STS-1 helicopter flown cover – signed

STS-1 Flown Helicopter Launch Operations Cover – Postmarked April 12, 1981, and Hand-Signed by pilots with “God Bless America” Inscription

A remarkable and highly collectible artifact from the dawn of the Space Shuttle era. This flown helicopter cover, carried during launch support operations for STS-1, is postmarked April 12, 1981, at Patrick Air Force Base—the same day Space Shuttle Columbia made its historic first flight.

The cover is hand-signed by the helicopter flight crew involved in launch day operations and features a patriotic inscription: “God Bless America”, making it both a tribute to national pride and a tangible piece of STS-1 history.

Helicopters were a critical part of Shuttle launch safety protocols, tasked with search-and-rescue readiness during liftoff.

Key Features:

• Flown cover aboard a U.S. Air Force helicopter during STS-1 launch support

• Officially postmarked April 12, 1981, Patrick AFB

• Hand-signed by helicopter pilots and inscribed "God Bless America"

• Excellent condition – a striking and meaningful addition to any Shuttle-era or aerospace collection

• Commemorates the first flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia and the beginning of a new era in human spaceflight

A rare and moving keepsake from the launch that redefined space exploration—honoring both the mission and the unsung heroes who supported it from the ground and air.