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Post by PB on Mar 30, 2023 6:40:03 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 30/03/23Another day has dawned, another night becomes history, having awoken early as is the habit nowadays I lay and watched the dawn extracting itself from the covers of darkness. Trees waving in the wind and ragged stratus racing toward some eastern destination suggested an unstable day ahead. I suppose 'April showers' are on the cards looking at the date, the seasonally warming climate providing the power house for some exciting shower clouds later perhaps? Blackbushe weather. An Air Anglia Dakota poses against the setting sun capturing memories, perhaps of many a sunset during the glory days of the 1950s. This was very late sixties/early seventies era.One of those exciting shower clouds..Blackbushe provides the most perfect observation post for weather watching as storms march in from the west, sunsets blaze and paint the Airport red while clouds and vapour trails write their own signatures across the Blackbushe skies. New hangars being built too!!Blackbushe skies have been known to produce a varied mix of aeroplanes within their domain...What better way to round-off your day than a Blackbushe sunset?Whatever the weather, have a good day!!
PB
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Post by PB on Mar 31, 2023 6:45:41 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 31/03/23Tomorrow it will be April! Hard to believe that the winter is fast scuttling into hiding, especially looking out of the window right now. Garden's having a good watering and the birds seem to prefer walking to flying..
It is now 63 years since the venerable Vickers Viking last set foot upon Blackbushe's precious tarmac. But, in the coming month of April the Blackbushe Heritage Trust's Viking will be starting the process of moving from its current home in Austria for the loving care and restoration that will be awaiting at Blackbushe.
A small team will be flying to Austria on 21st April for a weekend of preparatory work before RPM Aviation commence the serious task of dismantling and the eventual 1,000 miles of road haulage to Blackbushe!! The weekend of 29/30 April will witness the breakdown of the aircraft, but obviously it is not possible to give an accurate prediction of her arrival at Blackbushe, but end of the month/early May would seem most likely! More info will be released nearer the time, or you can receive regular updates as the delivery journey commences by joining our supporters WhatsApp group by emailing team@blackbusheheritagetrust.com.
Exciting times, and by June 3rd and the 2023 Blackbushe Air Day it is hoped that the Viking will be taking shape again although she will have much work ahead to bring her into ship shape condition. Poor old girl has sat outside for years... Next stop..Blackbushe!!Aeroplanes that came years after the Viking cost significantly more money in their development.
Take Concorde, for example... It was on this day in 1979 that the British Government announced development costs of the SST since 1962 when the British and French agreed to build an aeroplane together.. Breath in. Through to December 31, 1978, the French government spent a total of £920 million whereas the British spent £898 million. The total cost of £1.818 billion would increase by a further £163 million, before government funding ceased.
Turned out to be an expensive, but rapid, way to reach New York. A fantastic technical achievement, "Concorde" will always hold a special place in our memories.. A memory from simpler times. Beloved "RKC" next to "RGB", Three Counties Aero Club's two Auster 6 aircraft. Way back from around 1963 when Three Counties established at Blackbushe these two aeroplanes played a great role in Blackbushe and my life. As a schoolboy it was my job to wash them at the weekend and in so doing get free flying lessons in return. The white canvas was not that easy to scrub, it loved the oily stains that blew back from the engine and exhaust... but we did lots together. Taxiing was always interesting with heel brakes, rudder and throttle combined to keep the taxiway where it should be, especially in crosswinds! But taildraggers will always be that much more demanding.. "KC" had a bright red dayglo fin and rudder, "GB" had an equally bright fin and rudder in dayglo green.As you'll see from the photo, in those days all aircraft were kept on the main apron overnight. There were very few home based aeroplanes back then.. the apron's east end had not been dug up by the council back then and we were separated from that huge expanse of perfect tarmac by a wire strung across on some posts mounted in concrete blocks. If you could see it as it was back then you'd be surprised by the excellent pre-trees views to the east and just how much apron Blackbushe once enjoyed..See you in April...
