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Post by PB on Jul 20, 2023 7:03:46 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 20/07/23Here we are again on the flightdeck of the "POTD" ready for a quick circuit around the memory bank...where are we going? At this moment no idea, let's see...
Well, I know that on this day 49 years ago, at 14.00hrs, my wonderful 'other half' and I were united on a journey that has flown through half a Century. I was on a round the world trip and this particular person joined the crew of the dear old VC10 and after various adventures with strikes en route in Fiji and numerous schedule changes we arrived into LHR late on Christmas night... A trip to Melbourne Zoo, some time in Honolulu, a day at Disney Land in Los Angeles, New York, and a quick 'bye bye' at LHR on Christmas night. My subsequent phone call to her a day later was to change our lives!!!
Way before all of the above back in 1951 on this day an important first flight... The beautiful Hawker Hunter made its first flight with Neville Duke in the cockpit.Hunter T7, 5th June, 1957, clearing formalities at Blackbushe en route home from that year's Paris Air Show. It is said that "a thing of beauty is a joy for ever", well the Hunter must surely be in that class?For those who were around on this day in 1969, and recall being glued to black and white TV pictures, we - the world - shared the moment when Neil Armstrong set foot upon the Moon in his "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" moment announced that humanity had set foot on an alien other world..While Blackbushe is once again home to a Viking airliner, it was on this day in 1976 that another Viking landed a little further away. On Mars to be precise when the Viking 1 safely touched down followed by over six operational years, the search for extra terrestrial life was on!That's it for today... PB
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Post by PB on Jul 21, 2023 7:37:02 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 21/07/23I may be selfish, but I do wish Doctors would not insist on their strikes with quite such enthusiasm. Ten months of neurological hell waiting for an appointment is beginning to wear thin, I guess every day of strikes puts the needs of all who are suffering at the mercy of the 'system' and waiting ever longer for help from the body for whom we hold, or held, in the utmost of respect. I'm reminded of the hippocratic oath that Doctors are invited to follow by their medical schools at graduation, “I will use my power to help the sick to the best of my ability and judgement; I will abstain from harming or wronging any man by it.” Oh yes, I'm also waiting for a heart procedure that is helping my focus on the passage of time, or what's left of it... The funny thing is that people keep telling me how well I look!!
Enough of such selfish talk, the great news is that dear old Blackbushe continues to host regular business flights originating from both UK and abroad. These don't just assist the Airport's business model, they provide passengers with an economic and easy to use airport that is conveniently situated for London and the many business centres that occupy the highly productive west of London sector. Of equal importance nowadays is the environmental question, a question that Blackbushe answers with the most outstanding qualifications!!
"POTD" may well have mentioned this before! Believe me, it'll be mentioned again!!!Don't forget the sounds of Blackbushe take on a distinctly melodious tone tonight when the Pathfinder serves pizza and burgers to the sounds of LA4!!Looking back in time, runways around London received some press on this day in 1959. The Daily Mail had organised an air race to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Louis Bleriot and his successful crossing of the crossed the English Channel by aeroplane, the race was for the fastest journey between Arc de Triomphe and Marble Arch - the prize £10,000. The French Air Force took to the sky on 21st July, most attempts had been by British or French military aircraft, and today's was aboard a Vautour carrying French Resistance heroine Colette Duval as passenger. Biggin Hill had been favoured by many entrants as it offered a good run to Central London. Unfortunately the crew mistook nearby RAF Kenley for Biggin Hill finding to their cost that the 800 yard runway on offer was too short for their jet. Needless to say, the prize was not theirs, nobody hurt, and when repaired the aircraft left Kenley using a rocket assisted take-off.
Just for the record, a French Air Force Vautour made an emergency landing at Blackbushe on 24th April, 1959, having diverted from RAF Odiham..
Blackbushe had superior crash facilities at the time, the aircraft had undercarriage issues and a divert to Blackbushe was elected.... The Vautour was part of a squadron exchange at Odiham..
