PHOTO of the DAY...

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
23/01/23

For many who find the past of Blackbushe Airport something of an enigma, just something from long ago of which they've seen nothing first hand their only hope of seeing through the veil of time is by photographs. Our Forum depends on the kindness of those who have provided old photographs, especially from the precious 1950s era when commercial aviation grew deep roots into land of opportunity that Blackbushe presented. There is a short list of names who have provided our Forum with precious recall of those golden days. This morning the first of another crop of freshly scanned monochrome memories. These have come from the many photos acquired from the late Stuart Marshall who in turn received them from Harry Pegden, a Senior Air Traffic Controller at Blackbushe during the fifties.

With great thanks to both, here are some of the photos..




Airspeed Consul G-AIUS recovered after undercarriage failure 23.7.1956. IUS was home based and operated by Stewart Smith Ltd and later Silver City. The Bristol Freighter in the background suggests the hangar is that of Silver City once located on Blackbushe 'south', south of the A30.




A quartet of Beverleys, no other details, possibly Farnborough Week?




Air Kruise Bristol Freighter abeam the Silver City hangar south of the A30. Britavia Hermes in the background. The MTCA notice suggests you keep clear...well, nothing there today, just nature's unbounded tangles.




United States Navy R4D-6 Dakota and a Freighter share the main apron. Photo dated 1958 and the Dakota operated by Blackbushe based FASRON 200's 'Paris' detachment..




Dakota G-AJAY operated by Blackbushe based Westminster Airways 1947/1948. She flew some big names including Lord Beaverbrook and operated a NAFFI charter to Nairobi in June, 1947.




Britavia Hermes G-ALDI about to depart on another trooping flight. Note a Meteor parked on the eastern side of the apron. Kind of alludes to just how big the main apron used to be.....



A few more from this collection tomorrow...

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
24/01/23

While "POTD" has a leaning toward history it also a nose for tomorrow and the challenges that face the aviation world when confronted with the hurdles placed in its way by those of the green persuasion..

ZeroAvia down in the Cotswolds have taken a step nearer new ways of flying with the successful first flight of their Do228 with a hydrogen-electric engine on one side and the standard TPE-331 on the other. This article in the current edition of AvWeb carries the details..


Click the link.. www.avweb.com/aviation-news/zeroavia-flies-hydrogen-electric-dornier-228/?MailingID=1182







Returning to yesterday's focus, that of Stuart and his photos from Blackbushe ATC's Mr Pegden..


Some of the Halifax activity post-war at Blackbushe where these 'experienced' aeroplanes found a new life carrying freight and working in events such as the Berlin Airlift.




G-AHDM had returned from the Berlin Airlift and was sadly broken up during November 1950.




G-AJNW April 1949 she returned from the Berlin airlift. Served with Westminster Airways until November 1950 when she too was withdrawn from use.




F-BESE arrived June 1949. Operated by SANA until November 1950. A fire while at Blackbushe caused significant damage and by the end of the year she too was broken up.




Being based in the Blackbushe Control Tower in the fifties you had unlimited photo opportunities!! Here's the resident Percival Prince of Blackbushe based Stewart Smith & Co. From July, 1956, until the end of 1959 G-AMLZ was a regular part of Blackbushe's very varied activity. The structures in the background are part of the Airwork complex where two large hangars and many workshops formed an area where many and varied Airwork activities took place including contact work with the RAF converting Hastings and developing systems used on aircraft such as the Javelin.




A more recent photo from Stuart Marshall. G-NINA made an unscheduled arrival at Blackbushe...


Details that lead to the above.. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422fd3bed915d13740008c7/Piper_PA-28-161_Cherokee_Warrior_II__G-NINA_09-94.pdf











I guess that somewhere in the Bramshill plantation area there lies one used propeller..


More photos tomorrow..

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
25/01/23

In the cold sunlight of January arrived at Brooklands yesterday to show a good friend what a Viking looks like in the flesh. The claim that theirs is the only Viking in the UK will have to be modified in due course? The fabulous Wellington hangar provided some time studying the work of Barnes Wallace... Unfortunately no other aircraft were open for inspection after paying full admission prices, but top marks to the volunteers who were always ready to talk about the inside exhibits in their charge.




The geodetic wonder of Barnes Wallace gave flight to the Wellington, it also served the Viking!




Looking peaceful in the company of her fellow Vickers manufactured aeroplanes, the Brooklands Viking...




