TU Delft innovations on a stamp

News - 21 October 2024

PostNL has released a stamp sheet on the occasion of international Stamp Day featuring two innovative and sustainable means of transport developed at TU Delft. 

The stamps feature alongside King Willem-Alexander, a wind-assisted cargo ship and the Flying-V, an energy-efficient aircraft design for long distances. Making shipping and aviation climate neutral is an important research theme at TU Delft, with a major role for the faculties of Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering and Industrial Design Engineering. 

Flying-V

The Flying-V is a design for a highly energy-efficient long-distance aeroplane. The aircraft’s design integrates the passenger cabin, the cargo hold and the fuel tanks in the wings, creating a spectacular v-shape. Its improved aerodynamic shape and reduced weight will mean it uses 20% less fuel than today’s most advanced aircraft.  

WASP

Wind assisted ship propulsion (WASP) systems can reduce ship emissions. One such mechanical system are the so-called rotor sails to generate an additional propulsive force. These rotor sails can reduce fuel consumption by 30 – 40 %, when the systems are fully integrated in an optimized ship design. Research is being conducted at TU Delft on the development and potential of wind assisted ship propulsion.

PostNL issues special stamps featuring TU Delft innovations

On the occasion of the annual Stamp Day, graphic designer Sandra Smulders has designed a stamp using as inspiration the Queen Wilhelmina 1931-1933 postage stamps designed by Piet Zwart. The original stamps showed examples of the industry and trade of the time. The original stamps featured Queen Wilhelmina, Fokker airplanes, the Hoogovens and motor ships. The new ones show today's and tomorrow's innovations.

You can order the stamps in the web shop of PostNL.