PB
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Post by PB on Jul 22, 2023 7:41:23 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 22/07/23Back to 1943... At Blackbushe, RAF Hartford Bridge, July 1943, Bomber Command aircraft returning from missions but unable to make their home bases found the airfield's location very suitable - as do today's GA operators! 80 years ago this month a couple of Wellingtons from 196 Squadron arrived short of fuel and a badly shot-up Halifax from 76 Squadron arrived almost out of fuel, the tail gunner being taken to a local hospital for treatment to his shrapnel wounds. A Halifax from 158 Squadron diverted only to have its undercarriage collapse on landing.
That July the Mobile Met Section was formed, headed by FO A Rathbone, he was joined by George Cowling who was ex Met Office and went on to become the first TV weatherman, or weather person if you prefer.
In July '43 the Airborne Aero Section from Farnborough were still very prominent conducting their ongoing glider trials with the Horsa and Hamilcar gliders. The Hamilcar was a rather large glider, 68ft long and a wingspan of 110ft...Designed to carry heavy loads, for example the 7-ton tanks that were loaded through the glider's hinged nose and similarly drive out through the nose on arrival. For the record, some 60 Hamilcars landed in Normandy during the D-Day landings delivering their tanks directly into battle..
Light aircraft were also in prominence during July 80 years ago. The Tactical Airforce Communications Flight arrived with their Auster 1s.
Hartford Bridge's value was further demonstrated in July '43 with 140 Squadron's photographic missions over Bayeux using Venturas for night operations while a new flight with Mk XI Spitfires took on the day job.
The airfield was very busy and already proving itself having now been operational for all of nine months. War ended, aircraft like this Blackbushe based Halifax found new life flying peaceful missions carrying cargo..Talking of bomber operations in July, 1943, a Lancaster converted for use as a transport aircraft inaugurated the Canadian Government’s Trans Atlantic Air Service, operated by Trans-Canada Air Lines. It set a non-stop speed record for a flight from Dorval Airport, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Prestwick, Scotland, of 12 hours 26 minutes. Three Lancasters were converted for this purpose. By the end of 1944 they were making three round trips per week between Canada and the United Kingdom carrying 1,000,000 pounds of mail and some 2000 passengers...
PB
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Post by PB on Jul 23, 2023 7:37:50 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 23/07/23Yesterday Lockheed 749 Constellation N422NA arrived at Madison on its way to Oshkosh... Not surprisingly causing no small degree of interest!
Once there was a time when a 'Connie' landing at Blackbushe was nothing out of the ordinary..civil and military.One of my favourite photos that simply says, "Blackbushe". These "Warning Stars" were often seen during their transits through Blackbushe, their US Navy hangar being a feature on the Blackbushe skyline for quite a few years..The best I can suggest in order to reflect on the Constellation's relationship with Blackbushe is to take a look at Stuart Marshall's detailed study on the subject, found right her on the Blackbushe Forum, just follow this link blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/5542
Dear Stuart, put much effort into gathering facts such as this, he did not want precious memories of Blackbushe's past to be lost as we who remember them become less in numbers.
The Connies most recent connection with Blackbushe was when the Breitling Super Constellation en route Duxford to Farnborough diverted to Blackbushe to give us a couple of beautiful fly-pasts. With that the sound of Wright Cyclones faded into Blackbushe history..
PB
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Post by PB on Jul 24, 2023 7:32:10 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 24/07/23How time flies, it was on this day in 1993 - 30 years ago!!! - that two Mig-29s 0f the Russian Flight Research Institute collided during their display during the RIAT at RAF Fairford. By a miracle no injuries on the ground and both pilots ejected safely - another miracle!
