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Post by PB on Nov 12, 2016 7:00:33 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 12/11/16Just a couple of quick snaps today, heavy workload!! Continental Airlines DC-4 D-ABEB, 13 June, 1959.Blackbushe shows off her tidy aspect as a DC-4 enters the main apron. Tarmac, grass all looking in perfect condition! The aircraft is just entering the main apron from the east end, ie today's "Yateley Common". You can see how the apron widens toward the LHS of the photo, all part of the vital area destroyed by the opposition. The photo was taken on 13 June, '59, the following day Hawk Trainer G-AFBS was involved in an accident on landing at Blackbushe. "FBS" became a home based aircraft a few years later, mid-sixties, serving with The Blackbushe Aero Club when it was run under the auspices of 'Wilbur' Wright. By then Blackbushe looked mighty different to how it looked during the sunny June of '59. Don't know what happened to the DC-4 in today's photo, but "FBS" today lives out her life in the safety of IWM Duxford. She had another minor accident at Blackbushe when a pothole left by the destruction gangs claimed her while taxiing.. Had a very sore leg for a while. There's FBS!! Wrapped up under her blankets during the dreaded winter of 62/63. Flanked for comfort by two equally frozen home based Austers. Mixed memories... That winter was truly Siberian...there's been nothing like it since. 53 years later, and sadly still no hangars... but hope in that direction has not faded, work continues!! PB
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Post by PB on Nov 13, 2016 6:02:11 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 13/11/16Remembrance Sunday...."At the going down of the sun, and in the morning - we will remember them....."
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Post by PB on Nov 14, 2016 7:07:50 GMT
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Post by PB on Nov 15, 2016 6:28:50 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 15/11/16November is half over, we've paid our annual respects to remembrance, the passage of time is relentless - a glance in the mirror confirms that only too well. RAF Hartford Bridge was home to around 3,000 RAF personnel during the war, just like the many who worked on post war Blackbushe, I wonder what happened to them all and what sort of emotions did they harbour once Hartford Bridge/Blackbushe was no longer a part of their daily lives? No doubt the military would have left with varied view points, it would have been just another airfield to them, cold and uncomfortable and memories that only war can hand down. Good, bad, and ugly. In peacetime Blackbushe was known as the "Happy Airport" according to my one time Blackbushe worker contacts. But, in many cases they too are gone and we who are left can only reflect on fading memories and old photos.. In 2008 for too brief a moment old memories came alive when one of our old residents returned.. Eagle's DC-6, G-APSA. "The Eagle has landed"..the mighty DC-6 with Harold Bamberg, Chairman and Founder of Eagle Airways (in blazer), and Eric Tennant (hi-viz) of the Eagle archive recall the way we were - Blackbushe,September, 2008. Indeed, a step into the past!Pleased to say that both Harold and Eric are doing fine, HB must now be around his 96th... The way we were... Another of the Eagle DC-6's with her ground crew when Blackbushe was in her prime, late 1950's.Alas, time is relentless, the unstoppable force that swept us here and just as surely will carry us away. Perhaps that's when we say farewell to our memories, but until then I shall always be grateful for the haunting recollections this old airfield has given me, the friends and experiences it has gifted me, and helping me from a dark place long ago. Not sure I can find much more to write about each day, or find new material, but hopefully the early morning encounters with my keyboard will continue to keep "POTD" ticking a little longer? The memories won't stop coming, that's for sure!! PB
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Post by PB on Nov 16, 2016 5:24:50 GMT
"Photo of the Day"16/11/16 Time is at a premium one more, gone 05.00... Apparently retirement is not all sitting around and wondering what to do? A couple of views from the dim and distant sixties. Very much a Piper world, the Cherokee take over!Skydivers' delight? The rare EP9 "OZO" was quite a normal sight at BB for a while..Home based "OXO". This unsightly mob of retired Navy choppers blighted the Blackbushe scene for many months..That's it, gotta go.... PB