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 1, 2023 7:16:16 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 01/04/23A steady stream of precipitation launches the day, but it's April at last and one of nature's most delightful months is with us. Warmer, hopefully, ever more generous daylight hours, the grass will grow with a fervour not seen since last autumn..and to cap it all - a Vickers Viking airliner will by the month's end have started its journey home to Blackbushe. A long and demanding journey, she may be a bit tired looking but for those who recall the Viking's prominence at Blackbushe Airport in the fifties it may well be an emotional moment as that oh so familiar shape once again resides where it belongs...IF G-AGRW remembers Blackbushe last time she was here she'll note a few changes... No other Vikings, no airliners, no US Navy, no hangars including the vast US Navy one, no Control Tower on the eastern end, the Terminal Building has lost two thirds of its length, no GCA approach, no east end and for that matter the north side has vanished too...BUT it is still Blackbushe, the main runway where she once rumbled into the skies is still here, albeit a bit shorter, but one day she'll be on her feet and proudly carrying the message of Blackbushe past long into the future.April 1st is well known for a degree of foolery, but happily the above is no joke. A Viking coming to Blackbushe - amazing!! It's a day full of aviation milestones too. Here are some...
1911 - The Air Battalion Royal Engineers was formed, the first flying unit of the British military. Became part of the Royal Flying Corps which evolved into the Royal Air Force.
1918 - The Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service combine to form the Royal Air Force. The Women's Royal Air Force is formed at the same time.
1924 - Imperial Airways were formed with backing from the British Government.
1924 - The Fleet Air Arm established.
1935 - First flight of the North American T-6 Texan.
1949 - The Boeing Stratocruiser entered service with Pan Am.
1953 - British European Airways and Air France launch "Tourist Class".
1954 - Last operational flight by an RAF Spitfire. A PR sortie over Malaya.
1972 - BOAC and BEA are merged to become British Airways.
Gliding back to 1960 and the very last April 1st at Blackbushe Airport before the 'final' closure at the end of the following May. Some of the aircraft visiting Blackbushe on 1st April, 1960...
BEA Viscount G-AOJB, Eagle Viscount G-APDX crew training, KLM Viscount PH-VIG, Misrair Viscount SU-AKW, RAF Valettas VM197 and VM856, RAF Canberra B2 WH673 and WH676, Airnautic Viking F-BIPT, Skyways Avro York G-AGOB. These were visitors, add the regular US Navy and commercial airline movements and the old Airport was pretty busy for somewhere about to be closed and bulldozed just a few weeks later...
That was no joke.
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 2, 2023 7:00:14 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 02/04/23So, how's April going? Wet n windy it would seem and April's traditional showers marching across the land..just too wet to cut the grass!
Last night dived into old records, press cuttings, and memories of years gone by. As you're here I'll share some with you now....Take a look at this page from Flight magazine dated 1st February, 1956... If you look at "Cyprus Airlift" you'll see reference to a large number of RAF Hastings and Shackletons flying our troops out to Cyprus because of the 'Suez Crisis'. The Egyptian Government had seized control of the Suez Canal from the British/French company that managed it. A military response was necessary, Egypt was siding with the Russians and Czechs, a very dangerous situation had arisen leading to direct threats against Britain from Russia! On this occasion it was deemed necessary to urgently position our troops to Cyprus en masse in February, 1956, and Blackbushe being the British Army's 'next door' airfield took onboard the operation. Never would you see so many Hastings and Shackletons anywhere as you would have done at Blackbushe on this February day in 1956. Every taxi way, and every spare runway were rammed with RAF transports and Shackletons who had had their maritime insides stripped in order to transport our troops on a somewhat uncomfortable flight to the awaiting unrest.This IWM extract provides the detail. www.iwm.org.uk/history/why-was-the-suez-crisis-so-important#:~:text=The%201956%20Suez%20Crisis%2C%20when,'second%20tier'%20world%20power. Duke of Wellington Regiment prior to boarding their Hermes to Cyprus.. Backdrop courtesy of a Skyways York.Paras of 3rd Battalion prepare to leave by Shackleton...A few fun hours squeezed into a Shackleton lie ahead...Finally for today..with a Viking returning to Blackbushe early next month - all being well - here's the Blackbushe admin offices of the Airport's largest Viking operator, Eagle Airways. Located facing the A30 Eagle's office block provided a very modern structure compared with most of the Blackbushe infrastructure of the time. Located opposite where the Pathfinder Cafe is today a point of interest is that this position will be very relevant to the 2023 return of the Viking...Talking of Vikings, here is another Eagle Viking surfaced from Stuart Marshall's collection of photos and memorabilia of days gone by..More Vikings tomorrow.