On this day in 1969 another safe arrival by parachute as Apollo 11 splashed down in the Pacific after that epic first Moon walk.. 54 years ago! How time flies, it's 60 years since I took this photo. An Avro 748, a Piaggio P166, a DH Rapide, and a glider the description of which escapes me. Three years after Blackbushe was supposedly closed by HM Government and left to rot, three years after AVM "Pathfinder" Bennett had the wisdom to see the potential of what remained of the Airport and acquire 365 acres of the natural airfield on the Hartford Bridge plateau. Time flies, 63 years have flown since transport aircraft closed the A30 as they were towed from either side of road in transit from Blackbushe's north or south sides. In life events happen that can be quite life changing, some of us have spent those past six decades firmly believing that AVM Bennett's purchase of Blackbushe will one day see some redevelopment that will match his vision of a top rate fully equipped General Aviation airport. I remain very positive that despite six decades of various bodies and their obfuscation and throwing spanners in the works delaying plans for a better Blackbushe the day will come when the hopes of a lifetime will be realised and this historic airfield will again show what it can do when given the chance. Just hope it won't be too much longer?
PB
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Post by PB on Jul 25, 2023 7:23:50 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 25/07/23Today crossing the English Channel by air is something of a non-event although on a single engine I recall always being quite glad to cross the coast on the other side! Slide back just 114 years to today's date and Louis Bleriot claimed the Daily Mail's £1,000 prize for being the first to fly the Channel departing Les Barraques near Calais and ending his flight in Northfall Meadow close to Dover Castle. A memorial is in place and marks where Bleriot concluded this most significant of flights... Apparently the French Government also provided a financial reward for this achievement.French coast ahead! A 1960s crossing with much missed Rex Coates in the driving seat..Attending a rally at Berck-sur-Mere on 18 June, 1966. Our crossing via the Airways Flying Club's Terrier 'RZT' in formation with various others, another Terrier in our 11 o'clock.Almost sixty years ago....I recall a very pleasant evening wining and dining and making our way back to the hotel at some late hour. Don't recall too much more except the weather was pretty crap for our homeward journey the next day. Just another weekend amid many glorious weekends in the company of those who came together most weekends keeping the spirit of Blackbushe very much alive...One of those perfect Blackbushe summer gaggles in loose formation heading for Sandown IoW...Again in the sixties, in the company of a Tiger Moth, Comper Swift and Miles Whitney Straight. Pure joy.A Three Counties Aero Club formation snapped from our Auster 6 escort ship! This was an evening practice for a forthcoming Blackbushe event..Some earlier Blackbushe residents also involved in formation flying..226 Squadron.Still in the sixties, the Red Pelicans aerobatic team arrive at Blackbushe in a formation arrival the type of which was never quite emulated by Three Counties' formations of mixed Pipers..Catching up with 'RZT' many years after our sortie mentioned earlier, taken from Messenger 'KBO'..'RZT' was tragically written off some time later.Some non-residents salute Blackbushe during her 75th Anniversary celebrations back in 2017.Simply priceless.....and Bader's Bus Company formation team doing their thing at Blackbushe!Close-up and personal, a moment captured during a Bader's Bus Company training flight on a particularly bouncy summer day. The long defunct Greenham Common providing some practice air-space.A few memories escaping in close formation with each other...
Take care, PB
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Post by PB on Jul 26, 2023 7:07:24 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 26/07/23Another day dawns and wall to wall sunshine - at the mo, although the temp of 9C earlier seemed a but unJulyish.. It's a great day for flying, fortunately coinciding with the latest group of Blackbushe Heritage Trust prize winners being taken aloft this morning to enjoy the fruits of buying our BHT Raffle tickets! First prize of a British Airways simulator experience has also been enjoyed now and it won't be long before the next Raffle is announced. Every ticket sold stands to win some great prizes, keep your eyes open for details of the next opportunities to win while supporting the restoration of the Viking at the same time..
