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Post by PB on Dec 19, 2023 7:40:50 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 19/12/23Here we are, in the holding pattern for Christmas, one minute you're a child looking up at the lights and festive things with wonderment in your eyes, the next you're looking into your childrens eyes as they shared the images of Christmas, the next you're looking into your grandchildrens eyes as they too focus on the festivities.. Where did the time go?
Enjoyable time was spent yesterday when my wife and I joined Sandra Marshall for our now traditional pre Christmas lunch. When Stuart was with us we had started the 'pre Christmas' lunches, but with the sad loss of Stuart the 'lunch' remains a tradition that we very happily uphold. As always it was a delight and a joy to catch up with Sandra and all the news...
Time. The Blackbushe story from my point of view is a time journey without equal. The first part has left now distant memories of a very busy commercial airport that exuded the atmosphere you'd expect from a port where large aircraft, passengers, freight, airport personnel, and all the relevant buildings combined to leave you with life-long recall of the old and golden days of Blackbushe.
Then came 1960. Blackbushe was closed and her infrastucture almost totally destroyed In '61 I was cycling down the fully intact main runway, the local Parish council had yet to do their destructive worst. AVM "Pathfinder" Bennett had acquired a large percentage of the airfield in hopes of developing a major General Aviation centre from the ashes of the old airport. On that warm September afternoon none other than the AVM zoomed up to me in his blue Fairthrope and very politely asked me to watch out should an aeroplane want to land. That was the birth of several years within which I would work for AVM Bennett and hopes for a new Blackbushe were held high. That first year or so as my involvement with the airfield and the new Blackbushe Aero Club was one of the most memorable. A small band of people came together sharing the same intense hopes for a new Blackbushe - weekends and school holidays became devoted to the airfield and the wonderful band of people who were now the lifeblood of the airfield.
Exploring all parts of the airfield revealed huts in the forest that had escaped the demolition programme. One hut with a grey door that carried the sign RAF Smoke Hut suggested that this had been a store for the smoke generators carried by the Bostons on D-Day. The bomb dump was still there, silent in the Airport's surrounding forests. Looking like train station platform where bombs were transferred from their carriers on arrival at the airfield I guess. One reflected on the news that a number of RAF personnel had been killed here when a bomb detonated... one reflected on all the life that had once been here as war progressed...I think it was the absolute remoteness of Blackbushe back then, exploring silent evidence of the past and almost disbelief that this great airfield had been so badly abused by ministerial thinking not to mention the blows that local councils would administer in due course..
Blackbushe decided to direct my life, it still does, it always will do. Precious friends, experiences in the air and on the ground that might be hard to match. Time indeed, and time well spent...
Unforgettable, the great "Re-opening" Air Display of 1962. An empty airfield filled with aircraft and life once more. Just for a day.In the sixties we did not get many visitors, but some interesting examples were to be seen...Distinguished visitor..Old memories were never far away, they're still not!!The joy of Blackbushe life, plenty of flying! A summer day loose formation heading for Sandown.Winters at Blackbushe were sometimes cruel. We had just one hangar, an old nissen hut located where BCA have now taken over.Pride. We rolled some aircraft to the roadside during Farnborough Week, 1962 I think, to show Blackbushe was alive and far from dead.A still from one of the numerous movies shot at Blackbushe. A Viking rests on the apron. History will, in due course, be repeated when our G-AGRW has completed her restoration...The walk down memory lane at Blackbushe is like a dream, you walk down it but it never ends - it just gets longer.
PB
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Post by PB on Dec 20, 2023 7:08:09 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 20/12/23As we journey around the great circle of life there comes a time to say "Goodbye" as those we have shared the journey with are taken from us. The loss of anyone with whom a common and heartfelt subject has been shared for many years is particularly trying.. So it is at the beginning of 2024 with three funerals of good friends in the first couple of weeks of the year.
On 4th January "Baz" Harris takes his last journey, his funeral is at 14.30 at Easthampstead Park Crematorium, Bracknell..RG40 3DW. "Baz" was one of the 'few' who had stayed close to Blackbushe though his life, in particular from the dark days of the early sixties and the closure of Blackbushe through to recent times when he continued to spend relaxed time at the airfield and always happy to join in conversation on the Blackbushe story.
