First regular airmail on 9th September 1911

Abstract

Gustav Hamel, one of the most famous pioneer pilots, was born on the 25th of June 1889. He was of Scandinavian descent, his father being Dr Gustav Hamel, M.V.O. He was educated at Westminister School and learnt to fly at Bleriot's School, Pau, France, taking his pilot's ticket on the 3rd of February 1911. He rapidly reached the front rank and it was only through illness that be failed to win the Daily Mail £10,000 prize for a circuit of Great Britain. He won fame by being the first airman to fly the 1911 Coronation Aerial Post from Hen don to Windsor. He made the first flight with a lady passenger between London and Paris. In 1912 he was engaged by the Daily Mail to give demonstation flights in various parts of the country, and the souvenir postcards, specially cacheted, which were posted at the conclusion of the flights, are amongst the most sought after of British rarities.