Structures - Austria / II. Republic of Austria 1960 - 4.50 Shilling

The brand image shows the command tower of the airport building in Vienna-Schwechat. On 17 May 1910, the Simmering Heide experienced the first prelude of future air traffic. Karl Illner landed here with his Etrichtaube coming from Wiener Neustadt after the first overland flight within the Austrian borders. Illner flew back the same day and set with 30 minutes for 45 km a new line speed record. On the initiative of the technical flying club the "Vienna Airfield Society" was founded in 1912, and on June 23, 1912, the new airfield in Aspern was opened with the "First International Flight Meeting Vienna". The airfield was used almost exclusively military in the First World War, but already on April 1, 1918 announced the development of a commercial airport. At that time, the aviation troops, together with the Austrian Post and Telegraph Administration, set up the first international airmail service on the 1,200-kilometer route Vienna-Krakow-Lemberg-Kiev. In the following years, there was a rapid upward trend. However, the Second World War severely affected the airport. It was not until January 1, 1954, that the newly founded Vienna International Airport took over Betriebgsges.m.b.H. the entire administrative service of the occupying powers. The opening of the new airport building on 17 June 1960 marked the completion of the first expansion phase in Schwechat.