The 11th January witnesses our next "Goodbye". John Lowe, for whom Blackbushe was imprinted throughout his life will be having his funeral service at Aldershot Crematorium, GU12 4BP, on 11th January at 11.30. John was a massive authority on the Blackbushe story going back to his boyhood during World War Two and living close to Blackbushe, or RAF Hartford Bridge as it was back then. Nobody could have been more dedicated to Blackbushe.
Both John and 'Baz' were great authorities on the subject of Blackbushe past, great characters, and their presence is going to be greatly missed. We are richer for having them in our lives for so long...Memorable times. John Lowe stands second from the right, Baz Harris stands next to him on his right... A moment from the 1960s when they were part of the Blackbushe Aviation Group and involved with an early air show.Another good friend's funeral service is also on 11th January. Time's relentless passage, all will be greatly missed.
PB
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Post by PB on Dec 22, 2023 7:54:17 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 22/12/23Back on the air!! Somebody at Proboards HQ must have pulled the wrong plug leaving impossible to log-in and thence cast the morning's thoughts around the globe.. Thanks for looking in anyway!
Last night life and lights were seen at Blackbushe's Pathfinder Cafe as the Blackbushe Heritage Trust hosted its first Christmas gathering. It seemed the perfect time to express our grateful thanks to the volunteers who have done such amazing work on behalf of the Trust be it working on the Viking, running events, selling merchandise, publicity, or administrative tasks all have formed a body of people of which we could not begin to value..
The Chairman of the Trust opened the evening with the warm welcome that was due to all who attended, followed by Pat Marchant who gave a Technical update on where the restoration has progressed followed by the 'Five Year Plan', a guideline to the hoped for progress in placing G-AGRW on show as the representative she will be speaking on behalf the Airport's history and the very significant part the Viking has played in that history.
Our Treasurer, Mark Griffiths, followed with details of our massive fund raising success thanks to the substantial support from British Airways and the sales of merchandise and raffle tickets. Attending events, our series of evening talks, manning the Trust's sales table, and quiz nights have all played their part. The social media team who continue to spread the word via 21st Century methods of communication, again, their work is priceless. Becky, Airport Director, gave an outline of the Trust's operations, the part played by the Airport management team cannot be over-stated. We cannot over-stress the need for fund raising to continue in support of the need for materials and equipment to secure the final restoration of our Viking, one of just six left on the planet.. Huge thanks, of course, to Blackbushe Airport who have done so much in support of our project - accommodation for events, a hangar, and now a shop premises!!
David Payne gave an exciting description of our support from British Airways and how the highest of management are excited by what we are doing. On going technical support will be coming from various sources over the coming year, details of which will be announced in the New Year, but it will involve massive help from some big names! Our thanks to Dave and British Airways cannot be over emphasised.
The evening was rounded off by a superb buffet for all who attended, plus excellent mulled wine, tea, coffee etc..
In all, it was a most enjoyable evening, hopefully next year will see even more in attendance as the Blackbushe Heritage Trust family continues to grow. A Christmas jumper contest rounded-off the evening, it certainly added colour to the proceedings. Gary Brown carried away the winner's trophy, although as you can see, all entrants made a worthy effort to take the title. Thanks to David Payne for the photo.In conclusion this morning, I would like to go back to last evening and walking across the silent Blackbushe car park before heading home. Traffic on the A30 was almost nil, but the strong breeze sounded in your ear, through the night Airport lights glowed and some aircraft shapes could be detected. All was remarkably peaceful. I stopped and stood in the night and sensed the spirit of Blackbushe reflecting on the past decades, the many friends made and now sadly no longer here to share the moment, the floodlit airliners that once stood here, and in particular the many aircrew and airfield personnel who served here during the intensity and tragedies of World War Two. Those quiet moments of contemplation in the car park were truly moving, it was easy to imagine the presence of all the missing souls who in the past eight decades have left their mark on this wonderful aerodrome - a mighty congregation, that sighing wind as it caught your ear had something to say...
And so we move on, my thanks to all who have given so much already in support of the Blackbushe Heritage Trust, and thanks in advance for what you all will be doing next year!!!
Bye for now.. PB
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Post by PB on Dec 23, 2023 9:20:28 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 23/12/2309.00! Disgraceful, but as I was ripping up the nation's Motorways until after 02.00 I guess some 'later than normal' kip was OK?
