updated 7th February 2010

Introduction:

My interest in the A380 started many years ago, around 2003 I guess.  I viewed the development and introduction into service of this new generation aircraft as one that would have a significant impact on the aviation industry. Little did I realise at the time there would be a global financial crisis in 2008 and the aviation industry would suffer considerably as a result.

I watched the development of the aircraft, and the delays to the introduction to service, with interest. I thought about combining my aviation industry interest with that of my philatelic interest. The result was the first A380 cover I produced.

There were in fact three designs, and a few variations based on the stamps I used.  There is a story behind these. Two were designed in advance of the aircraft arriving on its maiden flight to Sydney. This was the Airbus proving flight in fact. The two covers shown below were postally franked at Sydney Airport on 13th November 2005, some with the International Airport postmark and some with the Domestic terminal postmark.  Click the thumbnail to view the covers.   

Why the two postmarks? I was in the Domestic area car park taking pictures of the aircraft and since it was a weekend (Sunday) was not sure if the Post Offices would be open or until what time. So after the arrival of the aircraft I rushed to the Domestic Terminal to get my covers franked. I was told the International Terminal Post Office would be open. Of course in hindsight I should have done my homework and saved myself the panic, but I am sure I had a lot on with life and work at the time and often great ideas are after the event. 

After getting the covers franked I drove home - a 90 minute drive in those days. Downloaded my camera pictures to the computer to find only one picture of the A380, and that a partial picture!.  In shock I decided my only reward now would be to get that picture onto a cover, drive back to the airport and get it post marked. Since I now knew the Post Office closing times I realised I just had time to do this.

Thus this, the third cover. This cover shows my only picture  - of the front of the aircraft -  that landed in Sydney on 13th November.  Two copies of the cover exist. One is in my collection.

One final point to highlight in this short introduction to my covers. If you look carefully at these covers, and my first Singapore Airlines covers from the Singapore Sydney inaugural, you will see a special hand stamp. I had these made. It was my way of authenticating any cover from me.  I have stopped this practice in more recent years due cost and time but all my covers come with certificate of authenticity and wherever possible photographs from the flights, many of which I have flown on, with my covers of course!

At the time of writing (September 2009) I have produced First Flight Covers for all the Singapore Airlines inaugural (outbound from Singapore) services, and similarly Qantas flights from Sydney. I am developing a catalogue of all my covers. Many are still for sale and, might I add, my airfares are still not all paid for !!! My covers are limited in numbers produced and even more limited in the number of signatures I am able to get. I do not produce covers in the 50, 100, or 1000 range. I do this not as a business venture but for my personal satisfaction, and if I can sell a few along the way to pay my airfares and hotel bills that helps of course. 

To view the catalogue please click  here or that button on the menu bar at the top of this page. The catalogue contains covers for sale as well as covers that are in my private collection and are not for sale, covers that were produced by colleagues in the business, and a few others that I have collected along the way. I have included these for your interest as well as my record.  The opening page is a Table of Contents with various terms and conditions that you might like to read if you wish to buy. Nothing onerous of course, just how to pay and what you will get. And yes, the prices are high, so I am told. But then the covers are special, real, genuine, not make believe, and very limited. 

I welcome feedback and comments, and of course any interest in buying a cover can be expressed via email to me at cddstamps@gmail.com

If your interest in the A380 is broader than just aerophilately I encourage you to also have a look at a web site that was created for a group known as the First to Fly club  http://www.firsttofly.net . You will enjoy it I am sure. See if you can spot me in one of the pictures :-)  You will certainly be able to see seating maps for some flights and where I sat.  And finally please have a read of the August 2009 issue of the Airways magazine article on the First To Fly Club. This also includes a paragraph about me and pictures of my covers.

Oh and do get a coffee, tea, beer, wine or whatever your taste while you read the pages; the covers are worth looking at, if just only for interest sake I think.

Michael  

Sydney, Australia, September 2009