Designing Maverick & Goose – Pippin’s Park Buddies Take Flight
Goose & Maverick as illustrated by thismustbethat
When we set out to design Pippin’s Park Buddies, we knew each character needed to carry their own charm, quirks and history. Some are grounded, some are mysterious and a few… well, they’ve spent a little too much time in the skies. For Maverick and Goose, the challenge was to capture the nostalgia of classic aviators while keeping the humor and light-hearted charm that defines the entire collection.
Primarily, these characters make their appearances as FREE stamps from the “Pippins Park Buddies” collection, exclusively available for members of the Pippin Supporters; celebrating the whimsical cast of companions that make up Pippin’s world. They also appear as avatars you can select for your PenPal profiles (among other things now and in the future).
Today, we’re excited to share the story behind two birds of our flock: Maverick and Goose.
✈️ Maverick – The “Freedom Eagle”
Maverick by _airow : minted as a stamp
Maverick is the kind of bird who never walks into a room quietly. Born and raised under the sunny skies of San Diego, he grew up with the sound of engines in his ears and the Pacific wind in his feathers. He’ll tell you he’s a hawk but ask twice and he’ll wink and say, “Freedom eagle.”
Once a hotshot air show pilot, Maverick now spends his days writing a conspiracy newsletter called [redacted] that probably only he believes. He’s overconfident, dramatic for no reason and ironically can’t actually fly that well. But in his mind, he’s still pulling barrel rolls over the coast.
His design leans into that swagger: aviator vibes, sharp lines, and a stance that says, “I don’t land. I just… quit flying.” It began as a sketch with oversized aviators and a stance that leaned just a little too confident. From the start, we wanted him to embody the idea of flight, not flying as an action itself. We leaned on a mix of air-show pilot references and classic “too cool for school” silhouettes: open jacket, dramatic expressions and exaggerated wing gestures. The key was balance: enough seriousness to sell the role of a retired pilot but enough absurdity to make his conspiracy-newsletter-writing lifestyle believable. His catchphrase, “I don’t land. I just… quit flying,” became a cornerstone of his design: every pose is meant to look like he could step out at any moment with a one-liner.
Maverick isn’t just a character, he’s an attitude: part nostalgia, part nonsense but all bird.
🪖 Goose – The Goose
Goose by _airow : minted as a stamp
Where Maverick goes, Goose isn’t far behind. Hailing from Seattle, Goose is fast, loud, and unapologetically himself. A former fighter pilot turned neighborhood HOA enforcer (yes, really), Goose still sees the world as one big blur, best experienced at top speed.
Clad in a worn military jacket and aviators he refuses to take off indoors, Goose commands attention wherever he waddles. His personality? Loud, proud and allergic to rules: unless he’s the one making them. As he likes to say:
“Quack is for ducks. I—HONK.”
Goose’s design, by contrast to Maverick, was all about volume and presence. It had to feel both commanding and chaotic. Where Maverick has mystery, Goose has blunt force personality. We knew from the beginning that Goose’s design had to scream loud: aviators that dominate his face, a military jacket that feels one size too heavy and a stance that’s wide and commanding, like he’s always ready to HONK at someone breaking the rules. The jacket, the stance, the ever-intense stare: it all comes together to capture a character who’s equal parts hero, menace and best friend
For the record, he’s banned from five local ponds for “tactical aggression.”
🕊️ “Maverick & Goose”
Individually, Maverick and Goose are trouble. Together, they’re unstoppable. Best friends and partners in foolishness, they’re the kind of birds who argue over who’s flying wing and who’s lead but still crash the party side by side.
Loosely inspired by Maverick and Goose from Top Gun, for us, designing Maverick and Goose was about capturing that playful mix of nostalgia and absurdity. They’re over the top yet never take themselves too seriously, just like the rest of the Park Buddies crew.
Concept Sketches of Maverick & Goose by _airow
🎨 Collect Them in the Supporters Club
Maverick and Goose are a part of the exclusive Pippin’s Park Buddies collection: free digital stamps available only to members of the Pippin Supporters Club. Like all our Buddies, they’re here to remind us that friendship, personality and a little silliness are what keep this park alive.
Maverick and Goose are a reminder that not every bird in the park is sensible. Some are reckless, some are dramatic and some are just here to HONK.
And that’s exactly why Maverick and Goose made the cut.
So whether you’re a freedom eagle at heart or more of a tactical honker, these two are ready to join your stamp book and bring a little flight to your letters.
A little honk, a little coo and a huge thank you to all the members of the Pippin Supporters Club. Your support keeps us independent & ad-free for everyone. Our heartfelt thanks to you for keeping this cozy corner alive. These little freebies are just a small token of our appreciation.