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Post by PB on Nov 17, 2016 7:16:54 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 17/11/16There are times, like now for example, when sitting hunched over the keyboard at five in the morning it can feel a bit solitary. I know that 'out there' Blackbushe has many dedicated followers and fans, hopefully a percentage tune into our forum from time to time.. you for example!! Yesterday was a point in case where a dedicated Blackbushe follower literally came out of the bushes... There was a touch of farce about the occasion, I was taking one of my constitutional walks across Blackbushe east (Yateley Common)leading to the vast areas of disused runways where a two mile hike is easily achieved. Boring, but rewarded by the sound of aero engines now and again.. Making my way along the track that leads nowhere and skirts the remains of our apron - Vigo Lane - I met two jolly ladies who were knocking six bells out of the very productive apple tree that now borders the main Blackbushe apron. Literally taking bags full of what they described as, "Excellent apples". Why not? Seems a shame to waste them, the result of some careless apple eater many years ago.. Blackbushe east actually served a purpose, not to mention a few apple pies! On ending our apple based conversation the ladies asked that were I to meet a couple of strange men during my walk on the common they probably would be their lost husbands and perhaps I could let them know where their ladies were?? Meeting men on the common is never going to be on my itinerary, let's be fully clear on that, but as I crossed the end of the main runway there were a couple of gents walking some distance apart. On passing one of said gentlemen I uttered a question that was badly phrased to put it mildly, "Excuse me, are you looking for a woman?". Now that probably is not the most advisable approach to a stranger on the common, but I felt I knew him. We had a giggle at my question having explained the reason behind it, he did confirm seeing a couple of blokes who had indeed mislaid their wives..and I went about my walk. Returning to civilisation, as I neared the apron, lead me to the chap who I had 'questioned' some while earlier. He appeared interested in the airfield... "Don't I know you?" he questioned. I too thought him familiar from the past. "You're Peter Brown?". Hard to deny the terrible truth.. "and you're Baz" I replied!! Indeed, it was.. "Bazz" had been one of the most fervent Blackbushe people amid the Blackbushe Aviation Group many years before..stretching way back before Blackbushe was closed. We hadn't met for thirty years, and here we were..passionate as ever about Blackbushe and what she SHOULD be doing today. We talked for ages before parting, hopefully not for another thirty years. "Bazz"..third from the right at the Daily Telegraph Air Show in 1968..plus the Blackbushe Aviation Group boys!Of course, neither of us had changed a bit.... Talking of changing faces.. The changing face of Blackbushe..north side takes on her final flush of colour for this year..Blackbushe "east" reflecting late autumn ..The area of Common cleared for safety on the approach to 25 already covered in saplings..nature remains relentless..I've spent the past couple of hours in the vaults trying to locate another photo of "Bazz" taken when he was refuelling an Apache long ago, but the vaults have defeated me.. That's enough for today, the delights of a root canal job await at 11.00... Can't wait! PB PS Thanks to our star POTD viewer "Rocky14" herewith the photo I couldn't find earlier.. Cheers Rocky14!! "Bas" refuels home based Aztec. The full length Terminal, the "Tower", the seventies... Anybody seen Bas lately?? Yes ME!! blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/5821
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Post by PB on Nov 18, 2016 6:27:35 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 18/11/16Mention of the pesky ex Navy Dragonfly helicopters that were parked aside our apron for far too long reminds me of a similar rotary device that would make its way to the Blackbushe circuit all the way from RAE Farnborough, he'd chopper about all over the airfield for quite a while before deciding he'd had enough.. These were the wild and wooly days when Blackbushe was pretty much deserted, just a very few of light aircraft that risked their all. I had sacrificed an excellent career to join Dart Aircraft who managed the airfield for its new owner, AVM Bennett, swept away by enthusiasm and the optimism of Blackbushe being given green lights toward re-development. As time has proven such optimism was based on shaky ground, although today that old optimism has renewed vigour - but time will tell. Going back to the RAE chopper, my time working at Blackbushe was very multi-role - I gave then nearly three valuable years - and I'd quite often spend time in the great outdoors amid the peace and memories of what this wonderful airfield looked like a very few years earlier..The RAE Dragonfly was obviously interested in my outdoor activities as he'd fly around and apparently be watching me. I'd wave to him (assume it was a him), and sometimes take his photo. The RAE's noisy old helicopter appeared to have an interest in my work repainting the runway numerals, whatever, it made my lonesome task a little less lonesome! That about ends the story of my life and the Westland Dragonfly. Gripping, I know, but all good things come to an end - just as did all those pesky Naval Dragonflys that gathered bird poo for months on end. I still cannot recall who, what, or why they were there.. PB
