The stamps feature striking illustrations of historic aircraft

Royal Mail is highlighting the remarkable story of Britain’s military jet aircraft and the pioneering work of Sir Frank Whittle, whose development of the jet propulsion engine transformed aviation, with a set of special stamps.

The main set of eight stamps showcase some of the UK military’s most iconic jet-powered aircraft, marking a number of significant anniversaries in 2026, including 50 years since the Hawker Siddeley Hawk entered service, 70 years since the Gloster Javelin and Avro Vulcan entered service, and 80 years since the de Havilland Vampire entered service.

The stamps feature striking illustrations of historic aircraft, including a newly commissioned artwork of the Gloster Meteor F1 by aviation artist Chris French.Aircraft that feature are the:

- Avro Vulcan B2- Gloster Javelin FAW9- Hawker Siddeley Hawk T1- Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II- Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S2B- De Havilland Vampire FB5- Panavia Tornado GR4- Gloster Meteor F1

Illustration credits:
- Avro Vulcan B2 - illustrated by Chris French
- Gloster Javelin FAW9 - illustrated by Chris French
- Hawker Siddeley Hawk T1 - illustrated by Paul Couper
- Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II - illustrated by Alex Hamilton
- Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S2B- illustrated by Chris French
- de Havilland Vampire FB5 illustrated by Paul Couper
- Panavia Tornado GR4 - illustrated by Paul Couper
- Gloster Meteor F1 - illustrated by Chris French — Illustration credits: - Avro Vulcan B2 - illustrated by Chris French - Gloster Javelin FAW9 - illustrated by Chris French - Hawker Siddeley Hawk T1 - illustrated by Paul Couper - Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II - illustrated by Alex Hamilton - Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S2B- illustrated by Chris French - de Havilland Vampire FB5 illustrated by Paul Couper - Panavia Tornado GR4 - illustrated by Paul Couper - Gloster Meteor F1 - illustrated by Chris French | Royal Mail

placeholder image — Illustration credits: - Avro Vulcan B2 - illustrated by Chris French - Gloster Javelin FAW9 - illustrated by Chris French - Hawker Siddeley Hawk T1 - illustrated by Paul Couper - Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II - illustrated by Alex Hamilton - Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S2B- illustrated by Chris French - de Havilland Vampire FB5 illustrated by Paul Couper - Panavia Tornado GR4 - illustrated by Paul Couper - Gloster Meteor F1 - illustrated by Chris French | Royal Mail

A further four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of Sir Frank Whittle, whose groundbreaking development of the jet engine laid the foundations for modern military and commercial aviation.

Royal Mail worked in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence to develop the stamp issue, drawing on its expertise to highlight the significance of these aircraft and their place in Britain's military aviation history.

David Gold, Director of External Affairs and Policy at Royal Mail, said: “Britain has a proud history of aviation innovation, and these stamps showcase some of the military jet aircraft that have played a significant role in that story.

“From the pioneering Gloster Meteor, the first Allied jet fighter to enter service, to the Hawk, which has trained generations of military pilots, these aircraft represent decades of engineering excellence and technological achievement.

“We are also proud to recognise the contribution of Sir Frank Whittle, whose development of the jet propulsion engine transformed aviation and changed the course of history.”

Frank Whittle’s son, Ian Whittle, said: “My father used to say, ‘Inventing it was easy. Making it work was the difficult bit.’ His determination to turn a revolutionary idea into a practical reality transformed aviation and changed the world forever.

“I am delighted that Royal Mail is celebrating this extraordinary legacy with a set of stamps. It is a fitting tribute not only to my father's pioneering achievements, but also to the generations of engineers, designers and aviators who helped shape Britain's world-leading contribution to aviation.”