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4 monumental aircraft to the Royal Air Force’s history
The birth of the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1918 was the first time there had been a separate and independent air force established in any country.
It soon became among the most dominant air forces globally.
The 1930’s saw public interest in aircraft increase dramatically and following World War Two (WWII), the demand for the number of aircraft to be built grew quickly in a very short space of time.
Throughout its life, the RAF has monitored the advances in aircraft for military use, and today displays some of the greatest developments in aircraft technology.
For nearly a decade we’ve worked in partnership with the RAF. In that time, we’ve preserved and celebrated over 100 years of history on official commemorative releases.
Let me tell you about 4 aircraft monumental during their existence.
The Sopwith F1 Camel
This Biplane fighter had only one seat and was given the nickname Camel after one squadron commented on its hump like appearance. A comment that would influence its official name.
Carelessness would get you killed in this aircraft.
Pilots had to be skilled to fly it, attentive and observant.
The Camel thrived in daylight but also succeeded at night.
The aircrafts actual nickname?
The King of the Air Fighters.
The Avro Lancaster
The Lancaster proved vital towards the end of WWII for Bomber Command. The aircraft helped Britain successfully undermine Nazi Germany from the air.
Lancaster crews risked their lives every time they took to the air in these bombers.
They showed tremendous bravery.
On average they carried out 21 missions before they were lost.
The Eurofighter Typhoon
A vision of the future.
This is how the RAF describe this 21st century Eurofighter Typhoon.
Did you know this aircraft can travel two times faster than the speed of sound? It uses cutting edge technology and has many advanced features.
The UK, Germany, and Italy all worked collaboratively on this aircraft, as they have done also with the tornado project for over several decades.
The Spitfire
The Spitfire is by far the most famous British fighter aircraft in history. It was designed by Reginald J Mitchell for the Second World War and there are many reasons why pilots fell in love with it.
It was a symbol of freedom.
The early Mark II could reach speeds of up to 360 mph.
The Spitfires sleek lines and elliptical shaped wings make it perhaps the most graceful fighter ever created.
Did you know that Mitchell’s first attempt to answer the British Air Ministry’s call for an all-metal land-based fighter aircraft was rejected?
It had a cooling system issue.
So, his team tried again.
And boy, did they triumph.
The new design had retractable landing gear, an enclosed cockpit and of course, the thin wing shape.
After the first flight of the prototype in 1936 only a few changes were made and by early June, the Air Ministry had ordered 310 Spitfires. By the outbreak of the Second World War, 306 Spitfires were in service with the RAF, along with 71 waiting and 2,000 in the pipeline.
If you’re interested…
The aircraft I have spoken about are intricately illustrated on our collection of commemoratives celebrating the History of the RAF.
The first one in the collection I hear you ask.
Well of course it must be the Spitfire.
Bill Dady, the renowned aviation artist, has designed this one.
Click here to start the History of the RAF Collection by securing your Spitfire Commemorative
for FREE >>
ATTENTION FOOTBALL FANS: NEW COIN ALERT
To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the FA Cup, The Royal Mint have JUST CONFIRMED that a new UK £2 coin will be released this year.
The real magic of football all started with the FA Cup. Where underdogs play alongside premier league giants creating unforgettable sporting moments. The local games, the atmosphere, the people, the community spirit and the feeling that you really are part of it. It’s amazing to think that what all starts in your local park could take your team to Wembley stadium, and the infamous tournament final.
The FA Cup is the longest standing football tournament, producing hometown heroes and capturing the nation every year since the first ever final was played in 1872.
Ahead of this release, we’ve put together 7 top football facts to test your knowledge of the popular sport.
1. FIFA is a French acronym for Fédération Internationale de Football Association (International Federation of Association Football) and manages football around the world. They organise and champion worldwide tournaments, most notably the World Cup.
2. Not every country can participate in FIFA – Greenland isn’t able to join as the country cannot grow regulation-length grass. Seems ironic, doesn’t it?
3. As I’m sure many football fans will know (or will want to forget), Arsenal FC has won the FA Cup 14 times since it began in 1871.
4. Do you know the offside rule? It’s football topic talked about enough to have been made into a coin design in 2011! To put it somewhat simply, a player is offside if the ball is played forward to them in the opposing teams half of the pitch, and there is no one on the opposite team between them and the opposing goalkeeper.
5. If you thought those old and torn footballs at the bottom of the pile at school were bad, at least you didn’t use an animal’s organ! Apparently, an inflated pig’s bladder was once used to play the famous sport.
6. Did you know that, if a team scores an own goal through a direct free kick, then it’s a corner to the opposing team, rather than a goal?