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Post by PB on Nov 19, 2016 6:23:31 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 19/11/16Next year we mark Blackbushe's 75th Anniversary. All I can say on the subject is that work on the project continues, slowly as many bids won't be answered until we are into the New Year..My fingers are very tightly crossed!! Nonetheless, the project is taking many of my waking hours and disturbing the sleeping ones!! Dithering, sleep deprived, in the POTD vaults this morning I found myself looking back on a previous event that long ago placed similar demands on my waking ans sleeping hours. It's hard to express one's feelings though when after months of trials and tribulations the results of those negotiations at last appear with all four turning and burning. I can tell you, it's quite an emotional experience!! The power of four from 1977! The late Don Bullock and Pete Warren had a fun weekend with us!! She cost me £800 for the weekend, a lot less than nowadays!!Grapes from Greece to Gatwick, via Blackbushe! BAF agreed to adding the Carvair to the show as part of the pleasure flying 'agreement', pleasure flying being carried out in their HP Herald.Four more from Trans Merid., Keith Sissons popped over from EGSS..Dear Alan Chalkley arranged a 'training flight' for us... not everyday a BA 747 takes up the "Basingstoke hold" before making her approach to "London Blackbushe"..! It did look big after spam cans!The power of four in two squared form..maybe the last Varsity formation display ever?I fear today the prospect of airline flypasts are a thing of the past. Ever hopeful of repeating some of the above calibre of flypast from the airlines, the CAA now require any crew indulging in such to have the correct air display authority combined with a raft of other requirements regarding the proposed route and procedures. Sadly, unless things change in the next few months my hopes for some heavy metal fly-bys remain firmly on the ground. Anybody planning a flying display today needs to be aware that the frustration factor is going to be incredibly high, it will cost a huge amount of money, there will be so much red tape flying in the breeze seeing red takes on a whole new meaning, and rather than take on a flying display in 2017 at a new venue - such as EGLK - that person should consider the gentler merits, and health benefits, of gardening. Some of us, it would appear, do both........... Guess what I'm doing this weekend? And the next, and... yawn. PB
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Post by PB on Nov 20, 2016 4:57:53 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 20/11/16Just turned 4am, such is the nature of the Blackbushe beast that sleep is seriously rationed, multitudes of matters cram the limited space available insisting that the finger needs to be extracted or it will be July, 2017, before we know it and a big celebration won't be what is hoped for!! The subject matter of today's POTD has been decided during the early morning Editorial sitting, decided to look back on Blackbushe's largest civil tenant and capture some moments when Blackbushe appeared to have a secure future, and nobody sat at home in the wee small hours worrying about 75th Anniversaries! Back then such an anniversary would be sixty odd years into the future... Viscounts VR-BAX and G-APDWD-AHOI ex G-AIMADear old "PAT"... G-AJXB, the Company run about!1960. Shut up shop, move the whole operation to Heathrow. No option, Blackbushe was closed, would we ever hear the sounds of a DC-6 at Blackbushe again??Yes we would.... Just once in 2008 when no less than Eagle's founder, Harold Bamberg, once again flew from Blackbushe in the surviving airworthy - now ex-Eagle - DC-6 G-APSA!For those of us who remembered Eagle at Blackbushe and the sound of the "Six" it was truly an emotional moment! PB comment... blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/5836
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Post by PB on Nov 21, 2016 6:19:20 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 21/11/16Hopefully you will have had time to look through Stuart's accounts of heavy transport aircraft at Blackbushe prior to May, 1960, in the "Heavy transports at Blackbushe Airport" section of the forum. While he is working away through ancient records toward the next 'title' in the series, candle flickering and quill smouldering in the process, do check out his latest - the Dakota at Blackbushe. The project deals purely with Blackbushe traffic up to May 1960 when the airfield was closed by the men in the ministry. However, despite the attempts by various parties to annihilate Blackbushe from the records, the Dakota has made routine appearances during the post 1960 'private years'.. Two at once!! A football charter, something to do with Reading..Our first Dakota, Derby Airways charter - I think it must have been 1963, or very close to then - but an unforgettable sight, the Dak was back!!Note our fuel service of the early sixties. One old bowser, but at the time it was incredible that we were actually selling aviation fuel at Blackbushe once more! Early sixties, the Airport Land Rover, the dreaded Tower, the car park looking busy for the time. But oh my, we had a Dakota on the apron. Miracles do happen..More Dakotas from the private years tomorrow. Today's going to be devoted to selling more ground exhibition space for the 75th..and if you know anybody who might like to benefit from exhibiting at Blackbushe 2017 - do let me know!! Or organisations you think should exhibit at our 75th Anniversary do.. I'm working on a goodly list but never say "No" to fresh ideas... Thank you!! PB
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