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Post by PB on Jul 30, 2023 7:13:42 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 30/07/23As recently as last week something improbable and rather unlikely occurred..
The news, the subject that bursts out of every nook and cranny with dramatic and, if possible, alarming connotations brought to my eye-brows this unlikely reaction..... After many years I found myself in agreement with Tony Blair! Well, on reading one of his recent proclamations I found a level of never before found agreement. Sir Tony has stated that, "Britain cannot stop climate change", breaking away from the stances of the current Labour leader and the Miliband machine TB has made it clear that all the punishing aspects of ULEZ's, banning petrol and diesel vehicles, and a country covered in unsightly windmills for the 'green energy' that will, in theory, create the 'green and pleasant land' promised by the greens, will do nothing on the global front facing China, the USA, and Europe and their combined CO2 output. Of course we should do all possible to clean up the air, but not in the way that will damage industry, hit the less well off directly in the pocket and bring us to a standstill equating to a national 'Just Stop Oil' march the likes of which have to be endured by hard working citizens with a job to go to...
Moving on to something more out of the world, do you remember Apollo 15? It was on this day, 30th July in 1971 that this - the ninth crewed Apollo mission and the longest stay on the Moon so far - landed on the Moon. They delivered the first Lunar Rover allowing some exciting Moon roving on wheels.. Such massive news headlines back then, today probably forgotten by most, or never even heard of?
Today has special significance for the "POTD" Editorial staff, July 30th - 46 years ago - was the first day of the 1977 "Blackbushe Air Festival", the air show I and a small group of dedicated others brought to the people in an effort to put on the very best that we could pluck from the sky. The Royal Air Force were tied up elsewhere, but the other services joined in as did many aircraft the likes of which had never been seen in the Blackbushe circuit before - or have been since. As the Public Relations Officer of the then Blackbushe Airport Users' Association, I felt a compulsion to do something special as we, the Association, were agreed to put on an event that would raise money in support of Doug Arnold's legal endeavours to fight for the right to build hangars on the airfield..
On this date in 1977, a Saturday and our first day of the Air Festival, 13 months work would reach their moment of truth. I had taken on the flying programme, I knew what I wanted and a year of squeezing in the Air Festival along with the demands of a job that involved much travel and long hours took its toll on the nervous system! It was the one big chance to put on something big at Blackbushe, I perhaps wanted to recreate something from my memories of the 1950s and bring back something heavy..but with the green light to proceed together we put on quite a decent show, sadly something that can never be recreated in the risk averse world of today. Our two Varsities arrived in perfect formation, on both days putting on a stunning dual display, and bringing an end to the sound of the legendary Bristol Hercules engines that had throbbed in Blackbushe skies for so long..All sizes in '77. Commercial airline services were once again taking place at Blackbushe Airport! British Air Ferries had a busy couple of days pleasure flying with the turbo prop sounds of the Herald.Classic shapes from the history books, Sally B brought some evocative sounds with her..Only seen at Blackbushe once, a DC-8 flying circuits, as IAS Air Cargo very kindly diverted this aeroplane to Blackbushe's Air Festiavl whilst flying lots of grapes from the Med to Gatwick. The Carvair from British Air Ferries brought back some very nostalgic sounds to Blackbushe ears!Trans Meridian Air Cargo very kindly acceded to my phone call and sent a CL-44. They would have landed had we had a GPU of sufficient power....but great to see this shape back in Blackbushe air..British Airways came to the rescue with a 747. Now THAT looked big in our skies more recently the domain of single engined light aeroplanes..Doug Arnold's warbirds were all on show. Some flew, some taxied, some remained static.The ominous markings of the "Ju-52" took to the air carrying a team from the Army Greenjackets. They could not resist the opportunity of leaping out of this aeroplane made famous for dropping troops in war. On landing from jumping the Ju-52 the team were delighted to have been the only paratroops to have landed on mainland Britain from this type of aeroplane. In history it never happened!!Variety of types on show was a key element of our 1977 event..Variety in shapes too.. The Lockspeiser LP1.I could go on, but time to put the kettle on and see what lurks amid today's news headlines...
