|
Post by PB on May 10, 2017 15:04:39 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 10/05/17POTD usually hits the press before 16.00hrs. Many emails to sort out early this morning before the day's "75th" meeting at the aerodrome... Aircraft just happened to be on the agenda, including the lovely Sally B. Look forward to welcoming her back, first time since the 1977 Air Festival! Your scribe and his friend Sally after the first day's fun in 1977. Sally B doesn't look a day older in 2017, not universal amid all in the picture!Still working on acquiring new participants. The BAe Anson being the very latest new addition - Saturday only. Stay tuned... PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on May 11, 2017 5:23:18 GMT
11th May, 2017. Today "POTD" is dedicated to Clint Gurry whose funeral is this morning. Friend, and one of the Forum's devoted followers... Happier days..Clint truly caught the atmosphere of late sixties Blackbushe with this photo, one of my favourites.I trust you have now found the peace and freedom of flying on a higher plain.. RIP Clint. Peter
|
|
|
Post by PB on May 11, 2017 19:28:10 GMT
Farewell Clint, God speed...
|
|
|
Post by PB on May 12, 2017 8:07:43 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 12/05/17Seems like it was only yesterday that we were turning over the first stones of a possible 75th Anniversary event at Blackbushe...around 10 months ago, now it's just a few weeks before the curtain goes up, the challenge is very much alive! Aeroplanes are interesting things to pin down for an event. They are very expensive - usually - they are subject to weather, mechanical, and operational peculiarities, plus the increased limitations imposed by the regulatory authorities. I suppose we should question what it is that makes people dedicate huge sums of money, precious time, and sleep (lack of), when life offers so many gentler pursuits? If I had an answer I'd let you know, but they're questions I ask myself all the time! From a personal perspective it's an inbuilt drive to see Blackbushe live, to put her name on the map, and a selfish motivation by wanting to see the old place put on view for aviation purposes rather than Sunday Market mania, or buying a used motor from the man with a gavel.. The latest recruit for July comes from British Aerospace, is flown by an F-35 development pilot, and makes a welcome return to our tarmac! The BAe/Shuttleworth Anson will be here for the first day of our 75th Anniversary!Thought I'd share that with you as the POTD contribution today.. PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on May 13, 2017 6:33:54 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 13/05/17You know that feeling, or should I say 'remember' that feeling when you had pocket money and got down to the sweet shop (ughh, poor teeth) and having bought a number of sugary delights you just had not got enough for that last tempting sweet you really wanted?? Actually, I don't think I did that too often, but it makes a good analogy! I'm in that situation, except the sweets are aeroplanes. I've used up every cent of budget, but being inclined to always want that bit more am seeking sponsors to cover fuel costs for one or two flying examples of the fifties. Any suggestions as to likely sponsor companies would be welcomed, perhaps you could PM me or drop a line to me at 75@blackbusheairport.co.uk. Sponsors will get their names on the website, in the glossy programme and be invited to spread their corporate ID around the event..etc etc. Just a thought... So far as POTD is concerned today, we provide a fair number of aircraft images from the past at Blackbushe, but for the next day, or two, want to focus on the airfield by way of Ian Haskell's brilliant air to ground studies of the one and only Blackbushe Airport.. From the east - looking west, even with BCA there is still room for growth..One runway that should be so much busier, maybe if plans get the green light - if bureaucracy could stand aside - but should be humming on July 1st and 2nd.Sincere "Thank you" to Ian Haskell for the use of his photos, some more tomorrow! PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on May 14, 2017 5:19:19 GMT
|
|
|