Meanwhile, as the Viking restoration programme comes together with various teams briefed and aware of their duties, each with its own leader, fund raising goes on as tooling and materials will all be making cash demands. The door is always open for you to support the project with as much, or as little, as you wish...a small amount each month perhaps? Full details of how to support the Viking programme and return this historic aeroplane to becoming a feature of Blackbushe into the future may be found here.. www.blackbusheheritagetrust.com/A wet day at Blackbushe, 'Keep off the grass' signs, the United States Navy hangar and aircraft in the distance, and a Hunting Clan Viking as it transits what was once Blackbushe's expansive main apron. Exactly how the Blackbushe Heritage Trust's Viking looked when flying for Hunting-Clan, when some of us were at school...Have a good day... PB
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Post by PB on Jul 27, 2023 6:26:20 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 27/07/23While yesterday's "POTD" reminded you to keep your open for the next Blackbushe Heritage Trust Raffle, another chance to win great prizes while supporting the Viking's restoration, yesterday was the day when two more of our winners from the previous Raffle took to the skies with Mike Biddulph claiming their flights won when the draw took place during the June Blackbushe Air Day..A perfect day for flying, Brian Stanley, and "MC" ready for the blue beyond..."let's go!!" Brian comfortable and ready for that feeling that only a light aeroplane can bring - as near as you get to being a bird without having to grow feathers...Our second winner, Mark Edwards, with "MC" at the Blackbushe fuelling complex..Mark all set to fly!!Some images from yesterday's prize flights. We've said it before, and will go on saying, Blackbushe Airport is an environmental dream! A busy General Aviation airport close to London yet set in the most perfect location of forests and open common. A little closer and the story remains the same. It's quite obvious that British Car Auctions who have occupied a significant area of Blackbushe Airport appreciate the virtues of the airfields excellent location and superb surface access.........Birds' eye-view. Membury services came into view yesterday, that well known pit-stop on the M4, home of the familiar to Blackbsuhe Scillonia Airways Rapide, and historic departure point for gliders during the D-Day invasion.No prizes for guessing where our prize winners flew yesterday? Today a mecca for the rich and famous, or not so famous, once home to the nations' greatest air-show...Once the Royal Aircraft Establishment, today Farnborough Airport. Very co-operative ATC!From this eclectic collection of Blackbushe based aeroplanes, just one of them celebrates the type's 'first flight' birthday today...This one!! The DH 106 Comet first flew on this day, 27th July, back in 1949.... That truly was the beginning of an era, the era today where jet powered airliners cover the planet and humans are no longer limited in their ambitions to see the world.. Our Airport played her part in extensive BOAC crew training operations where Blackbushe was perfect from so many view points, close to the main base at what is today known as Heathrow, environmentally the best to be found, and a suitable long runway.Many years later the Blackbushe-Comet relationship reached its conclusion when Doug Arnold acquired a Comet 4 from Dan-Air in hopes of it forming a museum piece at Blackbushe. She landed using half the runway, I had the pleasure of marshalling her in at the end of her last flight, and then she sat around for a few years before being scrapped. Not a happy ending to the Blackbushe Comet partnership...PB
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Post by PB on Jul 28, 2023 7:54:16 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 28/07/23It's unforgivable, I overslept, the clock on the wall suggesting it's almost 08.00 - at least I woke-up which is a pleasant surprise most mornings as one's bag of pharmaceutical products conspire to keep things going a bit longer...
Anyway, "welcome" to another day at the Blackbushe Forum where we endeavour to keep the various spirits of Blackbushe nourished, the spirit of wartime and the camaraderie that engulfed what was the spread of heathland called Hartford Bridge, the joyful spirit of Blackbushe Airport in her golden years as a commercial and London's second airport, and today - the spirit of an airfield that refused to die despite the antics of officialdom, an airfield that has survived for six decades bolstered by the undying support that emanates from those who truly appreciate her and the spirit of Blackbushe 'future'...
While at school, and I still remember the days, history was never a subject that floated my boat. Names of long departed Kings and Queens, what they did, and when they did it..and their various wars. Hopefully modern technology brings life to history in a way that can be more appreciated rather than just a memory game of names and dates.