Here's to memories of days gone by...and the team that worked tirelessly on the '77 show! PB
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Post by PB on Jul 31, 2023 7:28:47 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 31/07/23Today's date 31st July still kicks back to this date in 1977, 46 years ago, when the Blackbushe Air Festival enjoyed its second day...Little in size, but massive in the air, the Jubilee Duo entertained with sparkling precision..Veterans of yesteryear....and ambassadors of the then modern age.Single engines..Twin engines..Triple engines....and even more engines!Warbirds..The very small that had no wings..The very big, also from British Airways!!A weekend to remember for many reasons....a bumper fly-in too!I thought this might be the beginning of placing Blackbushe on the display circuit, but circumstances changed, and I'm not certain how starting again would have gone down in a variety of ways. At least we have the Blackbushe Air Day on the annual calendar now, an event proving to also be a great success, and happily I still have the chance to find some interesting aeroplanes!
Looking back, the Air Festival must be one of my, and the Teams, most concentrated efforts..Happily we had excellent attendances, the weather was great, but the stresses along the road to Blackbushe in 1977 were more than significant.. but the photos always fill me with a satisfying warm feeling, and it was worth every minute spent putting the show together!
Happily Blackbushe is still here, many changes have happened in those forty plus years, she still has to fight for the right to develop her infrastructure, but under today's ownership and management the aerodrome known as 'Blackbushe' has never had a better chance of a secure future serving aviation..
PB
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Post by PB on Aug 1, 2023 7:36:26 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 01/08/23August 1st. Memories of lazy mornings,sweltering afternoons, and Neil Diamond's 'Hot August Nights'... "Leaves hanging down, and the grass smelling sweet" said his words, but looking at this August morn' the leaves hang down and the grass is sweet 'cos of the rain and below average readings on my thermometer. Whatever the Met Office serve up, or predict at least, I intend to enjoy it to the max before the evenings herald lights going on ever earlier and the shadows lengthen in partnership with the Sun's earlier bedtimes.
This morning I've decided to step back in time once again, back to the first day of August in 1943. Blackbushe Airport, then known as RAF Hartford Bridge had been operational just since the previous November and not surprisingly for an air base urgently built for war there were the odd grumbles.. At this juncture I'll turn to Stuart Marshall's priceless account of life in that early time in the airfield's life."August 1943"
The month was to prove an important one at the airfield, with a lot happening. The new staff headquarters opened on the 1st of the month. This was much to the relief of all the personnel who had been working in great difficulty, having been in improvised accommodation for six months. They were understandably very pleased to move into their own purpose built premises.
It was also early in the month when a visit was made by the Director of Aircraft Safety accompanied by a senior member of the Petrol Warfare Department. They had come to assess the suitability of installing a fog dispersal system on the airfield. Following their assessment it was decided that this work would be put in hand. The corresponding orders for the work to proceed on what was to prove a very valuable asset in the future.
Conditions facing 34 Wing, although generally improving, still left much to be desired.. The ablutions block fir instance was hardly reliable and the language to be heard when the showers changed without warning from very hot to freezing cold due to the inadequate water supply was to say the least not very complimentary!! There could often be heard choice words in the area... This may have been one of the issues raised with G/Capt CS Moor of 11 Group who came to inspect the existing airfield buildings and those under construction to ensure that they would be adequate to house the personnel of a further three squadrons due to arrive later in the month.
The concrete surface of the runways was taking its toll on the aircraft tyres and it was decided to cover the runways with wood shavings on top of the abrasive concrete to lessen the wear being experienced. A thin spray of tar was applied and the wood shavings rolled in.
A hot cup of tea might have been the answer for those caught out in bad weather while carrying out their duties on the airfield dispersals. By now the ever-popular NAAFI wagon was to be found providing this service to personnel working outside all over the site. This was a most welcome improvement in facilities. The 30cwt van with its lift-up side was eagerly awaited at many ports of call as it made its slow progress around the perimeter road. Depot workshops, hangars, armament sections, crew rooms as well as the dispersals were all visited and at each stop a queue would quickly form. Tea and a wad (which was a hard baked yellow scone made with dried egg powder) were much sought after and some, if they were really lucky, might come across an embedded currant in the mixture! The wagon was manned by two ladies in NAFFI uniform who were very special to the troops and who would usually be shown the greatest of respect. However, should the need arise these ladies were quite able to hold their own with any banter thrown at them. This was probably just as well as on at least one occasion one of the wagons on the lunchtime run got lost in very thick fog and didn't turn up at the furthest outposts until after tea time!"So life went on in those early days. The airfield was vast compared with its operational size today. I can confirm that if you arrived at Blackbushe at night in thick fog, when the car headlights produce nothing more than a dazzling goldfish bowl of light in which you are the centre piece, it is VERY easy to become totally lost. One's orientation goes straight out the window! That was long ago enroute to the Three Counties Friday night knees up.. I eventually used the sound of music emanating from the fog as a homing device..Reflecting on camaraderie and life on the airfield long ago.In varying ways, the human spirit has long found a good home amid eighty plus years of life at the very special airfield known as "Blackbushe"...
