Charles Knotek: Vickers Vedette Airplane

Artist: Charles Knotek
1933 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 1979
Image Size: 16 by 13.5 inches
Overall Size: 23.5 by 20 inches
Medium: Water Color on Cold Press Illustration Board

Carefully designed, well-built and the star of the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Vickers Vedette was one of the first planes to successfully maneuver through the jagged peaks of the Canadian Rockies. In 1922, it was obvious to Canada's young Board of Aviation, that the country's rugged terrain required planes with special flying capabilities. What they needed was a dependable airplane that could easily and safely negotiate the natural barriers of the nation's wilderness. The plane must be able to take off quickly, climb swiftly and carry at least three people. In October, 1924, the Vickers Vedette fulfilled every one of these requirements. Taking off from Montreal, the amphibious Vedette soared effortlessly over high mountains and dense forests, then landed gracefully on one ofCanada's waterways which provided a natural runway. Test runs of this flying boat, the first to be designed and built in Canada, continued to be highly successful. In 1925, it became the pride of the Royal Canadian Air Force, flying military missions until 1941. Then, retired from military service, the Vedette was quickly adopted as the ideal flying boat for civilian forestry patrols and photographic operations over Canada's forbidding landscape. Fondly referred to as "the star," the Vedette carried photographers, sportsmen and tourists into otherwise inaccessible areas until the end of World War II.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover for the Canada 35¢ Vickers Vedette stamp issue of November 15, 1979.

Artwork Copyright © 1979 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB05641

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