Returning to 'yesteryear' and some more from Stuart's collection... A familiar shape and sound of the fifties as one of the home based US Navy SNB5s, a military Beech 18, poses before the Blackbushe Control Tower. Obviously taken before the magnificent glass Visual Control Room was added to the original Blackbushe Control Tower. For those who wonder where the Tower used to be, it was located on the long disused east end of the Airport south of where the main runway used to extend. Unfortunately it was demolished without consideration of its historic value, sad when considering how much effort goes into restoring old control towers elsewhere due to the value they offer our heritage..


It's strange looking at the photo above, I so clearly recall a school holiday day in the fifties. I was cycling abeam the Finchampstead Ridges, just a few miles north northeast of Blackbushe, as a US Navy SNB5 - maybe the one in the photo - flew overhead very few minutes. Why I remember it so clearly I'm not sure, but I know I stopped to watch as it regularly came around on its circuit bashing duty. It's dayglo red and white colours looked the business, sounded lovely too.




Blackbushe provided an endless supply of visiting traffic, this Shackleton would have added its wonderful Griffon sounds to the day..




Variety in size as well as sounds. 23.7.56 Air Kruise Rapide G-ALWK makes her way across the main Blackbushe apron passing a resting Skyways Hermes..




August 1956, a Heron of the Queens Flight makes her way onto the main apron, the holding point for runway 32 is just behind the aircraft while the splendid expanse of Blackbushe 'east' is clear to see - as is the upper part of the Control Tower's glass Visual Control Room just above the Heron's fuselage..




Another benefit of working in the Blackbushe Tower. Aircraft either heading for a 26 departure or inbound to the apron from a 08 arrival made their way past the Tower. This US Navy Douglas R5D-3, 56529, was Blackbushe based and a very frequent sight from 1955 right up until the 'end' in 1960.




Last one today. Over on the airfield's northeast the American military machine produced many types wearing the stars and stripes. A Navy Grumman Albatross and a Martin P4M Mercator rest together on the Navy's apron long since turned into rubble.



The old saying of, "You don't what you've got 'til its gone" certainly proved true in the case of Blackbushe. Whether you worked there or were one of the younger generation who adored the magnificent feast of aviation provided daily by Blackbushe until the end of May 1960 - few thoughts were given to losing Blackbushe.

Her destruction was heart breaking for all in 1960, amazingly in 2023, 63 years later the Airport survives!! Recognised as an asset to aviation, the local community, employment, and the local economy it makes total sense to see not only the airfield's survival but the creation of the south's best equipped GA airport - one that lives without the slightest whisper of the scourge of so many British flying sites - 'housing' or plans for a 'leafy garden suburb'.

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
26/01/23

Interesting days lie ahead, east meets the combined force of the west on Ukraine's soil, doubtless thousands more lives to be squandered in Russia's act of supreme piracy. Whatever the outcome, we're all feeling the effect today, the forecast for tomorrow is not encouraging. It seems very strange how as the unique and clever beings that we are, capable in the 21st Century of incredible technology, discovery, and an unquenchable thirst for learning and probing the universe - we've got rovers on the ground and a helicopter flying on Mars, while we learn more daily through the brilliant John Webb space telescope, science and medicine move ever forward showing the brilliance of humanity - that in Europe we've gone back to the crudest and most vile forms of trench warfare while tanks will soon lumber to war combining to bereave countless more families leading to a conclusion that is possibly too awful to contemplate. Trench warfare, boom and bust as they say.. A sad reflection on our supposed humanity.




Peaceful times. The Blackbushe 'signal square' adjacent to the Control Tower. Located on the Airport's eastern end on a line between the end of runways 08 and 14 the Control Tower afforded fabulous views of the entire airport. Looks a little different today....




This United States Marines Fairchild R4Q-2, 131706, in October 1956 reminds that Blackbushe had a strong military leaning as well as her suitability for the growing commercial airline activity of the 1950s.




For so many years the Beaver has appeared at Blackbushe in varied military outfits as with this USAF version..




The US Army also found Blackbushe a valuable facility..




..while this Grumman Albatross reminds that the United States Navy were based at Blackbushe until the British government pulled the plug on the airport..




One of a number of Grumman Trackers on view in October, 1957. Resting up at Blackbushe while the USS Leyte was resting in British waters..




