|
Post by PB on Jun 30, 2023 8:18:01 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 30/06/23July tomorrow, where's the year going to? Time's a strange beast, when you're young you feel you have so much of it, only to find out that in fact you were not blessed with endless years of 'time'..the clock still ticks and right now precious seconds devoted to the aerodrome that has woven itself through most of my life!
Yesterday's "POTD" looked at eVTOL activity and how the future will be host to their introduction, but with the 'rather limited' responses I guess there's not much interest in the subject?
Staying with time, it was on this day 97 years ago that Alan Cobham departed in his DH50 for a trip to Australia - and back! Cobham arrived back in the UK on October 1st...The following link to BAe Systems detail of the DH50 gives a great outline of the aeroplane and some of its exploits, including the tragedy that marred Cobham's Australia mission..www.baesystems.com/en-uk/heritage/de-havilland-dh50Recall of bygone years, 1970s I think, the Council owned acres are becoming overgrown, the US Navy hangar still standing..PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on Jul 1, 2023 7:09:38 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 01/07/23Good Morning, and welcome to July!! Soon be a month since the Air Day and the eventualities that befell one of us.. The year has ticked away its first half, "POTD" has been busy with visits just a few under 46,000 since January 1st.. The intention behind "POTD" right from the start was to provide a medium within which Blackbushe Airport could be reflected in her various historic modes, complete with war and peace, survival and six decades of staying afloat despite the antipathy that rose from certain quarters..
The Airport today runs truly as an airport should run, despite the continued delays imposed by certain bodies the future is looking bright, her increasing recognition by business operators and flights of international origin, the popularity of the Pathfinder, her busy and highly professional flying schools, and regular car and motor bike gatherings all have conspired to place Blackbushe Airport firmly on the map..Annual events such as the Air Day and forthcoming Twilight Runway Challenge add to the overall Airport's appeal.
So, what of July 1st in aviation history? Well, London's first airport was opened on Hounslow Heath in 1919. A stretch of heathland used by the Royal Flying Corps in 1909. A hangar was built making subtle changes to the value of the site for flying. (Note how the word 'hangar' improves the prospects of a flying site!!). By 1915 the old Heath had transformed into a busy RFC base with various squadrons based there as more hangars appeared along with fueling facilities. By the end of World War One it was clear that commercial services could use the airfield. By July 1919 flights to Paris Le Bourget commenced soon followed by AT&T who in the following August commenced regular freight and newspaper flights to Paris, the country's first international scheduled flights while domestic services to Leeds also started. It should be noted that London Heathrow Airport originated from the Great West Aerodrome, not Hounslow Heath... As air transport became an essential part of life the government decided to develop Croydon as the designated London airport complete with such things as a 'control tower'... Hounslow Heath is now a natural reserve, aviation's wings having long moved to other London airports over the years..
July 1st. While we're talking of dates, best we remember today as the day of the birth of Amy Johnson in 1903, and in 1872 a gentleman named Louis Bleriot came into the world on this very day.Hangars do make all the difference to an airfield! Doug Arnold built these but they fell into the hands of British Car Auctions and once again Blackbushe was hangarless...Life inside one of the five major hangars on Blackbushe before her closure in 1960. This was Silver City/Britavia's hangar on Blackbushe 'south'.Eagle's hangar also on Blackbushe south of the A30. Eagle serviced many operators aircraft as well as their own sizeable fleet.The vast United States Navy hangar built on north-eastern Blackbushe..As seen from the old Control Tower, Airworks hangar complex built on the east end of Blackbushe.1962, and the only 'hangar' standing...a disused nissen hut after refurb by Len Webb who owned G-AMZO...On that it's time for a cup of tea and the morning paper...With memories of Amy Johnson, Louis Bleriot, and the benefits of hangars I wish you, 'good day!'...
PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on Jul 2, 2023 10:34:52 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 02/07/23Quite amazing what feats some get up to to be in the 'record books'.. July 2nd recalls 1987 when Per Lindstrand and Richard Branson (then just 36) sailed gracefully into the atmosphere in their hot-air balloon. Ascending from Sugar Loaf Mountain beneath 2.29 million cu ft of hot air they floated to Northern Ireland courtesy of the jet stream up at FL270...the planned destination of Scotland was scrubbed due Scottish weather, but having touched down in N Ireland they'd achieved the record. Intent on getting to Scotland they took off again, but they ended up in the Irish Sea necessitating rescue by the Royal Navy... An idea that came to fruition at this year's Blackbushe Air Day was to investigate the Lockheed 12 of Fighter Aviation. Happily, thanks to Blackbushe Airport's support we were graced by this wonderful aeroplane, an aeroplane type once based at Blackbushe and representative of an exciting era in the development of aircraft design.. For the record, there are now five Lockheed 12s flying in Europe..