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 3, 2023 7:11:24 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 03/04/23A bright crisp start to the week, frozen cars and that refrigerated air stream still blows in from the east.
Follows a rather sleepless night, the consequence of trying to clear out my study and achieve a semblance of normality amid the piles of photos, albums, colour slides, books, maps, charts, newspaper cuttings, add the magazine mountains pertaining to aviation, computing/flight simulation, and science issues and ughhh... It's heart breaking throwing things away that have been a part of life, mine and friends who are no longer with us, but a balance needs to be found where 'comments' are forever being made as to the state of ones room!!
More photos that will appear on "POTD", articles, and books that I'd forgotten. A copy of the 1958 book "Pathfinder" written by AVM "Pathfinder" Bennett and signed by him was one of my rediscoveries!
I had a request last week from one of the leading aviation magazines for information on Eagle Airways and their Vikings that wore military colours... Had to admit that I had no such information or photos to help, but turning to the ever amazing Eric at the Eagle Archive and within a short while I had the necessary photos and indeed so has the magazine with Eric's blessing.
For your edification, herewith Eagles in uniform...Finally, the straight and narrow... Looking down the A30's rule straight line in 1963. The Dakota on the apron is Tyne Tees Air Charter aeroplane painted in US military colours for the making of "The Winstone Affair" starring Robert Mitchum. You'll notice the 'shrubbery' around the airfield has progressed since then, it was only three years since the closure, Blackbushe 'south' and also east still in the early days of being lost.. The film was set in India and Blackbushe on those baking hot dry August days played her part to perfection, a parched yellow/brown airfield dressed just right!Before make-up...During...After...I was the Airport 'Operations' person at the time, gave time to clamber around the aeroplane and enjoy the atmosphere! The Terminal at full length, Reg Venning's G-AHUG one of our very early home based, and Airport Manager Bill Freeman's caravan in which he and his family resided. All a long time ago, days when we had no idea how Blackbushe's future would pan out, but we were always full of high hopes. Some things never change......PB
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Post by PB on Apr 4, 2023 7:51:43 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 04/04/23Early April 2023. How the years have flown, if we were able to travel back to this day in 1960 dear old Blackbushe would have just less than two months left to live. For so many people this meant more than an airfield being eliminated, it was the end of a way of life, the place where great acts of courage in war lead to great acts of courage in peacetime as new airlines emerged necessarily overcoming the obstacles that in many ways made forming a new independent airline a very significant challenge. "Blackbushe" became known as the airport full of surprises, her air traffic was totally varied from light aircraft to the heaviest of the time, civil, military, corporate, with numerous home based airlines and also uniquely the United States Navy's only UK land base... Known as the "happy airport" amid the many who worked here, this airfield located on Hartford Bridge Flats had a unique character. Separated from human habitat, as it largely is today, the airfield located on a natural plateau had an air of isolation and independence, heather made its presence known emphasising her wild origins, she had a feel of 'heath' about her while being maintained in immaculate condition by the aviation Ministry who owned her until 1960.
But, in May 1960 it all came to an end... The report on page 57 of 'Flight' magazine dated 21 August, 1959, spelled out in straight terms that the end was near...The two pages below come from an edition of Aircraft Illustrated back in 1977. I hadn't seen them previously, but pleasant to read some appreciative lines regarding a fun time back in 1977!That's it for today...