The peaceful and miraculous scene on Blackbushe's apron around 1986. Twin engined air-taxi operations were in vogue and Blackbushe was home to quite a number of them.. Today jets and turboprop powered aeroplanes come and go with some regularity as Blackbushe continues to provide an affordable and supremely convenient location serving the vast swathe of business opportunity south and west of London..




In conclusion today. A peaceful memory of one of our old residents. I remember them well, but scanning the scene today where Airwork's hangar used to be it's sometimes hard to believe that as a schoolboy I spent happy hours just soaking up the Blackbushe atmosphere and aeroplanes like this were many and numerous..



Seems that the atmosphere I soaked up was powerful stuff.......

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
27/01/23


They've crossed overhead Blackbushe thousands of times but never landed. Two jet engines and a rather dumpy initial appearance, a true workhorse common to the world's skies where ever you might be. The Boeing 737 reached a milestone on this day in 2002, on this day 27th January it became the first jet airliner to amass more than 100 million flying hours. It first flew in April 1967, in February the following year it joined Lufthansa. As of December last year 11,264 737s have been built.

With its wide fuselage and somewhat rotund appearance it perhaps could be compare to the British post-war prop driven Viking, comfortably wide but not too big.. As you know, the Viking has a very close relationship with Blackbushe and the Blackbushe Heritage Trust plan to return and restore one at Blackbushe saluting the brave history of both the Viking and Blackbushe Airport.





As if you needed a reminder!!!!



Back to more dust blown off old memories.. The Edgar Percival EP9 was an aeroplane that rather gave the impression of being somewhat utilitarian.. This Army Air Corps example XM819 was caught at Blackbushe in November, 1959. The US Navy hangar makes a solid background to the then pristine and immaculate airport that Blackbushe was at the time. Come back a year alter and a very different scene awaited. An EP9 in civvy clothes returned to Blackbushe for a while in the sixties for use as a paradrop machine. With the rear 'cargo doors' removed departing the aeroplane from the rear was as easy as falling off a log. If you like that kind of thing..




In September, 1955, this Scottish Aviation Pioneer XL555 of 230 Sqn., RAF, graced the Blackbushe apron. A perfect September day, Blackbushe at her best.. The US Navy hangar displays its typical array of military types while on the right some of the many Farnborough Air Show visitors are amassed on what is today Blackbushe's lost east end..




Blackbushe's variety show. An Independent DC-4, an Eagle Viking, and an RAF Canberra passing by..a US Navy Dakota in the background. Just another Blackbushe day....




The Brigand. A Brigand T5 of the Royal Air Force Torpedo Development Unit. September, 1956... Farnborough Week visitor, in the company of a host of RAF Ansons that flocked in from around the nation bringing personnel for a day at the Air Show. Blackbushe was the official arrival point for Farnborough's flying visitors, she became the mecca for anyone who had a trace of aviation blood in their veins. A free show of aircraft from around the world..




8th September, 1959. A day I clearly remember as this Sea Hawk from the Navy's 736 Squadron joined the Blackbushe circuit. My new school was a week late in opening, Farnborough Week, what a gift for a boy with a bike and Blackbushe just seven miles away!!


One had no idea that this airport and all its magic and aviation wonders would be violently destroyed the following year and all this would be gone. I had recently lost my Mum, Blackbushe provided somewhere special where peace of mind was found.

Six decades later the airfield known as Blackbushe continues to offer that peace of mind, although the journey has not always been smooth the old aerodrome has definitely claimed my soul. Me and plenty of others.

Have a good day, as much as PLUS 3C outside at 06.00 this morning!!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
28/01/23



The current Forum 'header' photo is this US Marines Fairchild R4Q-2 in October, 1958. It rather captures an element of old Blackbushe whereby a great variety of aeroplane types could be seen on the broad main apron. They were very close and quite 'magnetic' in the way they pulled aviation enthusiasts back to the wonders of the old Blackbushe car park. The distant tree visible under the tail booms was something of a skyline feature for many years during and after Blackbushe's life as a government run airfield, it eventually vanished from view as did the eastern horizon as Blackbushe 'east' was permitted to go wild following the 1960 closure and changes of ownership.




One of those de Havilland moments. CF-LVA was the DHC Caribou that arrived in November, 1959 before departing for DH's Hatfield aerodrome and a sales tour of of the Far East. It arrived back at Blackbushe during the following March before returning home. The Rapide belonged to Fairey Surveys over at White Waltham, it popped into Blackbushe for Customs transits from time to time, often heading to or returning from Gosellies.





