Astra Collection

Wartime poster of Churchills famous words: Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few, referring to the pilots of the Royal Air Force, fighting the Battle of Britain

WW2 poster, Per Ardua Ad Astra, Winston Churchill speech
WW2 poster, Per Ardua Ad Astra. Never in the field of human conflict have so many owed so much to so few. Winston Churchill speech, 20 August 1940. Date: 1940

Naval Airship No3, Astra Torres, moored on a mast, 12 June 1913

The 23-metre cutter Astra sailing close-hauled, 1932. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 23-metre cutter Astra sailing close-hauled, 1932. Astra was designed by Charles E Nicholson for Adam Moritimer Singer and was launched in 1928. It was converted to J-Class in 1931

The Astra-Torres Dirigible Airship made by Hutchinson and shown at the Salon de la Locomotion Aerienne at the Grand Palais, Paris, France in 1911. Date: 1911

Ravana Receiving a Boon from Shiva, between c1850 and c1900. Creator: Unknown
Ravana Receiving a Boon from Shiva, between c1850 and c1900

Handley Page Clive III G-ABYX of Sir Alan Cobhams National Aviation Day flying circus. One of the Hinaidi I prototypes, J9126

Astra Ville de Paris Dirigible Airship in 1908 Date: 1908

Windmills of Romania. ASTRA Museum of Traditional Folk Civilization, an open-air museum outside Sibiu, Transylvania. Romania

Canadair C-4 Argonaut G-ALHS (msn 164), of the Republic of Biafra government, at Castle Donington in October 1969. First operated by British Overseas Airways Corporation as Astra

Clment-Bayard No. 1 Airship 1908
Adolphe Clement-Bayard's latest French dirigible military airship, piloted by M. Henri Kapferer in response to a French Army decision to experiment with airship operations

La Ville de Paris - Airship 1907
Photograph of Henry Kapferer the pilot of the La Ville de Paris, throwing out ballast while floating above Paris. Date: 1907

IAI 1125 Astra N1125 (msn 62), on 24 September 1992. Date: 1992

The Maclaine Watters Medal of the Royal Scottish Academy (engraving)
1058813 The Maclaine Watters Medal of the Royal Scottish Academy (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Hawker Siddeley Hawk T. 1 XX341 ASTRA 1
Empire Test Pilots School - Hawker Siddeley Hawk T.1 XX341 ASTRA 1 (Advanced Stability Training Aircraft) (msn 312165), circa 1995

2013 Vauxhall Astra CDTi. Creator: Unknown
2013 Vauxhall Astra CDTi

Astra Ville de Paris Dirigible Airship Flying in 1908 Date: 1908

The racing yachts Astra and Endeavour, 1936. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The racing yachts Astra and Endeavour, 1936

The 23-metre cutter Astra sailing with spinnaker. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 23-metre cutter Astra sailing with spinnaker. Astra was designed by Charles E Nicholson for Adam Moritimer Singer and was launched in 1928. It was converted to J-Class in 1931

Deck of the 23-metre cutter Astra sailing close-hauled, 1933. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Deck of the 23-metre cutter Astra sailing close-hauled, 1933. Astra was designed by Charles E Nicholson for Adam Moritimer Singer and was launched in 1928

The 23-metre cutter Astra sailing with spinnaker, 1932. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 23-metre cutter Astra sailing with spinnaker, 1932. Astra was designed by Charles E Nicholson for Adam Moritimer Singer and was launched in 1928. It was converted to J-Class in 1931

The 23-metre cutter Astra sailing close-hauled, 1928. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 23-metre cutter Astra sailing close-hauled, 1928. Astra was designed by Charles E Nicholson for Adam Moritimer Singer and was launched in 1928

The 23-metre cutter Astra sailing close-hauled, 1934. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 23-metre cutter Astra sailing close-hauled, 1934. Astra was designed by Charles E Nicholson for Adam Moritimer Singer and was launched in 1928. It was converted to J-Class in 1931

Sailing yachts Yankee, Astra and Velsheda, 1935. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Sailing yachts Yankee, Astra and Velsheda, 1935

In the foreground the 23-metre cutter Astra sailing on a reach. Astra was designed by Charles E Nicholson for Adam Moritimer Singer and was launched in 1928

The 23-metre cutter Astra sailing close-hauled. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 23-metre cutter Astra sailing close-hauled. Astra was designed by Charles E Nicholson for Adam Moritimer Singer and was launched in 1928. It was converted to J-Class in 1931