Funnily enough, if yesterday was the winter solstice - the shortest day of year - turned out to be one of the longest for me hence "POTD" running behind schedule....
Talking of 'the longest' today's date hit the record books with the safe arrival of Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager back in 1986 when he landed "Voyager" at Edwards Air Force base having flown around the world non-stop with no refuelling along the way. What was your longest unrefuelled flight? Think mine must have been 13.5 hours in the dear old 707 LAX-LHR, but obviously today's aviators log far greater aerial spans in the long haulers of today. It's sad looking back on the lost days of the mini-jets, but they were the best from my point of view.... But, nine days airborne in a small cockpit? 25,000 miles between take-off and landing... Longest, largest, here's Blackbushe Airport's record for the largest aeroplane.. The old Douglas C-124 Globemaster II was the world's largest at the time. 8th September, 1959. On that happy note, I'll be off to get into the Christmas spirit.....
See you soon, PB
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Post by PB on Dec 24, 2023 6:30:14 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 24/12/23Here we are again.. Christmas Eve, another Blackbushe year together is in the log book, but time to take my leave from the daily scribe for a couple of days - but we'll be back!
Looking back at Christmas of yesteryear "POTD" is going to slip back to Christmas 1944. The year being well remembered for D-Day and RAF Hartford Bridge changing its name on 9th December, '44, to RAF Blackbushe. Blackbushe's first Christmas as Blackbushe, RAF Blackbushe.
On Christmas Eve, 1944, one of Blackbushe's resident Mosquito squadrons, 418 Squadron, was declared to be fully operational. For some Christmas was not quite so full of joy as it perhaps is today...
Down in the Squadron Ops Room a telephone call from the AOC Basil Embry. All aircraft had to be bombed up and ready for an operation at first light the following morning. The Germans had broken through in the Ardennes and had to be repelled at all cost. Getting crews back from their Christmas leave caused quite a flap, one can but imagine how well this went down!
Christmas Eve, 1944, witnessed something of an armada as between 1115 and 1200 twenty one Dakotas returning from operations with airborne forces landed in pretty awful conditions of low cloud and poor visibility. On Christmas Day fog covered the airfield for the entire day. An attempt was made to get the Mosquitos away using FIDO (Blackbushe's fog dispersal system) but as two aircraft were involved in take-off accidents the operation was abandoned for the day. The crews were thus able to join in the base Christmas festivities which were attended by 1200 airmen and airwomen. Dinner was served to the other ranks by officers, Warrant Officers and NCOs in the traditional manner. This was followed in the evening by an all ranks' dance that was enjoyed by all who attended.
Christmas Day 2023 will see Blackbushe closed for the day, we can but imagine the sounds of merriment that echoed from the camp base that Christmas night 79 years ago. Or the shape of Mosquitos shrouded in the fog that enveloped the airfield on that Christmas Day as they awaited the call to duty in the fight for freedom.
The personnel who were part of RAF Blackbushe's compliment on that Christmas Day would probably have doubted we would be thinking of them almost eight decades later, but we are... ..and so to the present day, Blackbushe means business as confirmed by a couple PC-12s arrival on Friday.. Thanks for the photo Paul!What better way to close than a Christmas card from Royal Air Force Hartford Bridge? With thanks to the IBCC..Established on short final, time to round-out and wish all the "POTD" faithful, and all who are part of the Blackbushe 'family' a very Merry Christmas, good health and hopefully good news regarding the future of the airfield we all know and love as "Blackbushe"...and, of course, not forgetting absent friends.
I remain...simply, PB
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Post by PB on Dec 29, 2023 6:56:20 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 29/12/23With one eye peeping out of the burrow after a respite from the normal early morning communications I hope all our "POTD" subscribers have had, and are, enjoying a suitably festive Christmas/New Year/Winter holiday break... Christmas Day will always recycle memories of my Dad's tragic loss on this day long ago. The years have flown and I now have the grandchildren that he or my Mum were never able to enjoy, and enjoy their company I do. They indeed have brought the magic back into life, especially of recent!!
"POTD" will be back on a regular footing as we move toward 2024, but for now a couple of photos provided by 'longshott' that recall treasured memories of Blackbushe Airport when she was truly a sight to behold!Farnborough Week, 1958. 56-0550 and 56-0529.