PB
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Post by PB on Aug 2, 2023 6:32:52 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 02/08/23Distant memories of a world that once was....Looking at photos such as the one above taken over six decades ago brings emotional shudders as the recall of the old Blackbushe Airport still rings loud and clear. I was twelve turning teen having gained the freedom to cycle the eight miles from home to Blackbushe on roads that were nothing like the roads of today where traffic density and speed were a fraction of what we accept today. No doubt younger generations who have no recall of the airfield as it once was in the fifties have no greater vision of Blackbushe other than the bit that remains operational today, over grown common that surrounds it and aeroplanes that primarily have no more than one engine. Naturally, there are fewer and fewer who can offer recall of the splendid and busy airport that occupied the Hartford Bridge Flats, but take if from me those who remember are gifted with some very special memories of a vastly larger site where infrastructure of hangars and offices on both sides of the A30 stood bustling with activity while flying machines of all shapes and sizes could be seen in almost every direction you cared to glance.
In the six decades that have ensued following the closure of Blackbushe a number of others who in their youth enjoyed the Blackbushe spectacle have been seen still haunting the old place. It's impossible to say exactly how one's emotions flow when setting foot on the airfield nowadays when laden with deeply rooted memories of the pre 1960 airport, the amazing post 1960 days when involved with the resurgent Blackbushe, and the ever present visions of Blackbushe 'tomorrow'... It's an emotional bun-fight, but one that shows no signs of lessening in intensity. It's impossible from my limited use of words to convey the depth of mixed feelings that are ever present when treading the tarmac of the airfield we known and love as 'Blackbushe'.. Hopefully the Forum that you're reading now has conveyed at least a trace of the emotional conflict that has lived with some of us throughout those sixty plus years since today's ghosts of Blackbushe past were very much Blackbushe present.Throughout the years of Blackbushe's life aviation has continued to change, human ingenuity seemingly having no bounds. While today we jump into a light aeroplane and fly where speeds of around 100mph are nothing unusual it's fascinating to note that on this day in 1909 the very first aeroplane to be purchased and put into service by a government was the Wright Flyer. The United States Army accepted its first aeroplane having have paid the Wrights $25,000 PLUS a $5,000 bonus! Why the bonus? Because the flying machine exceeded the stipulated speed requirement of 40mph... What would they have thought of the now humble PA-28 I wonder?? Throughout her days, Blackbushe has served aeroplanes small and large. Back in April 1948 this Fairchild UC-61, ex G-AJKJ, prepares to leave Blackbushe for her new home with the Kuala Lumpur Flying Club. "KL" seemed quite a run from home in a VC10... The Blackbushe Airport that still haunts the memories of some has plenty of hangars, and what treasures could be found! This was the Eagle Airways Lancaster. Blackbushe based and operated on behalf of the Ministry of Supply. I recall her well, often seen near the A30 parked up on Blackbushe 'south', a nod to the Airport's early days of fighter and bomber operations, but those wartime days are not included in my personal recall - far too young for that... PB
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Post by PB on Aug 3, 2023 7:42:37 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 03/08/23For the last few minutes I've been gazing at Blackbushe Airport air traffic movements on this day in 1959. No particular reason, but it makes memory stirring stuff for those who are fortunate enough to still remember Blackbushe in her fully operational configuration as a major London airport... Numerous Eagle Vikings took to the wing as could be expected! Plus Vikings of numerous other home-based operators.
The ponderous old ladies, Bristol Freighters, who brought their Bristol Hercules engines to delight the ears of the time..
Seen here arriving at Blackbushe for her very last visit in 2008, beloved DC-6 G-APSA. On this day in 1959 G-APSA and her Blackbushe DC-6 stable mates G-APOM and PON were all active at Blackbushe. Just another day.