The 23-metre cutter Astra sailing close-hauled, 1933. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The 23-metre cutter Astra sailing close-hauled, 1933. Astra was designed by Charles E Nicholson for Adam Moritimer Singer and was launched in 1928. It was converted to J-Class in 1931

SIC ITUR AD ASTRA SCILICET Romeyn de Hooghe etchings
SIC ITUR AD ASTRA SCILICET, Romeyn de Hooghe etchings, 1667-ca. 1700. de Hooghe, Romeyn, 1645-1708, Etching, 1689

Holden, HOL003087
HOL003087

RAF Per Ardua Ad Astra badge and brooch
A Royal Air Force badge bearing the Latin motto Per Ardua Ad Astra (Through Adversity to the Stars), turned into a brooch by the addition of a bow and pin. Date: circa 1940s

Vauxhall Astra Sri 2. 2
Vauxhall Astra Sri 2.2

Astra Margarine Advert
Astra margarine - just like butter !

Het Lusthuys Van Pater Peters, En De Jesuwijten En Munniken, Ontdekt Door, Sic Itur Ad Astra, Scilicet, [1681ja], 1 Print (broadside) : Etching With Letterpress

Sic Itur Ad Astra Scilicet, Hooghe, Romeyn De, 1645-1708, Artist, 1681. 1 Print : Etching. Print Shows Scene In A Bawdy House Of Pleasure Frequented By Father Petre And Other Jesuits Where They

First Gas Balloon (2)
Sic itur ad astra - The first manned flight in a gas balloon, over Paris Date: 1787

Junkers F1- Ad Astra

Angel of Victory statue given to F.C.H. (Frederick Crosby Halahan) from F.R.E.D. (Francis Robert Edward Davis) - inscribed F.C.H. FROM F.R.E.D. - 1922 1929 - PER ARDUA AD ASTRA

Womens Royal Air Force -- The Dawn of Aviation
Illustration, Eight Months with the Womens Royal Air Force. Showing a woman looking up at three biplanes in the sky, with a sunrise behind -- The Dawn of Aviation -- with the motto below

Sic itur ad astra scilicet, Hooghe, Romeyn de, 1645-1708, artist, 1681. 1 print : etching. Print shows scene in a bawdy house of pleasure frequented by Father Petre

Het lusthuys van Pater Peters, en de Jesuwijten en Munniken, ontdekt door, Sic itur ad astra, scilicet, [1681?], 1 print (broadside) : etching with letterpress

Astra Stand
circa 1910: The Astra stand showing the carriage of the latest Astra airship. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)

Naval Airship No3, Astra Torres

Naval Airship No3, Astra Torres, after a forced landing due to loss of pressure, June 1913

Naval Airship No3, Astra Torres, 7 October 1913. Date: 1913

The gondola of Naval Airship No3, Astra Torres, 12 June 1913

Naval Airship No3, Astra Torres, at Farnborough on 4 October 1913

The rear Maxim gun position on the gondola of Naval Airship No3, Astra Torres

Christopher Hatton Turnor, 1840-1914, author of Astra Castra: experiments and adventures in the atmosphere published in 1865

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"Astra: From Churchill's Words to Airships and Beyond" In the midst of World War II, a powerful wartime poster adorned walls across Britain, displaying the iconic words of Winston Churchill: "Per Ardua Ad Astra" - Through adversity to the stars. These words echoed through time, inspiring generations with their resolute determination. Amongst the relics of that era stands Naval Airship No3, known as Astra Torres. Moored on a towering mast, this majestic airship symbolized innovation and progress in aviation history. The Astra-Torres Dirigible Airship, crafted by Hutchinson, showcased mankind's relentless pursuit of conquering the skies. But Astra's story doesn't end there; it stretches back even further into history. In 1908, Clément-Bayard No. 1 Airship took flight under the name La Ville de Paris - an awe-inspiring sight that captivated hearts worldwide. This marked another milestone in humanity's quest for aerial exploration. Fast forward to modern times when IAI 1125 Astra N1125 soared through skies with grace and precision. Its sleek design represented cutting-edge technology and exemplified human ingenuity at its finest. Yet not all astral wonders were airborne; some found solace amidst windmills in Romania. The ASTRA Museum of Traditional Folk Civilization stood proudly as an open-air museum preserving cultural heritage for future generations. Even art recognized Astra's significance; The Maclaine Watters Medal engraved by the Royal Scottish Academy paid homage to its timeless allure. From wartime posters echoing Churchill's resolve to airships defying gravity’s grasp and museums celebrating tradition – 'Astra' weaves together tales of ambition, courage, and human achievement throughout history.