The upper photo shows the "32" hold position as the Hercules enters the then very large Blackbushe apron. If you walk onto the Common, ie Blackbushe "east", the opposite direction that the 'Herc' is going, and take the track that heads east from the Terminal area it is possible to make out where the 32 hold used to be. But only just... Hard to believe the traffic that one flowed on that old route...Sincere thanks to "Longshott" and anybody else who feels inclined to support our Forum!!
"POTD" will be back!
PB
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Post by PB on Dec 31, 2023 7:09:00 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 31/12/23Here we are then, at the end of travelling through another year...2023 prepares to make its departure making way for another twelve months of voyaging into who knows what!! 584 million miles await until our planet reaches a similar position in our yearly trip around the Sun. We're all astronauts!
Hopefully an almost unbroken year of daily POTDs has provided a few minutes of interest each morning while maintaining a degree of cohesion amid others who share some deep affection for the Airport on the plateau, the one and only Blackbushe!! A few health issues crept into the editorial activity this year, but we're still in business and fully intend to be for at least another twelve months. A rather unwelcome visit by sciatica has not helped over the Christmas period but doubtless it will soon pass.
What a year it's been for heritage at Blackbushe! While the airfield continues her campaign that will eventually see new hangars and infrastructure grace the old site transforming her into a modern and well equipped General Aviation centre, the Blackbushe Heritage trust has moved forward in leaps and bounds having brought a Viking airliner 'home' for restoration clutching her from the hands of oblivion had we not acted. In due course Blackbushe will enjoy a heritage centre where her historic past will be celebrated while a Viking once again rests on the very apron where once they forged the avenues of British commercial aviation across the UK, into Europe and down into Africa. Blackbushe owes so much to her heritage, that heritage owes much to Blackbushe...
A fantastic team of skilled volunteers has come together, a team seen working in 'varied' climatic conditions in the new 'Viking hangar' so generously provided by the Blackbushe Airport management team. To them there is nothing but utmost thanks as the airframe continues to show changes..
So far as Blackbushe Airport is concerned the seemingly endless campaign to build a better Blackbushe continues at full throttle, the coming year could be the one where the long awaited moment arrives and the green light on development shines...? Take a look at the Airport's website for a full status update on the mission to the new Blackbushe. www.blackbusheairport.co.uk/common-land-deregistration
The Airport website also provides a 'vision', an idea of what we might be able to look forward to in the coming years... www.blackbusheairport.co.uk/vision It's been a while.....Magnificent moments, a Viking's return to Blackbushe Airport back in May this year...Her new home awaits..Some of the 'magnificent men' who have taken the Heritage Trust into the wider world..Emotions, some old relationships rekindled....Eric from the Eagle Archive meets an old friend.Work in progress..Recognition! Aviation Heritage UK awarded the Blackbushe Heritage Trust with the 'Group of the Year' honour!Publicity wise we've been on the radio, television, and featured in leading journals such as "Aeroplane"...But, without massive support from all who have contributed to the Heritage Trust, British Airways for their keen interest and support for our venture and additional support that will be announced in the near future we can but say "Thank you"!!! Whole heartedly...A beautiful sunny day in June 2023......The Blackbushe Air Day. A fabulous day that some will remember for 'other' reasons such as ending up in A&E. Such is life!! I remain most grateful to the NHS for their intervention!!
June 15th next year, soon to be 'this year' will witness the next Blackbushe Air Day. It's a fabulous day out for all, watch this space!!
Meanwhile troops, may I wish you and all the Blackbushe 'flock' a very and successful Happy New Year.
This year our list of "absent friends" grew sadly longer, they will be with us in our hearts as the journey toward the 'new' Blackbushe marches onward..
Happy New Year! PB
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Post by PB on Jan 1, 2024 8:25:01 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 01/01/24What better way to start the day than by wishing all the "POTD" readers/viewers an incredibly Happy New Year, and very many of them too - years and viewers. "POTD" has enjoyed 97,351 visits since this time last year, approaching 100,000 clicks onto the subject of Blackbushe and confirmation that there is a good body of folks 'out there' who also think about the great Hampshire airfield... Four of the best!! Just some of the many Vikings for whom Blackbushe was their home base!! Happy memories from the glorious days!!"Last year" and that momentous time when the Vickers Viking and Blackbushe soil met once again....Start and finish your year the 'Blackbushe way', still some calendars available through the Blackbushe shop.... www.blackbusheairport.co.uk/shop/p/bhtcalendarHappy New Year to you and yours...
