80th anniversary of the first Hungarian ocean crossing flight
Date of issue: 15 July 2011
The initiator of the enterprise was Sándor Magyar, and was
organised with the involvement of donations from Hungarians living in
the United States. The chairman of the Daily Mail, Lord Rothermere
joined in the project in February 1930 with an offer of 10,000 dollars
and on his request the aircraft received the name “Justice for Hungary”
referring to the unjust peace treaty that had ended the First World War.
The selected aircraft, the Lockheed Sirius was one of the most
successful planes of its day, many records are associated with its name.
The airplane started from the Harbour Grace airport in Newfoundland on
15 July 1930 with György Endresz as pilot and Sándor Magyar as
navigator. Even in the first of the journey the aircraft and the two
professionals on board reached the Irish coast in the record time of 13
hours 50 minutes. However, during the rest of the journey they were not
so lucky due to the bad weather conditions. After being forced to carry
out various manoeuvres the crew also had problems with the engine fuel
supply. After the fuel line became completely blocked and the engine
stopped they were forced to land on 16 July 1931 in a corn field near to
Bicske, Hungary. However, all of this did not change the fact that the
two Hungarians had covered the distance of 5770 km in 25 hours 20
minutes, at an average speed of 250 km/h, faster than anyone else to
that day. (Source: História 2002/7. – Zsolt Miszlay: The first Hungarian
ocean crossing by air)
The special envelope commemorating the
anniversary was created on the basis of a contemporary (1931) picture
postcard. The composition also includes a text on the event. The stamp
on the envelope is the special stamp issued in 2006 entitled Hungarian
Aviation History III – Lockheed Sirius 8A issued in connection with the
75th anniversary of the crossing, which is decorated with the stylised
portraits of György Endrész and Sándor Magyar.
Order code: 2011185060012
Date of issue: 15 July 2011
Sale price: HUF 220
Number issued: depending on demand.
Initial amount 2000
Printing press: Con-X Nyomda
Design artist: Barnabás Baticz