Another 'classic' moment of old Blackbushe. Home based Airwork conducted much work on behalf of the RAF, this Hastings being one of a number that came to Blackbushe for conversion. This one, TG517, arrived from RAF Aldergrove and Coastal Command's 202 Squadron as a Hastings Met 1 and departed after conversion as a Hastings T5.




June, 1959. A Comet C2 of 216 Sqn, RAF, from Gibralter. The windsock indicates a fresh breeze from the east with a seemingly perfect blue sky, the new Visual Control Room reaches above the Comet as it progresses along the now long dug up section of runway 32 on Blackbushe's now Council controlled eastern end.



A few more memories of Blackbushe days when a push bike, weekends and school holidays, provided the chance to commune with the magnetic pull of this captivating old airport. I remember as I became old enough to venture away from home on my two wheels the big thing was when I'd be old enough to go to Blackbushe 'solo'. Twelve or thirteen was considered OK, but back then the roads were relatively empty compared to the traffic filled pot hole infested roads that must be a nightmare for anyone on two wheels in the 21st Century..


PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
29/01/23

2023 will soon be a month old, too early to hope we've seen the worst of winter? Whatever the weather people produce, the year promises to be a good one at Blackbushe. Infrastructure wise progress is expected toward a future that will see new hangars bridge the gap of six decades where such have not been the easiest to secure, meanwhile on June 3rd the 2023 Blackbushe Open Day & Fly-In see a day of aviation, exhibits, and plenty of eating opportunities, and by which time it is very much hoped that the Blackbushe Heritage Trust's Viking will be available for inspection.

The Viking will not be 'on show' in prime condition until after the significant restoration programme is complete, but we look forward to her main components being available for inspection come June.



A Viking moment from 1958. Continental's G-AMGH makes her way across the apron, sadly I cannot bring you the sound of her two Bristol Hercules engines... That would be magic in all senses!



If you look to the Control Tower in the distance I note an Air Traffic vehicle is parked facing the Tower. In 1958 my Dad's experimental flying work from Farnborough had been working in co-operation with Blackbushe Air Traffic and their air space leading him to know the head of Air Traffic at Blackbushe. I was twelve and already sold on the Blackbushe Airport thing, and the head of ATC Blackbushe offered to give me a conducted tour of the Airport! My Dad delivered me to Blackbushe ATC after which I was whisked away for a full tour of the then very large Blackbushe Airport. A day I'll never forget, as you can see, it felt so grand to be driven amid the airliners, hangars, all parts of the Airport plus a detailed look at the inside of the Tower and THAT view from the glass Visual Control Room. The day I recall with much pleasure, but the details have obviously become a little less clear after 65 years!!

Talking of Vikings, any tour of Blackbushe would be bound to bump into any of the home based family of airlines operating the Viking.. Here's some, but not all!!

























No matter how you look at it, the Viking and Blackbushe Airport have a deep and significant relationship, the Viking will never be extricated from that partnership, the Blackbushe Heritage Trust - as you will see - will be cementing that relationship when their precious and now rare example of this brave old aeroplane is placed on show at Blackbushe for the sake of our aviation heritage to be shared with many generations to come.





As if you needed a reminder, 16th February is the Rob Belcher talk on "Blackbushe at War", followed by a briefing for Heritage Trust volunteers and all who wish to know more as to the state of play with the recovery and return of Viking G-AGRW to Blackbushe from where she frequently flew into the wide blue yonder. Every penny raised goes toward the Viking's return...


PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
30/01/23

The older you get the more time gains in value, yet it gallops onwards with scant regard for how much we might wish to savour its moments.. Time has a way of devaluing things, like my car for example, while others gain in value the more time is added to them. Yesterday marked the 91st Anniversary of the DH Fox Moth's first flight, it's a fair bet that today's surviving Fox Moths have gone up in value since that January day in 1932!!




One of the type's rare visits to Blackbushe, in fact it might be the only time a Fox Moth alighted on the airfield..



This morning a few Blackbushe air show moments captured during the past sixty years of the Airport's survival since being given up by HM Government as a significant London airport..




Nimrod flypast during a Barnstormers's air show late sixties or early seventies, there were two or three such shows back then..




Transport Command days, and an Argosy entertains..




"Dizzy" Addicot flies the Vickers Gunbus during the Three Counties Aero Club Air Show back in the sixties..




BN Defender during Press Day preview to 1977 Blackbushe Air Festival..




