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Post by PB on May 19, 2017 5:27:06 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 19/05/17The vagaries of the English climate came to the fore yesterday, spring, almost summer and finishing with a re-enactment of November in May..One's hopes of a similar display being avoided during July's first weekend this year are considerable.. Today's POTD conveys something of the November day atmosphere, although back in the fifties air shows and public gatherings were definitely not on the agenda. It's "just another day" long ago.. Almost ghost like, resident Eagle Viscount conveys the Blackbushe scene on just another day....long ago.Hopefully our 75th Anniversary volunteers will have received their documentation over night? If not, let me know via a PM, or if you wish to add your name to our list, now's the time! Volunteers will only be 'employed' once our very straightforward form has been completed and returned to "HQ"... Thank you!! PB
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Post by PB on May 20, 2017 5:37:01 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 20/05/17While walking the corridors of power in the Terminal Building yesterday snapped the rather wonderful photos hanging therein... Thought they might be of interest, being behind glass tried to avoid reflection so not perfect reproductions. Blackbushe Airport, operational, full size - no bits missing, 1950's..Eagle Airways hangar, Blackbushe 'south', extreme south western corner of the Airport.Airwork's complex to the east of the Terminal building. In RAF days this was the technical area..ATC Tower located between runways 32 and 26. Multi engined aircraft taxiing abeam the TowerMain apron, Terminal with black freight sheds to the west (left), Silver City/Britavia hangar on Blackbushe 'south'..The above photo shows just how much apron we lost when local councils elected to dig it up rather than accept cash from the new Airport owners.. Look at the Terminal, take the left hand third of it, the CC destroyed the other two thirds, now draw a line at right angles to the A30 from our third of the Terminal - go through the centre section of the DC-6 and extend across apron. Everything to the right of your line was destroyed. Needless waste of an asset resulting from vociferous opposition from a body determined to eliminate the airfield. They are now gone, but Blackbushe is still here even if she's missing some bits... IF they'd agreed to sell the eastern apron what a difference it would have made.. PB Comment from Rob, or rj even... blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/7110
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Post by PB on May 21, 2017 5:46:12 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 21/05/17Just one photo today, that comes under the, "just another day" title. Just another day when Blackbushe was the airport captured from above in yesterday's POTD offering.. If you look at yesterday's photos, one of them refers to a multi engined aircraft taxiing past the Control Tower. Funnily enough, today's POTD shows exactly what that multi engined machine looked like from the Control Tower's upper deck.... Very much part of the Blackbushe 'family'. US Navy resident R5D-3, '56529', was in and out of Blackbushe from 1955 until 1960 when the Airport was officially closed. "Just another day..."And what days they were... PB
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Post by PB on May 22, 2017 5:50:40 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 22/05/17Another day, another photo...at least at this time of year one does not need to depend on a candle to at 05.30 to find the office door. The dawn chorus gets earlier each day, and the weather is about to warm up ready for 1st July..and the 2nd! Ahh, the weather...is it not some form of insanity to gamble your bodies last reserves of nervous energy for months on end on the weather - and an event that so much depends on good weather?? It must be a form of insanity, but don't feel compelled to agree with me.. The things we do for a bit of land known as Hartford Bridge Flats. Here's another view of the Flats with an aerodrome built upon them. This one was taken in 1950, the war and the RAF had moved on and the first commercial flights had been seen. Operators such as William Dempster flew Tudors as early as 1950 on the Blackbushe - Johannesburg route. The spark of British independent air transport had been struck, giving rise to the likes of Freddie Laker and Harold Bamberg who made use of available post war aircraft with the wisdom - and courage - to pioneer an independent air transport network in the UK. The foot of the ladder that fills our skies today with orange tails in number undreamed of back in the 50's! Fido lines, a few aeroplanes, many buildings and structures from war, Blackbushe as she looked in 1950. How different it would have looked compared to nowadays and nature's revenge..While Blackbushe may be a shadow of her former self today, it's worth recalling that at this time of year, May 1952, Air Vice Marshall Sharp of the RAF announced plans to build a 10,000ft runway at Blackbushe for three squadrons of RB-47 bombers and their associated KC-97 tankers. In reality "only" a 9,000ft runway would have been possible with a second parallel runway of 7,000ft. in 1952 the USAF were going to contribute £1.2 million while the Air Ministry were prepared to plough in £3.8 million for new hangars, terminal and taxiways. In 1952 that was a lot of cash!! Fascinatingly, the USAF wanted exclusive use of the airfield, while the UK's Ministry of Civil Aviation hoped that this new runway would eventually secure Blackbushe as the long haul civil alternative to Heathrow. As we know, those plans did not quite materialise, one wonders at the scene today had they progressed?? However, Blackbushe did achieve a unique partner in the form of the United States Navy who formed their only UK land base at Blackbushe with half a million dollars being allocated by the US 3rd Air Force for the provision of facilities for the pending arrival of the US Navy at their new Blackbushe base.. The old airfield has much history stored beneath her surface, we can but hope the authorities of today will realise the potential that still exists at the airfield known as Blackbushe - and allow the current owner to once again make this perfect site an airfield to be proud of with all the facilities needed to reach that happy state...It really shouldn't be that difficult? PB