Post by PB on May 15, 2017 6:12:17 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 15/05/17Following the last couple of days looking down on Blackbushe from the relatively recent past, another look down but separated by slightly more time. The sixties, and although to me it still feels fairly recent the photo quality indicates time has moved on... The photo taken in mid sixties as Three Counties dear old VZ joined us for some air to air. Blackbushe as she looked in 1965...For reference we are heading north at the time, Blackbushe 'south' has been excavated just leaving the fresh scars of her injury, runway 19's passage across the A30 is hard to miss, as are the taxiways that apparently crossed the road too.. Infrastructure wise Three Counties Aero Club cand be seen (The Bushe Cafe & Blackbushe Aviation today), the AVM's temporary hangar cum store, and the hard to make out Terminal with Bill Freeman's (Airport Manager) caravan catching the sunlight in front of the Terminal. You can just make out the 'back line' of aeroplanes tied down on the apron beyond which the local authority's freshly dug up & destroyed apron lies - no doubt wondering what hit it and why had it been dug up?? Proportions are hard to convey in an angular photo, but it's not hard to see how much valuable apron we lost to this act of sabotage in the first half of the sixties. Must concentrate the mind now on the media again, negotiating some additional aircraft for the 75th (?), and maybe sorting out the ocean of paper that is today the main tangible result of our forthcoming event in July. BFBS are running a Blackbushe 75th promo everyday this week between 08.00 and 09.00, tickets to be won!! PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on May 16, 2017 9:17:13 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 16/05/17POTD might be running a bit later than usual today, sorry if it missed your Corn Flakes, but up at 04.30 and on the Blackbushe75th job. Not slacking, honest!! Having taken a look down on Blackbushe from the heavens recently thought I'd recap with an old photo from Airviews entitled "London's Blackbushe Airport". Must have been taken in the first half of the sixties. Late enough to show the new temporary hangars where BCA are today, Three Counties Aero Club's temporary club house, and a small number of resident aeroplanes on the apron and grass, but early enough to clearly show the geography of Blackbushe 'south' and the shocking destruction of the main runway's eastern extremity. Another reminder of how much essential apron the airfield was deprived of too..... First half of the swinging sixties.. For 57 years nature has worked with Father Time by way of a 'take over' of much of what was "London's Blackbushe Airport". Could be so different..PB
|
|
|
Post by PB on May 17, 2017 11:07:25 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 17/05/17Day two of the poster delivery campaign, but the current rain fall would be somewhat detrimental to our lovely posters' condition....so hiding behind the keyboard for a change. If anybody has a polite suggestion (??) as to where we might locate posters to maximum effect please advise - or if you have 'influence' over a strategic potential location we'd love to hear about it... POTD late again today compared to the usual Corn Flake edition, this will have to be the tea & biscuits edition. The POTD vaults have surrendered today's photo unaffected by the welcome rainfall, happily rain that has not permeated that far down yet! Bristol Aeroplane Company's Bristol 171, G-ALSX, arrives at Blackbushe for Farnborough Air Show, 1953 or 55. The tower awaits it's new top still.Note the light aircraft visitors lined up on the grass rather reflecting British light aviation post war. All British designs pretty much ruled the sky back then, although one is from the DHC drawing boards.. The row of houses apparently at the end of runway 08 with a crane for company are a bit of an enigma. Either it's a photographic error or a film set facade? One thing is for sure and that is Blackbushe has never had any building directly inline with the main runway. Just the BCA car park at the west end...unfortunately, but at least it does not obstruct flying providing you remain in control of your aeroplane. Any good poster location ideas?? Please let me know.. POTD may not be with you tomorrow, your editorial staff are travelling west to Wales - a rather early start. PB Comments from Chevvron and Controller... blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/7084 blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/7086
|
|
|
Post by PB on May 18, 2017 4:40:39 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 18/05/17POTD service on the early train, or rather I am as duty calls me to lands far away, and abandonment of all matters 'Blackbushe' for the day... I suppose Wales isn't that far, but it feels it at 05.00. Today's photo because of the Canadian carrier HMCS Bonaventure steaming near our shores in November, 1957.. Grumman Tracker from HMCS Bonaventure spends a murky couple of days at Blackbushe. No doubt the Tracker was retired decades ago, HMCS Bonaventure was scrapped in Taiwan in 1970. Blackbushe, however, manages to sail on despite the efforts to sink her! PB
|
|