetings from the Holy Land |
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The 2020 Christmas issue depicts a picture of the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, in northern Israel. This building was built in 1969 in the place where, according to Catholic tradition, the Angel Gabriel visited the Virgin Mary to announce that she would be the mother of Jesus.
This basilica also appeared on the Christmas ATM designs in 2005, 2007 and 2011, and in the issue dedicated to the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Israel, in 2009. |
The design is by Ronen Goldberg and the rolls of labels were manufactured, on self-adhesive paper with a flexo digital imprint by Tadbick Ltd.
Israel Post released this festive issue on November 25th 2020. Like earlier Christmas issues, this design was available with three different codes - 00001 printed by the back office equipment used by the philatelic service, plus codes 00101 and 00987 from the aCon SPU STAMP postal kiosks installed at the Jerusalem and Nazareth main post offices, respectively. |
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| Detail of the special postmark, and pictorial first day cover with golden ink postmark |
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© J. Jove - ATEEME. Variable value stamps study group. All rights reserved
This page was created in March 2020 and last updated:
05.02.21
. English edition last rewritten by J. Gareze (4.02.2021)
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