# 55695 FDC - 1988 45c Samuel P. Langley Proofcard
Often called the ultimate philatelic issue, the Fleetwood Proofcard is a distinctive commemorative with an elegantly embossed surface. Each Proofcard bears an original work of art complementing the theme of the stamp and created exclusively for Fleetwood by a leading American artist. Proofcards are often collected on their own, but would also make a beautiful addition to your existing stamp or cover collection.
Birth Of Samuel P. Langley
Langley attended the Boston Latin School and English High School of Boston before serving as an assistant at the Harvard College Observatory. After that, he worked as a professor of mathematics at the US Naval Academy.  While there, he also worked on restoring the schoolâs small observatory.
In 1867, Langley moved to the Western University of Pennsylvania and became director of the Allegheny Observatory, as well as an astronomy professor. When he arrived, the observatory was in need of repair and new equipment. He raised money for the renovations by distributing standard times to the railroads.
In addition to his work at the observatory, Langley experimented extensively with heavier-than-air aircraft. By 1887, he was living in and employed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. He began his experiments with rubber band powered models. His work advanced to steam engine powered flying machines that he called âAerodromesâ (meaning air runner in Greek). He built a spinning table, which functioned like a wind tunnel, to test his early models.
Samuel Langley paved the way for the further development in the fields of aviation and solar radiation. He died on February 27, 1906, in Aiken, South Carolina. Several things have been named in his honor, including air and sea craft, a unit of solar radiation, and the Smithsonianâs Langley Gold Medal. Heâs also the namesake of the NASA Langley Research Center (NASAâs oldest field center) as well as Langley Air Force Base.
Often called the ultimate philatelic issue, the Fleetwood Proofcard is a distinctive commemorative with an elegantly embossed surface. Each Proofcard bears an original work of art complementing the theme of the stamp and created exclusively for Fleetwood by a leading American artist. Proofcards are often collected on their own, but would also make a beautiful addition to your existing stamp or cover collection.
Birth Of Samuel P. Langley
Langley attended the Boston Latin School and English High School of Boston before serving as an assistant at the Harvard College Observatory. After that, he worked as a professor of mathematics at the US Naval Academy.  While there, he also worked on restoring the schoolâs small observatory.
In 1867, Langley moved to the Western University of Pennsylvania and became director of the Allegheny Observatory, as well as an astronomy professor. When he arrived, the observatory was in need of repair and new equipment. He raised money for the renovations by distributing standard times to the railroads.
In addition to his work at the observatory, Langley experimented extensively with heavier-than-air aircraft. By 1887, he was living in and employed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. He began his experiments with rubber band powered models. His work advanced to steam engine powered flying machines that he called âAerodromesâ (meaning air runner in Greek). He built a spinning table, which functioned like a wind tunnel, to test his early models.
Samuel Langley paved the way for the further development in the fields of aviation and solar radiation. He died on February 27, 1906, in Aiken, South Carolina. Several things have been named in his honor, including air and sea craft, a unit of solar radiation, and the Smithsonianâs Langley Gold Medal. Heâs also the namesake of the NASA Langley Research Center (NASAâs oldest field center) as well as Langley Air Force Base.