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Post by PB on May 23, 2017 6:35:55 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 23/05/17Just one image today.... Catalina VP-KKJ, 1953. Looking forward to days ahead when the type returns for Blackbushe's 75th Birthday..PB
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Post by PB on May 24, 2017 7:54:46 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 24/05/17POTD under pressure today, meetings all day, whatever happened to being retired? It's not boring at all!! Today, just one photo from the vaults..... Resident Falcon Airways Hermes added to the "Just another Day" collection...Sitting on Blackbushe 'south', one of the heavies of the day where those big tails were a feature. The Blackbushe Control Tower (original one!!) can be seen beneath the tail over on the other side of the A30. Just another day long ago... PB
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Post by PB on May 25, 2017 7:14:38 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 25/05/17Yesterday, as Blackbushe lazed under a powerful visit by the sun it was fascinating to note how easily "life" can be injected to an otherwise all too quiet location, such as Blackbushe is much of the time. The life came thanks to the movie industry who have currently 'taken over' - an army of high viz jackets moved amid vast arrays of vehicles, cine equipment of all shapes and sizes, the airfield hummed with activity levels not seen for quite a while. The apron was scattered with light aircraft 'actors' all wearing American registrations dressed for their movie roles.. I could not help thinking how good it would be to see life return like this, but in the normal course of Blackbushe's aviation career. Yesterday we were doing our bit toward bringing aviation life back to Blackbushe in July, meetings that took the entire 'working' day! Progress is being made... Today is going to be another one off reflection of past life at Blackbushe, an image that most of Blackbushe's visitors today would find it hard to believe... "Just another Day"... BOAC crew training with the Comet. From the Comet MkI to the MkIV BOAC conducted extensive crew training at Blackbushe. Slight contrast to the pilot training today - at British Airways or Blackbushe!!
The MkI Comet above, G-ALYU, is the famous Comet later placed in the Farnborough water tank for pressure stress testing after the tragic Comet accidents. She served her purpose well. PB
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Post by PB on May 26, 2017 6:00:07 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 26/05/17Presentation at Blackbushe this morning, followed by more rounds with poster deliveries to wherever nice people agree to display them. If anybody wants to help, don't be shy in coming forward! So, just another day in the run up to the July fun.... What chance this weather comes to visit on 1st and 2nd July? Without more ado, a photo for today... "Just another Day", Airwork Hermes positions under external power... I wonder if the tractor driver appreciated his situation and how one day we'd envy it, a 100% intact fully operational Blackbushe?Just goes to show, you don't know what you've got - 'til it's gone.... I make a point of appreciating Blackbushe every time I'm there. Just in case...? PB
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Post by PB on May 27, 2017 5:54:14 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 27/05/1706.00, and what difference a night makes...the clear blue cloudless skies of yesterday replaced by the darkest of dark CB's towering into the heavens, rain stair rodding down onto the baked area known as one's garden. A refreshing start to the Bank Holiday Weekend! The extreme heat has gone, certainly until this front goes through, bit like yesterday's "POTD" statement that we don't necessarily appreciate things until they're gone, looking at a Hermes being towed across full sized Blackbushe as an example. One can use that adage in terms of more recent 'things that have gone'....Warbirds of Great Britain, for example? Tower view 70's style. It's not just the warbirds we miss, it's that great expanse of airfield to the north that has turned into whatever nature decides upon, and two runways!!The only Mosquito you'll find on Blackbushe today will be the one enjoying your blood for breakfast..or whatever meal suits the time of day it lands on you!They arrived in crates, almost wrecks, they left as immaculate new fully airworthy warbirds...just one of the Spitfire 'production line'...Happily their resurrected life will never require weaponry, just sighs of admiration for what they are, and what they did...It's not just aircraft we miss. Peter Hoare (L) and the late and very much missed Neil Williams (R). Neil was lost ferrying another CASA 1-11 from Spain to Blackbushe, UK aerobatic champion and all round great guy.The magic sight and sound of the Spitfire will be back on 1st & 2nd July - the aeroplane beyond compare.And finally, one that won't be back - and one that will! The DH Comet won't be here in July, but the man with the bats will...( all being well!). Doug asked if I wouldn't mind parking his new jet.Blackbushe holds many memories for many people, happy, sad, emotional, tragic, achievements... and for those who knew her in the golden fifties, a deep longing based on what you know she can do!! That's quite enough for today..enjoy the weekend! PB
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Post by PB on May 28, 2017 5:36:27 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 28/05/17Sunday, the new day heralded by the dawn chorus that of recent kicks off at 04.00, and will no doubt get earlier until the days draw in again, and winter returns when the feathered friends are less vocal! Talking of herald and winter leads me to "Just another Day" and our vibrant series of photos recently being given that rather thoughtful title. "Just another Day" in February, 1960. Blackbushe had but three months to live when BEA's Herald G-APWA rested on the hallowed tarmac..But then this lovely old girl had another day, two in fact, pleasure flying at the 1977 Blackbushe Air Festival courtesy of G-APWA. Blackbushe had had another day too, the 'evil forces' had failed to kill her!!Purely from a statistics point of view I'd wondered if "POTD" would reach 75,000 hits to coincide with Blackbushe's 75th Anniversary. We peaked early having just reached 75,000 hits this morning! Whoever it is clicking on POTD so frequently, "Thank you"!! PB
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