7. Chilean football team Colo-Colo walked into the Estadio Monumental of Santiago with rescue dogs that were in need of a home. In partnership with shelter Union de Amigos de los Animales (UAA), the team highlighted the need for adoption of homeless dogs.
Let us know your favourite football facts in the comments!
We all know how popular football is across the UK – and just how popular Football themed commemoratives can be.
If you want to make sure you score a Football £2 for your collection on release day, before anyone else, you can sign up to our UK New Issue BU Pack Coin subscription.
It means that you’ll automatically be sent the new coin issue on launch day, without having to do anything, securing your commemorative before anyone else.
And you can always cancel or pause your subscription online!
How Elizabeth II became our Queen overnight: 8 facts you may not know about Her Majesty
Today marks Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, commemorating 70 years on the throne. Ruling for longer than any other British Monarch, Her Majesty becomes the first ever Sovereign to reach this incredible milestone.
She has become a constant and reassuring figure for the UK and Commonwealth, and her devotion to the throne is something we can all commend.
On the 6th February 1952, the Queen’s father, King George VI, sadly passed away. He became King unexpectedly in December 1936, after his brother’s abdication.
He served 16 years on the throne before his weakening health and failure to recover from a lung operation saw his passing at the age of 56.
At the time of his death, the Queen was in Kenya on a tour of the Commonwealth. Her trip was cut short and she returned to Britain with husband, Philip. Overnight, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, aged 25, became the first Sovereign in more than 200 years to accede to the throne whilst abroad. Since then, Her Majesty has ruled for an inspirational 70 years.
In recognition of this poignant anniversary year, I have gathered some fascinating facts about Her Majesty which I am excited to share with you.
Continue reading to discover more…
1. Her Majesty has the final say over new bills made in the Act of Parliament.
By royal assent, the Queen formally agrees to make a bill into an Act of Parliament once it has completed all the necessary parliamentary stages. Since her accession in 1952, over 3000 Acts of Parliament have been given Royal assent by the Queen.
2. Queen Elizabeth II owns the rarest Pink Diamond in the world.
Given to her as a wedding present in the 1950’s, the Williamson Pink Diamond weighs a mighty 54.50 Carats. The diamond was set into a flower brooch by Cartier jewellers and was completed the same year that Her Majesty became Queen.
3. Doesn’t need a passport or driving licence.
All driving licences and passports in the UK are issued in the name of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, meaning that she doesn’t actually need either one herself. When she worked within the Auxiliary Territorial Service in World War Two, the Queen learnt to drive but never needed to take a test legally!
4. The Queen cannot be prosecuted!
The Queen, as the Sovereign, is free from all and any legal proceedings taken against her. Having said this, Her Majesty still follows the law carefully.
5. The Queen always pours her tea before her milk
It is known that the Queen has a cup of tea every morning before her breakfast. But did you know that it’s believed she pours her boiling hot water into the cup before her milk?
Historically, it was believed that only teacups made from fine bone China could sustain the heat of boiling water without cracking. For teacups made from arguably cheaper material, it was recommended that you pour milk in first, to reduce the temperature.
Therefore, the type of teacup you owned, would determine the method in which you made your cup of tea!
Do you pour the brewed water or milk first? Let us know in the comments!
6. Her Majesty is believed to have owned over 30 Corgi dogs!
Over the years, The Queen is believed to have owned over 30 dogs of the Corgi breed. Her first puppy, Susan, was considered to have kick-started Her Majesty’s love for dogs.
As of today, she remains the patron of the Dogs Trust Dog Welfare organisation!
7. The Queen has visited over 265 overseas territories during her reign!
Although Queen Victoria ruled over 70 territories, she never left Europe! In contrast, Queen Elizabeth II owns the title of the most-well travelled monarch in history.
Having travelled to over 265 official overseas territories during her reign, it’s fair to describe Her Majesty as a bit of a jetsetter!
8. The Queen ‘owns’ a Marks & Spencer’s (M&S) and a McDonalds?
In 2015, the Banbury Gateway Shopping Park opened, built on a piece of land belonging to the Crown Estate.
For the duration of the reigning monarch, ownership of the Crown Estate falls to them, meaning Queen Elizabeth II technically owns all that is built on the land. Which means the M&S and McDonalds, amongst other buildings in the park, is technically owned by her.
Have you learnt anything new today? I certainly have!
From a young girl who didn’t expect to become Queen, Her Majesty’s 70-year reign is very impressive, and she is an awe-inspiring figure across the world.
If you’re interested…
To mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, we are giving three lucky collectors the chance to win one of the BRAND NEW British Isles Platinum Jubilee BU 50p Sets.
Watch the video below to find out how to enter!
