Juneau, Alaska

Postcard US-4015824 to France shows an illustration of steps of all sizes, shapes, and colors weaving between hillside houses in Juneau, the capital of Alaska. Located on the Gastineau Channel in the Alaskan panhandle, it is the second largest city in the United States by area, larger by area than both Rhode Island and Delaware.

There are no roads connecting Juneau to the rest of Alaska or to the rest of North America due to the extremely rugged terrain surrounding the city, although automobiles can reach the city by ferry service. Planes and boats are more important transportation methods than cars.

Winnie Mae: Lockheed 5C Vega

Outgoing postcard US-3755619 to Canada shows "Winnie Mae", a seven-seat monoplane Vega 5C, on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. It was made by Lockheed in 1930 with modified tail surfaces for higher gross weight operations. Flew by famed aviator Wiley Post, it set many records, including around the world flight in eight days by Wiley Post and navigator Harold Gatty in 1931; the first solo flight around the world in 1933; the world's first flight using pressure suit in 1935 that reached the stratosphere at 547 km/hr or 340 m/hr. The "Winnie Mae" was named for the daughter of F. C. Hall, the original owner and a close friend of Wiley Post.

Today it is the 112th anniversary of Wright brothers' first powered flights. According to USPS Postal Bulletin 22430 published on December 10, 2015, Kitty Hawk, NC Post Office is offering a pictorial postmark to commemorate the occasion. I am sending the card, along with several others, to get this special postmark. Such requests must be postmarked no later than 30 days following the requested pictorial postmark date.

Douglas DC-3

Outgoing postcard US-3429583 to Florida was produced by Smithsonian Institution and printed in Singapore in 1988. It shows a Douglas DC-3, a fixed-wing propeller-driven airliner with a cruise speed of 207 m/h or 333 km/h and a range of 1,500 miles or 2,400 km, exhibited at the National Air and Space Museum. It bears an Eastern Airlines logo. Billed as the most successful airliner in history for its streamlined, versatile design and strong wing construction, the Douglas DC-3 dominated both commercial and military air transportation from its introduction in 1935 until after World War II. At least 400 of these airplanes are still flying today.

Update: The card reached the destination after 38 days on July 17,2015.

Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega 5b

Postcard US-3109087 to France shows Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega 5b, NR7952, at the Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.

Amelia Mary Earhart, born July 24, 1897, was an American aviation pioneer. As the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, she took off from Newfoundland on May 20, 1932 and landed in Ireland nearly 15 hours later in the above plane, receiving the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross for this endeavor.

Amelia Mary Earhart disappeared on July 2, 1937 during an attempt to circumnavigate the globe in a Lockheed Model 10 Electra plane.

According to Wikipedia, She was also a member of the National Woman's Party, and an early supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment.

New Las Vegas ATC Tower Opening Delayed

IFATCA is celebrating the International Day of the Air Traffic Controller with a Facebook profile picture and a Youtube video.

Join us in celebrating the International Day of the Air Traffic Controller on October 20th. Be a proud aviation professional!
— IFATCA (@ifatca) October 19, 2014

Postcard US-3017710 to Japan shows the new 352-foot or 107.3-meter tall FAA Air Traffic Control Tower at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas that has been under construction since 2011. However, Construction mistakes have pushed the tower opening date from 2015 to late 2016 or early 2017. Upon completion, the tower, the second-tallest in the U.S., will give air traffic controllers a better view of air and ground traffic at McCarran International Airport, the ninth busiest airport in the North America.

Penguin One

Postcard US-3014308 to Japan shows one of Southwest Airlines' specialty planes, Penguin One, taking off from McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. It is the latest co-branded 737 jets under the partnership with SeaWorld since 1988. The current SeaWorld fleet includes Shamu Two, entering service on May 30, 1990; and Shamu Three, on September 7, 1990. The first jet Shamu One, introduced on May 23, 1988, has since retired.

However, animal rights activists have protested Southwest Airlines' relationship with SeaWorld for its treatment of the killer whales and other sea mammals in captive. Under the pressure from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and other animal rights groups, Southwest announced on July 31, 2014 that it would concluded its 26-year partnership with SeaWorld by the end of the year. Penguin One, just introduced to the fleet last year on June 20, 2013, will be painted back to the traditional Southwest color scheme along with Shamu Two and Shamu Three.

Forward it to my Palm Pilot

Postcard US-2776605 to Germany shows a plane taking off from tropical islands. The caption under the palm tree stamp on the bottom left reads "Margaritaville", indicating it is a Jimmy Buffett-themed merchandise associated with Jimmy Buffett's casual dining American restaurants and chain stores, named after his hit song "Margaritaville".

In Las Vegas, a Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville restaurant opened at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in December 2003; a Margaritaville "minicasino" inside the Flamingo opened in October 2011. The postcard was purchased at the gift shop there.

Curtiss JN-4 Jenny

The postcard shows a Curtiss JN-4 Jenny aircraft with model wing suspended at Edwards AFB, CA in 1921. The Curtiss JN-4 was the type of aircraft used in the first air mail flight, and was featured in the 1918 24-cent stamp with printing error showing an illustration of the plane upside down.

The U.S. Postal Service is re-issuing 2 million of the “Inverted Jenny” souvenir stamps today to mark the opening of the Smithsonian’s William H. Gross Stamp Gallery that hosts the world’s largest stamp collection. The reissued Inverted Jenny has a face value of $2, in mini-sheets of six with a decorative border.

Since the post offices near me do not open on Sundays, I will have to wait until tomorrow to buy the stamps. The postcard is available for purchase at Zazzle.com.

Update: the postcard was later sent to Poland as US-2509925.