POSTCARD N.90 - RUSSIA

Postcrossing postcard sent on the 2nd November, received on the 24th November 2022

Postcard image: Kaluga Airport
__________________________________________________________________________________

Once again Julia send me an interesting postcard with beautiful stamps themed on things that fly. Thank you so much, Julia! I truly appreciate the fact that you always manage to find something to suit my interest in all things airborne.

As I said in my previous entry on this blog. this card arrived on the same day I got my first cover from  Ukraine, and  seeing them both here on my table as I write, I believe it just goes to show that no matter what differences, dissents, or even grudges nations might have, there is always a much better way to solve them than giving weapons manufacturers an horrific and immense extra bonus at the expense of the precious, unfulfilled lives, be it of soldiers or of civilians just the same… you hear that Vladimir?

Kaluga airport, Julia tells me, was built in 1970, but it was competely renovated in 2014. A quick look at the arrival schedule on its website lends me to conclude that Azimuth Airlines is the only airline operating from and to this infrastructure which is 100% owned by the by the Ministry for Economic Development of Kaluga Oblast.

The image of the postcard shows a Sukhoi Superjet 100 of the fleet of 15 operated by Azimuth Airlines, parking on the apron in front of  Terminal A, which I supose is domestic flights only, international flights being operated from terminal B.

Kaluga was founded in 1371 and so in 2021 the city celebrated its 650th aiversary, the logo for the celebrations being also present on the postacrd acompained by a legend which I believe translates into "Hello from Kaluga" but I'm far from certain.

Stamps Left to right, top to bottom

- After a first signing in Reims, France, by General Alfred Jodl, on the 7 May, on the 9th May 1945, Germany through the pens of  Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel, Colonel-General Hans-Jürgen Stumpff and General-Admiral Hans Georg von Friedeburg,  signed the German Instrument of Surrender in Berlin, thus ending the war in Europe, in what was thenceforth known as V-E Day (8 May for the western allies, 9 May for Russia). The USSR representative to this act was Marshall Georgy Zukhov.

On 02SEP2015, celebrating the 70th anniversary of this important event, Russia Post issued the 17 ruble stamp on my card, depicting Zhukov, alone, signing the Instrument of German surrender, of which, the first page is also depicted in the image. In a rather Stalinist move, Zhukov is illustrated as being alone, when in fact British Air Marshal Arthur W. Tedder also signed the document as deputy of the Supreme Commander Allied Expeditionary Force as well as General de Tassigny (for France) and General Carl Spaatz (for the USA) who signed  as witness.

- Long before becoming famous for his pioneering work in the development of the helicopter, Igor Sikorsky had already left un indelible mark in the development of aviation, especially in what concerns long range multi engine aircraft.

Of the large aircraft that left his drawing board none was more famous than the giant Ilya Muromets bomber, the first four-engine flying machine.

Initially conceived as a luxury transport aircraft, and first flown in 1913,the eruption of the First World War saw its transformation into a heavy bomber capable of carrying (and releasing..) 500 kg of bombs onto enemy positions, If one thinks that the first flight of an heavier that air machine had taken place only 10 years before, one can really see that the progress was fast.

On 10SEP2015, Russia Post issued a four 21 ruble stamp set dedicated to Russian Weapons of the First World War. Further to the Ilya Muromets, the set includes stamps with images of the Mosin–Nagant 7.62mm Rifle, the 76.2mm Rapid-Firing Field Gun and the Destroyer "Novik".

- Velikiye Luki  is a town in the Pskov Oblast, being its second largest, with a population nearing 99,000. Due to the heroism shown by its dwellers in the  2nd World War, it was granted the title of City of  Military Glory.

In 2016, it celebrated its 850th anniversary, and Russia Post issued a 24 ruble stamp with an image of hot air balloons flying over the city, given that since 1996 Velikiye Luki has become famous for hosting  ballooning competitions.