As ever... PB
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Post by PB on Jan 2, 2024 8:26:30 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 02/01/242024 has made it through the first day! Considering it's January and our bit of the world in Hampshire could be frozen or even covered in a blanket of white the overnight temperature of 11C was welcome. Memories of this date in 1963 bring back sub zero temperatures, heavy snow, and a lot on wintry problems across the nation....Ice-bound at Blackbushe, the unforgettable winter of 62/63. The snow started on Boxing Day, 1962, the thaw eventually came the following March.Going back to 1962, the month of November before the snows came, Britain and France signed a treaty to share the cost of developing and building a supersonic transport aircraft. A marvel of technology emerged and on March 2nd , 1969, Concorde first took to the sky. Operationally the Concorde could never make a profit compared to the very significant costs of research and development, but it proved the technology an also that two nations could work together toward a common objective.
On this day, 2nd January 1967, President Kennedy who had formed the National Supersonic Transport programme in the USA as their answer to Concorde and the threat of another nation taking the lead in supersonic air travel awarded a contact to Boeing to develop the 2707 SST design. 115 orders from 25 airlines sounded firm ground for the American SST but by 1971 the project lost its funding and 60,000 Boeing workers were laid off. In 1976 Concorde made her first commercial flights with British Airways heading for Bahrain from London, Air France going to Rio from Paris... Concorde had made her first trans Atlantic flight in 1973.While 1962 heralded the signing of the Concorde treaty and the famous snow that started on Boxing Day, memories for myself are focused on life at Blackbushe. This Messenger being typical of the days when visiting aircraft were fairly rare.. As you can see the old Ministry of Transport signage was still firmly attached to the Terminal, the "C" was placed by AVM Bennett indicating that the old Airport Marshallers hut had found a new purpose.. This was where all air traffic movements were entered into the Airport movements log, landing fees were taken, and where many a volunteer squeezed in on cold winter weekends. The orange clad Marshallers were sadly all now just a memory from the glorious days of 1950s air transport operations.Talking of political travesties, and surely the destruction of Blackbushe in 1960/61 matches such a description, 2024 started with a classic example of a political travesty? In a couple of hours I will be driving into King Khan's ULEZ territory where money is thrust into his wide open pockets for driving anywhere in the Greater London cash generator zone should your vehicle not match his idea of being being 'climate friendly'... It was interesting to note how the first minutes of 2024 witnessed no less than eight tons of fireworks being released by him into the heart of his ULEZ zone, a New Year event presented by Sadiq Khan - a total ego/vanity trip for him - with a commentary based on subjects such as 'diversity' while totally disregarding the ULEZ 'reason' for nicking £12.50 from so many hard working motorists... I believe an election is pending? Political fireworks perhaps to light the sky?
See you tomorrow...
PB
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Post by PB on Jan 3, 2024 7:34:53 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 03/01/24Crazy busy start to 2024 - theatre trips, Old Vic today, meetings, family events including grandson's first birthday, three funerals, and naturally hatching out "POTD" each morning..oh, and the odd medical 'engagement'..and if there's the odd spare moment looking forward to logging more time on the amazing MS Flight Simulator 2020. The even more amazing MSFS2024 will be hitting the airways sometime later in the year. If you want to fly without leaving home this is the most realistic way to do it, especially when you can fly from Blackbushe almost as if you were there. Today, time is at a premium, so....one image from yesteryear.Just one photo that says a lot. Neil Williams arrives in what is today "Just Jane" for the Daily Telegraph air show back in the sixties. The sight and sound of a Lancaster's arrival was beyond description, especially having lived through the awful years of witnessing the apparent end of Blackbushe. This was indeed one of life's rich moments....Just look at the mighty US Navy hangar, it survived a few more years before the axe fell on it too.Slipping back to the fifties, the period when Blackbushe showed what she could do in the growing world of air transport, Pan Am inaugurated the first all cargo service across the North-Atlantic using their recently acquired DC-6A 'cargo carrier' on this day in 1952... They did not use Blackbushe, but Pan Am did operate from Blackbushe during fog diversions and also crew training. Try standing on the old Blackbushe 'east' amid the jungle that has grown from the now wild Common - and imagine those Pratt & Whitneys as they taxi past you. It's easy if you can....
PB
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