Another venture by Fighter Aviation is the Hawker Tempest that could well be approaching its first flight soon.. Now that would be an exciting aeroplane to attend next year's Air Day?
More imminent to next year's Air Day is the Red Arrows presence in Hampshire air today. I understand they arrive at Farnborough at 15.05, depart at 5.17, return at 18.02 and finally depart at 19.52.The Red Arrows, salute Blackbushe Airport's 75th Anniversary back in 2017..Late start again today, apologies to those who claim to enjoy a spot of "POTD" with their Corn Flakes! Assorted health issues not helping one's timely performance... An ancient over the fence memory of old Blackbushe days, Viking G-APAT, served with Eagle from 1957 to 1959 after which she was delivered to Orion. Also Blackbushe based Orion's aeroplanes were noted for having green upper fuselages..Funny, I remember 'PAT' as if it were yesterday..Blackbushe's Viking 2023. G-AGRW yesterday underwent a clean up by our Technical Team in the first stage of fuselage restoration...the evidence of many years sitting alone in Austria in the form of moss and lichens removed, but a long way to go with panel beating, scrubbing, riveting, window replacements, and that final paint job.www.blackbusheheritagetrust.com/donate The door is always open for anyone who wishes to donate the smallest amount to the Viking's restoration programme. If ten of us chipped in £5 per month that's be £600 in a year...just a thought.PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on Jul 3, 2023 6:55:51 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 03/07/23Early start today, bit more in tradition with the "POTD" launch time, 0630 and the temperature of +13C does belie the heat of July or the recent June temperatures. Can do better..
During this phase of being 'at home' and drug induced lethargy - NHS heart drugs, that is - one's eyes and ears are for ever tuned to the sky and what if might produce. Apart from the seemingly endless flow of Gulfstream products utilising the airfield at Farnborough, and some Red Arrows arrivals and departures, Sunday just gone produced some rewarding sounds and evidence of Blackbushe's increasing share of aeroplanes in the light turboprop category, namely the fabulous PC-12. Have to admit I lost count of the actual number but the variety of international origins noted was most encouraging.. Visions of a new Terminal and operators like JetFly, Europe's growing fractional ownership operator whose fleet of PC-12 and PC-24 aircraft is set to continue its expansion, using Blackbushe as a prime London hub come to mind... Whatever, it's really satisfying to see Blackbushe increasingly handle such flights.
Thanks to Paul Phillips for these photos.. one PC-12 from Finland!
..and another from Finland.
Don't forget to look skyward tonight, the July 3rd "Buck Moon" given clear skies will show the Moon at its largest as it reaches its perigee. Called a 'buck moon' because it's when bucks' - male deer - antlers reach their maximum size..
Closer to home birds continue to entertain and provide aerial activity. Yesterday a red kite circled the garden for a couple of minutes before wings folded it swooped down in a magnificently judged dive, no idea what it had seen, and ascended in a perfectly calculated climb-out and was gone. A perfect example of variable geometry, airspeed management and sufficient power for the climb and en-route departure..Lucky bird. The other avian fun to liven the sky is that from Ronnie Rook, the young rook who invades the area every morning of recent. The din from his beak is pretty unmelodious, but high in volume. He, and what I assume is a sibling, take up position in a tree directly in line with the bedroom window and once there produce their cacophony for as long as they choose. Resuming flight they tour the area while continuing their din until they decide to once again leave the area and their noise slowly subsides to be replaced by the tranquility enjoyed before their arrival...Recall of years gone by when Blackbushe handled somewhat more passengers and the Viking ruled the skies.... A home-based Airwork Viking.An Eagle Viking with a bit of a problem.. Anybody care to offer a diagnosis??PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on Jul 4, 2023 6:01:02 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 04/07/23Another PC-24 popped in yesterday, not earth shattering news but the momentum of business movements continues..
Today requires an early hospital trip so brevity is the order of the day, but it's July 4th, Independence Day in the United States of America!! Cannot let the day go by without recall of when a part of Blackbushe Airport was once US military property...One of the many US Navy Lockheed Neptunes that frequented Blackbushe. 1958, 1959, and finally 1960 witnessed her presence here. The Americans built a big ol' hangar at Blackbushe, big enough for two super Constellations, or 'Warning Star' as certain Navy Connies were known.The sinister "Warning Star"..Like all the American air bases in the UK, the Blackbushe site became a piece of the United States...All shapes and sizes of US military hardware showed up..US Navy, Blackbushe, and the community that came with it....and the US Navy accepted our invitation to attend Blackbushe's 50th Anniversary show.PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on Jul 5, 2023 16:18:21 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 05/07/23Ooops..just gone 17.00 in the UK, and some days things don't necessarily run according to plan..