RAF Meteor during late sixties Barn Stormers' show.




Part of the USAF contribution to the 1962 "Great Blackbushe Re-opening Air Display"...




BBMF just passing by. I think possibly during a Farnborough Air Show week long time ago..




Another aerobatic team we won't see again. The UK Government introduced tobacco tax laws that made running the team unviable. They certainly smoked a lot during their great displays..




One of so many photos undated. The Tiger Club Turbulents always put on a spirited display..




Hugh Merryweather in the Hawker Hart, 1962 "Re-opening" Air Show.




Red Arrows, Daily Telegraph Air Show, late sixties..




Blackbushe Air Festival, 1977.. IAS Air Cargo..




Blackbushe 50th Anniversary Air Show, 1992...



Some memories to look back on, those days sadly belong only to the past..but what great memories live on!!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
31/01/23

Every day holds historic significance when it comes to recalling aviation's moments. Amid yesterday's recall of yesteryear it was on 30th January, 1948, that Orville Wright - one of the fathers of aviation - passed away. He was just 76 years of age. I guess if he and his brother are looking down on how their efforts lead to humanity having wings they must be pretty pleased how heavier than air transport has caught on although no doubt that pleasure is tempered by how aerial vehicles have been employed in mass destruction. Either way, powered flight must have gone far beyond their expectations, but it's pretty certain that if they had not produced a 'flying machine' from their bicycle business humanity was programmed to fly some day...




Blackbushe Airport, or RAF Hartford Bridge as originally known, has been a window into aviation's many aspects. From the rigours of war when her crews fought valiantly to crush the Nazi boots that were surely coming our way...




...after the war, Blackbushe held the hand of numerous commercial airline ventures and together they formed the basis of Great Britain's post-war emergence as a commercial aviation entity.




Politics weaved its way, Blackbushe was tossed in the bin, airlines went bust, thousands unemployed, with not a word of respect for her achievements and human sacrifice, the airfield was buried.




But, the enduring spirit of British aviation in the hands of AVM "Pathfinder" Bennett intervened.. From slow and fraught beginnings, by 1962 Blackbushe was starting to show signs of life, hope had returned...




...today, the results of six decades of endeavour to secure a future for Blackbushe as a prime General Aviation base produce increasingly frequent scenes such as this as Blackbushe's benefits to business flying are increasingly realised. Add to that the regular 'first solo's and newly gained PPLs thanks to the Airport's highly professional flying schools, and we see the secure foundation of an airfield who far from being buried by government folly has a fantastic future that will surely be of benefit to the rich business catchment in which it is centered, to local employment, and her local economy.

Blackbushe, the win win airport!!

PB

[PB]

01/02/23

5C 0600 010223. ie a pleasantly mild step into February. POTD enjoyed just under 7500 views in January which makes the operation still worthwhile while the editorial department added a second grandson to the family during the month. A good start to the year!

Blackbushe has had a busy month with regular business movements and private/club activity, winter's grip while proving icy at times has failed to deposit any very serious snow so far this year. Some met predictors department of doom a short while ago was predicting unusual jetstream activity that connected with polar air masses would suck polar bears and extreme cold across the British Isles during February. However, having just scanned the long range forecasts February is now predicted as being milder and wetter than average. Probably depends whose been waving their magic wands the most actively, but as they say, 'we shall see'...

June is getting closer, don't forget the 3rd of the month for this year's Blackbushe Open Day & Fly-In, while this month will see the Blackbushe Heritage Trust's meeting on the 16th at the Pathfinder where Rob Belcher will deliver his talk on 'Blackbushe at War'...hopefully you've all got your tickets by now? Other milestones for 2023 will be the Heritage Trust's Viking arrival at Blackbushe at a date yet to be determined, while the Twilight Runway Challenge will take place on September 16th. Details of this, the Blackbsuhe Heritage Trust and most else you wish to know about Blackbushe can be found on the Airport's website. www.blackbusheairport.co.uk/ The Pathfinder Cafe awaits your custom, open again today after a refit yesterday with some new equipment installed..




The February edition of "Aeroplane" magazine contains a very welcome update on the Blackbushe Heritage Trust's activity..




A winter's blast back in December, a rotary visitor following a brief touch of winter..




The Airport's old 'east end' took on a seasonal look too.




Hot spots and cool spots...




..and back in the autumn of 1942, a very new spot for the pursuit of aviation. Now in her 81st year, the future bids well....


See you on the 2nd!

PB