Airwork's resident Cessna 310 demonstrator, G-APUF, was on the move on this day in '59. PUF was often seen at Blackbushe during the years that followed Blackbushe's 1960 closure...
The mighty Hermes would have been seen on this day in '59. Residents G-ALDC from Falcon Airways and G-ALDG and LDA from Airwork were out and about..
Add numerous US military air traffic movements, USAF and United States Navy from Beech 18 (SNB-5) to the largest multi-engined transports, DC-4s from Blue Air, Dragonfly helicopter movements from Silver City, a Skeeter from the Army Air Corps, the Argus N9996F of Pan Am's Captain Young, numerous light aircraft including three Proctors, and you get an idea of the Blackbushe atmosphere on any day in the late 1950s.
Next time you take in the Blackbushe vista try and imagine for a moment the scene that some of us are lucky enough to hold precious...
PB
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Post by PB on Aug 4, 2023 11:16:21 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 04/08/23Starting the day with a flight back to the spring of 1958 as one of Eagle's 'Bermuda' Viscounts graces the then full sized Terminal and apron at Blackbushe.. Thanks to Bob O'Brien who has kindly permitted our use of them.. Eagle Bermuda was an offshoot of the Bamberg world where Eagle was indeed one of the most respected names in 1950's air transport. Blackbushe based too......and another. Eagle Viscount G-APDX was a very known sight at Blackbushe throughout 1958. The sound of Viscounts' turbo prop engines increasingly contrasted with the well known and much loved sound of the old radials such as the Bristol Hercules that carried Blackbushe's many other Vicker's products into the sky, the Viking, for example..
Thanks again to Bob O'Brien for the above photos.
Wherever your persuasions may lie, it is to be hoped that they feel a degree of concern when our Prime Minister's private home can be attacked by a body of trespassers who could well have done more than drape his home in blacksheets while suggesting that our country must stop all oil extraction, new or old..
One of the great freedoms our small home island tolerates is the right to protest, but surely when a nation's leader's home is attacked enough is enough? Seemingly, the old adage that our home is our castle is now on fragile ground? The protestors dressed in smirks and red suits might consider taking their protests to China or Russia where there is no doubt the resident governing bodies would be most interested in their activities. They probably would not be seen in this country again any time soon!
There is no doubt that global concerns regarding the climate and the small layer of gas that surrounds our planet and gives us life needs to be addressed. Blindly banning oil would create a greater problem than the one the Stop Oil fanatics foresee according to a report from Mark Mills, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Prager University....
Make what you wish from his words, they are edited and placed before you purely for interest and consideration. "Oil still provides the momentum for 97% of all global transportation. Seemingly massive investments ($5 trillion..) for the past two decades investing in green energy has not moved us very far toward the green goalposts sportingly aimed for.. It's not easy! To get the same level of energy from solar and wind driven energy that we now get from fossil fuels a massive increase in mining will be required, it's said that a 1000% increase in mining will be called for. The green world driven by batteries and natural energy will require copper, iron ore, chromium, zinc, cobalt, lithium, graphite, neodymium, all are going to be needed to produce our green planet. Then we have the needs for even more energy to produce the motors, solar panels, batteries, turbine blades, and other industrial components necessary to fabricate the new world.. A World Bank study has shown that these green technologies are in fact more material intensive than our current energy production. Raw materials account for 50 to 70% of the cost to price to produce solar panels and batteries. To date that has not been of seen as a great concern because wind and solar account for only a few percentage points of the global energy supply. Future needs of these materials will demand more mining where the USA is not seen as a major player, it is in fact dependent on imports for 100% of 17 critical minerals. Europe depends on Russia for 40% of its natural gas. Seemingly China will be the greatest producer of critical energy materials. The USA is not a contender in the supply of necessary minerals, the environmentalists and green leading politicians who push the benefits of electric cars are the same people who oppose mining the copper and nickel necessary for their production...