Today, for example, has a significant standing in the pages of history, on this day in 1914 Arch Duke Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated, World War One started the following month as a consequence of the chain of events that followed his death. 8,500,000 soldiers would die plus staggering numbers of innocent civilians. The airmen on WW1 were far less in the numbers of their casualities, it is said that 'only' 50,000 died from all the nations engaged in WW1, but aviators had a 70% chance of injury or death - a figure shared with the infantry in the trenches. As is the nature of war, technology by necessity went ahead in leaps and bounds and indeed the aeroplane matured rapidly in its abilities and durability...
The march forward by aviation/aerospace technology has been relentless. This day in history supported the claim when on 28th July, 1950, British European Airways flew into history by operating the first turbo prop powered commercial airline service - heralded by the beautiful sounds of the Vickers type 630 Viscount - carrying 14 passengers from Northolt to Le Bourget.BEA, a Viscount, and Blackbushe.. This particular Viscount visited Blackbushe on numerous occasions, on this day 7th November, 1959, it was the result of fog shrouding the aerodrome near Hounslow...Viscounts carried many liveries through Blackbushe, this one lived here...Ahh, the surging spirit of Blackbushe past... An Eagle Viscount, and the once wide open spaces of Blackbushe Airport. The GCA truck in situ by the main runway...The Vickers factory in Surrey where Viscounts were built was just a short hop from Blackbushe, Blackbushe thus providing a perfect place for crew training and familiarisation before leaving for their new home lands... Varied airline logos painted on the sides of Viscounts were a part of those days in the 1950s when the spirit of Blackbushe in her golden years soared and this was one of the most exciting and varied airfields in the land..This one at Blackbushe for crew training on 15 July, 1957Today, the spirit of Blackbushe prevails thanks to you and all who actively support her... the day will come when her new hangars and infrastructure will herald a new era and the Blackbushe story will go on and on, and every second devoted to the airfield over the past six decades will have been well spent!!
Stay tuned..sorry we're late today! PB
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Post by PB on Jul 29, 2023 7:50:26 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 29/07/2329th August draws ever closer, the day when the Un-Limited Ego Zone of the Mayor of London encompasses the Greater London area..On top of Heathrow's exorbitant parking fees and/or the 'Drop-off" charge of £5 for simply dropping off a passenger outside the Terminal you'll also have to add £12.50 to the Bank of Khan if your vehicle isn't approved of... £17.50 plus the fuel burned to get there in the first place... Unless you operate a more recent or electric mode of transport in which case LHR will just take a 'drop-off' fiver from you... Happily Blackbushe Airport does not come anywhere near the area sailed by Captain Khan and his armada of cameras just waiting to get your photo and fire off a cash-seeking image of you and your vehicle.
The London 'authority' implementing the ULEZ charge claim that nine out of ten vehicles in the greater London area are already compliant with the new rules, although how that information is obtained is a little unclear. The strange thing I see about the 'Transport for London' ULEZ and its claims are that if so many vehicles are already compliant how does that square with the claim that the ULEZ will save 'thousands of lives' due to the dramatic reduction it will bring in harmful substances in the London air?? Who is being taken for a ride?
Moves to a greener future are to be welcomed goes without saying, but to take the population by the neck and squeeze their cash out is, to me, an unjust approach. These are purely my own views, you may well disagree...
Blackbushe Airport provides electric car charging facilities, it was also the first British airport to offer 'all electric' flight when the Velis all electric Pipistrel arrived. Short lived, however, the endurance of 'all electric' aeroplane proved too restrictive for more than local handling. Electric days at Blackbushe.. a noticeable difference to the IC engined aeroplanes was the propeller rotating when the wind blew while on the ground..Meanwhile, life goes on..we recalled the advent of the Comet airliner very recently and its conquest of the Atlantic, it was on this day 29th July, 1959, that QANTAS launched the first trans Pacific jet service flying the dear old 707 from Sydney to San Francisco... Nowadays you can fly non-stop from Heathrow to Australia...18.5 hours via the QANTAS dreamliner.QANTAS days at Blackbushe, crew training.. Days before non-stops to Australia were dreamed of?Wishing you a pleasant weekend, PB
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