A thousand thanks to the almost 1,000 visitors since yesterday, hopefully we'll be running the show on time in due course, but for now apologies to the faithful who profess to take "POTD" with their morning Cornflakes..
We live in a changing world, can it be true that employers are looking to grant their staff an extension to 'work from home' with work from anywhere should you decide to go to the beach or take a break without taking vacation time? From an aircrew point of view you are where your work is, I guess air traffic controllers would be slightly more challenged.. but it's a world changing in the most extraordinary ways.
Going back in time to 5th July, 1942, on this day the Avro York taxied out to the Ringway runway and an airliner with the most magical of sounds thanks to its four Merlin engines, and famous for its three fins took to the sky for the fist time. 258 Yorks rolled off the production line..Double magic, the magic of Blackbushe in those glorious 1950s day plus the magic of the York, very much a part of the sound and shapes what was then London's second airport... G-ANTI brought back the remains of Dan-Air York G-AMUT written off in MaltaDan-Air and Skyway's Yorks were regular sights 'back then'.. on 15/03/58 York CF-HTM arrived from Montreal to join the Dan-Air fleet as G-AMUT... Sadly, 'MUT returned in August '58 aboard another Dan-Air York following her accident in Malta.
Other York operators at Blackbushe included BOAC whose visits included a FIDO demonstration in November, '52. British South American, Air Charter, Lancashire Aircraft Corportation whose York visits included a visit from God - G-AGOD in June 1952, An Eagle York was seen in 1951, Hunting Clan, the RAF for frequent trooping flights, French Navy, TMA of Lebanon, Middle East Airlines, Tropic Airways, and Persian Air Services EP-ADE in January, 1959.British South American Airways. Perhaps it involved AVM Bennett who flew with BSAA and would later own a very large percentage of Blackbushe Airport..
A regular during, Tropic Airways on Blackbushe 'south' during some TLC with Eagle Airways.Lend me your ears...Merlin magic.A favourite reminder when as a yoof on his bike the A30 provided the most spectacular views of Blackbushe's aeroplanes...PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on Jul 6, 2023 6:37:25 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 06/07/23Another day dawns across the resplendent acres known as Blackbushe Airport..
Were it July 1944 the morning would reveal rows of bombers, Bostons and B-25 Mitchells. Crews flew on their missions, on return only too often did they learn of fellow squadron members who would not be returning. Some were just twenty years old. Many stories emerged and have survived, for example, take Dal from Sydney, Nova Scotia, who arrived with 226 Squadron in June '44 and carried his lucky mascot at all times. Aeroplane with flak holes all over the place and the astrodome shot away reported from one of his earliest missions.. On a visit to Blackbushe in 1994 he met up with Airport Manager Stuart Marshall relating some of his memories and his lucky mascot. The village hall in Yateley was famed for holding regular dances, and at one of these Dal met a most charming lady with whom he had several dances then and on numerous subsequent occasions. She was a teacher at a local school for children with special needs, and as he approached her for the first dance one evening she produced a small stuffed dog that had been made by one of her pupils. She simply said, "here is your good luck piece". That little dog became the crew mascot and flew on every mission from then on..
During his 1994 return to Blackbushe, Dal revealed that he still had the mascot, fifty years old by then - it reminded him of the "Terrific rapport that existed between the crews and the people of Yateley.
May, 1944, 226 Squadron in action attacking enemy occupied railway yards in France
Now, almost eighty years later the rapport between aircrews, Blackbushe and the local population continues to thrive...Photo thanks to Blackbushe Airport, a local Brownie group visit to Blackbushe was timed perfectly to allow an inspection of this Air Wales aircraft during its turn round.Were it July, 1954, the dawning day would have produced a scene of tranquility compared to 1944.. Commercial operations had taken the place of bombers and their lucky mascots. Blackbushe based Britavia took delivery of another Hermes, this time it was G-ALDI and also G-ALDK. Britavia Hermes G-ALDU departed Blackbushe on 29 May, 1954 on a proving flight to Singapore returning on 17 July. Many such flights would be conducted on trooping sorties. EKCO's Anson G-ALIH visited Blackbushe in July '54, the very same aeroplane I flew in from Blackbushe in 1962 in the 'right hand seat' during a radar calibration sortie. A French Navy York added to the variety of Blackbushe's traffic on 25th July 1954..Obviously the dawning days of July in the years since 1960 when the Airport was all but destroyed after closure have been nothing less than a miracle! From a scene of desolation Blackbushe has thankfully survived, and now the early morning sun finds almost 100 home based aeroplanes, a Viking being restored, three brilliant flying schools, and ever increasing international business flights.