The future demands for energy are going to increase. New innovations will continue to find more ways to use energy than to produce it. Increasing global population and increasing global wealth will ensure an ever upward curve in demand for transport, and electronics, while innovation will see robotics, drones, quantum computing and biotechnology all claiming their share of the energy market. Nuclear, fossil and renewables will all play their part..but wind and solar have how much chance of supplying the demand alone? The cloud already uses twice as much electricity as the entire country of Japan the world's third largest economy. The data centres at the heart of the Cloud consume almost ten times more electricity than the world's ten million electric cars.."Make what you will of the above, whatever your point of view, the world faces an interesting future!Blackbushe Airport today borders one of the largest car collection/auction sites in the UK. No longer Airport property this otherwise open space that for a while housed some unique warbirds and the Queens helicopter must have an interesting CO2 output?PB
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Post by PB on Aug 5, 2023 7:32:41 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 05/08/23There is talk of perhaps a Fairey Gannet being put back in the air. Now that would be a great sound to hear again with its unique Double Mamba engine arrangement that produced a sound unlike anything else that travelled above our heads..That sound!! One of many Gannet visits to Blackbushe.. In 1960 a number departed for the Indonesian Navy, German Navy Gannets were seen here on a number of occasions during 1958, and numerous Gannet movements courtesy of the Royal Navy occurred in 1956/57. Talking of sounds, here's an historic sound machine, the Fairey Rotordyne. Uniquely noisy, unique in appearance and concept..it was great fun to watch and hear at Farnborough Air Show, the days when innovative new shapes were not unusual in the Farnborough circuit. Rotordyne was seen at Blackbushe in September, 1959, during Farnborough Week.Funny how times when they're happening seem quite 'normal' yet they take on almost religious status in our minds a few decades later. For those who still hold them, memories of old Blackbushe carry a certain religious devotion... The hallowed surfaces of Blackbushe Airport!It's Saturday, enjoy the rain!
PB
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Post by PB on Aug 6, 2023 8:04:41 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 06/08/23Regret POTD needs to be cut short today, assorted health events in the editorial department....
However..
..time to say that on this day in 1950 the Handley Page Hermes entered service with BOAC. The photo taken on Blackbushe 'south' showing some of the many workshops and offices that formed the Airport's engineering zone.. The coach is in the coach park north of the A30 and not far from the main Terminal and the long gone main car park...The type was replaced by more advanced designs, the Hermes fleet being sold to various independent airlines this becoming a very familiar shape at Blackbushe carrying Airwork, Britavia, and Falcon Airways logos. G-ALDI, like her sister ships, flew very many sorties to the far east and middle east on trooping flights. A work horse aeroplane where sadly only one fuselage remains in the hands of the Duxford collection.
PB
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Post by PB on Aug 7, 2023 7:23:37 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 07/08/237th August is remembered for space-age pioneering and the loss of a big name in early aviation.
Not too far from what is today's Blackbushe Airport over at Cove Common, Laffans Plain now part of Farnborough Airport, Samuel Cody lost his life when his Cody floatplane broke-up at around 200ft on 7th August, 1913. He and his passenger both lost their lives. From kites to aeroplanes Cody would become one of the greats in early aviation pioneering. Buried in Aldershot Military Cemetery his funeral procession is estimated to have attracted a crowd of some 100,000 people. Such was the interest, and fervor of the public when aviation gained its wings and humanity would gain a fearsome element for waging war, and a fantastic way to travel.
An interesting adjunct to the above is that Farnborough airfield was, and still is, part located on Common Land. Some airfields are less lucky when it comes to Common Land.
On this day in 1959 the rapid advance in human ability was there for all to see as the first television pictures to be beamed from space arrived from the Explorer 6 satellite.Now, reflect on this ..One of the very many US military Grumman Albatross aircraft that flew from Blackbushe during the 1950s...A fabulous looking aeroplane with its own unique sounds..Well, wouldn't be nice to see one back on the old Blackbushe apron one more time? An Albatross has recently arrived at Southampton for maintenance, an ex US Navy example, just a few minutes flying time from Blackbushe where once many an Albatross did roost.. No more known at the moment, but what a moment if she could visit Blackbushe for old time's sake??
PB
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Post by PB on Aug 8, 2023 7:12:00 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 08/08/23When a new type of aeroplane comes along and its appearance is noted they often stick in the mind as 'new' types long after their newness has rubbed off.. Today brings an example.Cessna 208 'Caravan' enjoying the blue skies of Blackbushe..Surprisingly to me, it is 41 years ago today that the first production Cessna Caravan was rolled out..Time's a funny and frightening subject. D'ya know it was only 7 years earlier that President Nixon resigned, 1974, or 60 years ago today that we (some) perhaps remember the Great Train Robbery when £2.6 million disappeared from the Glasgow-London mail train..
Talking of time, mine has run out..
Catch you later.. PB
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