Glossary
Reprinted in part from The Airpost Journal, monthly magazine of the American Air Mail Society
Airgraph - Photographed airmail letter. Microfilm of original letter was flown, then enlarged and printed on a special form at its destination.
Airlift Flight - Flight made to carry mail to otherwise inaccessible location due to blockade or enemy occupation of usual access routes.
Airship Mail - Flown by airship, either a lighter-than-air (LTA) craft characterized by a rigid, e.g., a Zeppelin, or a semi-rigid or non-rigid LTA craft.
Attempted Flight - Flight which failed to achieve its goal, e.g., altitude, distance, or destination.
Balloon Flight - Flight made by a balloon. Balloon Monte refers to a manned balloon or covers carried by one. Balloon Non Monte refers to unmanned balloons and mail.
Cancelled Flight - Planned flight which was not made due to adverse weather, damaged aircraft, no aircraft available, or other reason.
Catapult Flight - Flight made by an aircraft launched by a catapult system, usually from on board a ship.
Combination Cover - Cover transported by air and one or more non-air primary means in transit to the original destination.
Combination Flight Cover - Cover flown by two different airmail means in transit to the original destination.
Commemorative Flight - Flight retracing all or part of a prior, historically important flight or commemorating an important aviation event.
Contract Air Mail (CAM) - United States airmail routes flown by various carriers under contract with the U.S. Post Office.
Crash - Incomplete flight due to aircraft accident resulting in damage to or destruction of the aircraft, with mails (if not lost) forwarded by other aircraft or other means (sometimes referred to as recovered; i.e., salvaged mail).
Double Flown - Cover flown once, then readdressed and flown again. See "Round trip cover."
Dropped Mail - Mail dropped from the air for forwarding.
Emergency Flight - Flight undertaken in response to an emergency, i.e. floods, severe storms, breakdown of rail transportation, strikes, etc.
First Flight - Initial flight of airline, route, or aircraft with official airmail. Also known as inaugural flight.
Flight Leg - A point-to-point dispatch or segment of a longer route.
Flown - Carried on an aerial flight and bearing evidence of being flown. Covers flown with postal authorization are official, i.e., officially flown; if flown without postal authorization, a cover is unofficial; i.e., private.
Foreign Airmail (FAM) - International contract airmail route flown by a United States airline under contract with the United States Post Office from U.S. point(s) to a foreign country and vice versa.
Glider Flight - Flight by glider or sailplane, unpowered aircraft.
Interrupted Flight - Non-continuous flight. In-flight problem resulting in unplanned landing. Fight continued later by the same aircraft or, to expedite mail, another aircraft.
Lighter-Than-Air (LTA) - Encompassing all air travel means of this type, including balloons and airships.
Non-Flown - Not carried on any aerial flight, but directly related to an aero or astro event or anniversary, or cover from a planned or projected flight which was not made, or cover directed to be flown but not flown due to no flight planned or made, unavailable service, weather factors, or other reason.
Pickup Airmail - Airmail picked up by a passing aircraft in flight without landing.
Pioneer Flight - Flight from the period beginning with the initial experimental flights and ending with the beginning of regular air services.
Rate Change Cover - Flown cover posted on the first day of a new airmail rate.
Record Flight - Fight that sets a new record for speed, distance, altitude, or endurance.
Round Trip Cover - Cover flown both ways on a round trip without readdressing.
Souvenir - Unofficial flown cover, usually carried by pilot or crew member, or for promotional or commercial purpose.
Souvenir Historical - Flown souvenirs from important events which contributed to the development of aviation.
Survey Flight - Fight made to assess the viability of a proposed or projected commercial flight route. Flight made prior to introduction of regular service on a new route.
Treaty Acceptance - Foreign origin mail accepted for airmail service pursuant to an international treaty or agreement providing for rates and compensation.
Trial Flight - Flight made to evaluate aircraft or system, includes proving flight.
U.S. Government Flight - Airmail services conducted under federal authority by the Signal Corps of the U.S. Army, the Post Office Department, or other federal bureau in pioneering subsequent commercial airmail route within the United States.
Zeppelin - A German airship built by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, his company Luftschiffbau Zeppelin, or its related or successor companies.
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