Talking of a Viking being restored, the Blackbushe Heritage Trust's website has been updated. To be kept up to date on the Trust's progress, to sign-up for regular news updates, to volunteer, or even to donate please don't hesitate to take a look.. www.blackbusheheritagetrust.com/That's quite enough for this July morning, I wish you a pleasant day.
PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on Jul 7, 2023 9:08:14 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 07/07/23Well, life's full of fun...apart from seeing doctors, my grandsons have arrived for a couple of days - one six months old, the other just four. Six months old is a bit early for aviation, but at 7am one was hauled in front of the computer for some more flying lessons on the flight sim. Four years old is old enough to master the basics of flight - straight and almost level! First landing this morning too..with a little assistance. 1963, Three Counties Aero Club -flying lessons in the 'real thing'.. cost £4 per hour back then, slightly more today. Washing the aeroplanes at the weekend kept the cost way down!!That's all for today.... BUT, don't forget - evening pizza and burgers served at the Pathfinder every FRIDAY & SATURDAY evenings from 16.30 to 19.30!!
PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on Jul 8, 2023 5:44:45 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 08/07/23Looking back at the last few POTDs it's quite clear that Blackbushe has had an extraordinary past, and continues to offer a fascinating present.. It gained the title of AOPA's aerodrome of the year which for an airfield abandoned and destroyed by the government six decades ago, and with a significant lack of helpfulness from the local government bodies with whom the airfield has been blessed for much of those sixty plus years, is no mean feat.. Today, while still waiting for that long awaited jump into building a new infrastructure including hangars, Blackbushe is a well accepted airfield where with her top line fuelling and operational facilities, flying schools, Pathfinder Cafe, the Blackbushe Heritage Trust Viking project, business jets, regular car and motor cycle gatherings, comparing to how things looked in the sixties is almost a chalk and cheese situation.
Having been intimately involved with the airfield right from the days when AVM Bennett purchased 365 acres of old Blackbushe and pretty much ever since in one way, or another, the slow changes have been less obvious as the year's have ticked by, but this morning taking a broader view of those years the miracle of Blackbushe's survival and growing useage is, to me, of biblical proportions.
The scene of desolation when I was fifteen and first met the AVM as I cycled the length of the main runway, no doubt reflecting on the machines that until recently had roared from this surface to points far away, was one of desperate sadness. The more so, surely, to the many who had been put out of work by the government's insistence to close the capital's second airport...1959..two years later. A lonesome windsock indicates there may be hope..Modern times.....the future remains to be photographed, but it will be witness to the continued story of how it is possible to rise from the ashes..
Meanwhile, as mentioned yesterday, my grandson is about to demand another flying lesson with Grandad!!
PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on Jul 9, 2023 6:37:30 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 09/07/23Another early morning flying lesson with my Grandson, yesterday he flew a circuit with a little help and pulled off a survivable landing..When you're just four the finer points of staying in the air at the right speed, height, and direction without getting lost (or hitting the ground) is rather hoping for too much, but together we achieved something like that. I remember long ago flying a Tiger Moth for the first time how the horizon had a tendency to wander left and right, home flight simulation back then was something for the future.
Talking of flight simulation...Here's the winner of the Blackbushe Heritage Trust's Raffle..a flight simulator session with British Airways. Seb gets the feel of the Airbus A320. Watch out for the Trust's future raffles!!Congratulations to Seb and great appreciation to British Airways and instructor Captain Robert for making it happen..I don't know where it went, but in the early sixties after AVM Bennett acquired Blackbushe we had a link trainer in the Terminal. I never used it, but it was the type that was used for various stages of flight training back then. The cockpit looked the part, but I'm not sue if it was ever used at Blackbushe or where it went to... Wish I'd taken a photo of it, also wish I'd taken photos inside the Terminal as it was after the AVM purchased most of the Airport. Sadly, you assume things will last for ever or don't realise their significance at the time, but as with the east end of Terminal doom awaited and it was tragically demolished.
As the saying goes, you don't know what you've got, until.....it's gone!
Time to go!
PB
|
|