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 5, 2023 7:09:04 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 05/04/23On this day in April it's hard not to recall the tragic Gatow incident involving a Soviet fighter aircraft and BEA Viking G-AIVP on a scheduled flight to Berlin. aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19480405-0
Another 'on this day' recall is that of Flight Lieutenant Alan Pollock of the RAF's No. 1(F) Squadron. He was so incensed that there had been no display four days earlier to mark the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Royal Air Force. On 5th April, 1968, Flt Lt Pollock chose to 'borrow' a Hunter and subsequently beat up several RAF airfields and thence fly low over London, circle the Houses of Parliament and fly under the top span of Tower Bridge. He was the first person, not surprisingly, to accomplish this thrilling pursuit. he returned to base whereupon he was arrested. Just the one photo today as time is running away.. One of Blackbushe's treasured residents, a Viscount that trod the tarmac many times at Blackbushe on crew training during 1957 and 1958. Ahh, the sweet music of a Viscount going about her business...PB
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Post by PB on Apr 6, 2023 5:42:55 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 06/04/23It's great to have some two-way traffic flow, sincere thanks to our correspondents who add value to the 'POTD' operation by placing their comments in the 'POTD Comments' section, thanks guys - keep 'em coming!!
"Keep 'em coming" could apply to work going on toward this year's Blackbushe Air Day on 3rd June. Anyone keeping up to date from the Air Day website will see aircraft numbers increasing with some rare birds for the static park now booked, Anson and Lockheed Electra for example, and many others. Last night a scaled down Spitfire was added and, of course, we have a full scale Hurricane and I'm very hopeful of a full-scale Spitfire too. The Exhibition area is growing rapidly, excellent and widespread choices of food and drink, childrens amusements, a car rally with already very many exhibits lined up, and the Fly-In where pilots enjoy a free landing and various goodies to take away too! This is Blackbushe opening her doors for the day... I have to say that after the years of being behind events at Blackbushe it gives me great pleasure being able to still play a role on occasions such as the Air Day. The worry lies with someone else now though - the Blackbushe Airport team are doing a brilliant job!! www.blackbusheairday.com/ And, of course, the Blackbushe Heritage Trust's Viking will have hopefully completed her long journey home from Austria - by road - and be available for inspection! Talking of Vikings and Blackbushe, this Airwork advert throws light upon one of the enterprises for whom Blackbushe proved a hugely valuable asset..Central African Airways enjoying Blackbushe in the fifties. Much to my surprise I found myself flying on this very aircraft in 1973 out of what was then Salisbury, Rhodesia, but is now Zimbabwe on a couple of domestic sorties. She wore the colours of Air Rhodesia by this time.....Busy day ahead, 06.30, time for fuel for the inner man..
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 7, 2023 8:55:31 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 07/04/23Exciting weather! last evening at around 17.00 I was en route to LHR via the A30 avoiding traffic delays around the M25 junction when the weather gods gave all they could give. What a cracker, just about from Virginia Water - very appropriate - the heavens turned black, streaks of lightning, thunder, hail, lumps of ice, snow, cats and dogs fell out of the sky. Thought he windscreen would give under the attack but it didn't, but the landscape turned white in about five minutes, suddenly we'd driven into mid winter. The roads turned into rivers and water parks, traffic sailed slowly through it, the windows steamed up with the rapid temperature change - from all of one's many journeys to Heathrow this was the most exciting. By Egham the storm was drifting on its way but the sky was busy with other CBs floating around and looked pretty sinister while as I drove around the perimeter road a rainbow seemingly pointed down into the BA technical area.. Of course, there was one a time when you could take your flight from Blackbushe to destinations across the UK, Europe, Africa, Middle and Far East...Weather looks great to day, wishing you a Happy and restful Easter...wherever you might go!
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 8, 2023 8:35:28 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 08/04/23Today's remembered for the Whisky Echo event on 8th April, 1968, at Heathrow when BOAC 707 G-ARWE suffered an engine fire on departure, shedding the engine and returning to Heathrow landing just two and a half minutes later on the short cross runway. A nightmare scenario with heavy fuel load (22,000 gallons), well above landing weight and the aeroplane on fire. Stewardess Barbara Jane Harrison gave her life when returning into the burning fuselage to save an elderly passenger. Queen Elizabeth II awarded Barbara Jane Harrison a posthumous George Cross (GC), the only GC ever presented to a woman in peacetime. The combined effort of the flight deck returning the aircraft to the ground and the cabin crews heroic efforts saved so many lives.
A year earlier on this day the Beagle Pup made its first flight... The Beagle Pup has been a shape familiar to Blackbushe for very many years, Three Counties Aero Club operating at least two in their fleet.A bit of Blackbushe panorama from the 'warbird' days and when the northside of Blackbushe was still in use... PB
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