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Post by rj on Jan 31, 2017 15:22:36 GMT
Well we made it through January, another month and spring will be around the corner. Let us look back to January 1947, snow began falling on 23/1 and 29/1 was the coldest day for 50 years. The snow continued to fall somewhere in the UK until March 17th! The Thames in Surrey froze over and there were power cuts due to lack of fuel. Meanwhile at Blackbushe work was continuing on turning a RAF base into a civil airport with the snow seriously hampering the operation. It would take almost another three weeks to get the place open. Today's selection includes another batch of Sea Furys on delivery to Pakistan. The aircraft would be ferried from Langley, still operating in Heathrow's shadow. The aircraft normally nightstopped while the copious amounts of paperwork were checked before starting their delivery flight.
31/01/1951 L950 Hawker Sea Fury FB11 Pakistan Air Force delivery
31/01/1951 L951 Hawker Sea Fury FB11 Pakistan Air Force delivery
31/01/1951 L952 Hawker Sea Fury FB11 Pakistan Air Force delivery
31/01/1956 G-ALDK HP Hermes HP.81/12 Britavia trooping flight from Malta 09:30
31/01/1957 VV958 Avro Anson T21 276926 RAF
31/01/1958 22123 Fairchild C-119F 10907 Royal Canadian Air Force
31/01/1959 50812 Douglas R4D-8 43358 US Navy Rota
31/01/1959 128423 Douglas R6D-1 43206 US Navy VR-1 coded JK
31/01/1959 G-AOFI DH Dove 4477 BOAC crew trainer
31/01/1959 N88939 Douglas DC-4 18397 American International Airways
31/01/1959 PH-DAI Douglas DC-3 12720 KLM
31/01/1959 VH-EAN Lockheed L-1049 4803 QANTAS
31/01/1960 VR-BAY Vickers Viscount 312 Eagle Bermuda
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Post by rj on Feb 1, 2017 10:12:13 GMT
A very mixed bag of loggings from this day in the past. They show the variety Blackbushe saw over the period. Deliveries of new British built aircraft to the other end of the earth, military aircraft from around the world, training flights from the worlds first jet airliner and charters from the likes of American International. All this made Blackbushe one of the most exciting airports of the period. 01/02/1948 G-AKJG DH Dove 2071 Silver City to Cape Town
01/02/1948 B-004 Avro Lincoln B2 Argentine Air Force delivery
01/02/1951 L955 Hawker Sea Fury FB11 Pakistan Air Force delivery
01/02/1951 L954 Hawker Sea Fury FB11 Pakistan Air Force delivery
01/02/1951 L953 Hawker Sea Fury FB11 Pakistan Air Force delivery
01/02/1954 G-ANAV DH Comet 1 6013 BOAC crew training 1600-1622
01/02/1955 12412 Douglas R4D-8 43399 US Navy FASRON200 from Hendon
01/02/1956 G-AGRW Vickers Viking 115 Hunting-Clan trainingfrom Heathrow 1445-1500
01/02/1957 G-AKBG Vickers Viking 263 Hunting-Clan training from Heathrow 1445-1615
01/02/1958 22123 Fairchild C-119F 10907 Royal Canadian Air Force
01/02/1958 56540 Douglas R5D-3 22188 US Navy VR-24 from/to Torrejon
01/02/1959 N88939 Douglas DC-4 18397 American International Airways
01/02/1960 GA+245 Nord 2501 2501D-020 Luftwaffe
01/02/1960 GB+113 Nord 2501 2501D-18 Luftwaffe
01/02/1960 AS-01 Fairey Gannet AS4 F9279 Indonesian Navy from White Waltham on delivery flight
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Post by rj on Feb 2, 2017 17:30:03 GMT
Highlight of today's look back must be DH86 G-ACZP. This was the last of the breed, essentially a enlarged, 4 engine Rapide. Only a handful survived the war and this one was based at Eastleigh. On 21/8/58 the aircraft was involved in a ground loop at Madrid and deemed beyond repair.
02/02/1948 G-AHMC Airspeed Consul 2778 Westminster Airways CofA test local 10:55-11:35
02/02/1955 G-ANVD Lockheed L-749 2544 BOAC crew training
02/02/1956 G-AGRW Vickers Viking 115 Hunting-Clan training 1440-1455
02/02/1957 42-92877 Douglas C-47 12726 USAF 7730 M&S
02/02/1957 XG496 DH Devon C1 4435 RAE Farnborough
02/02/1957 G-ACZP DH 86 2321 Hampshire Aeroplane Club
02/02/1957 G-AOJE Vickers Viscount 154 BEA
02/02/1957 45-1057 Douglas VC-47 17060 USAF
02/02/1957 42-72524 Douglas SC-54 10629 USAF 67th ARS Prestwick
02/02/1957 G-ALAK Lockheed L-749 2548 BOAC
02/02/1958 G-AOYK Vickers Viscount 260 BEA crew training 11:30
02/02/1958 G-APDW Vickers Viscount 258 Eagle from Manchester 22:25
02/02/1958 G-AHPB Vickers Viking 132 Hunting Clan training 1600-1840
02/02/1958 127766 Lockheed P2V-5F 526-5125 US Navy coded LB-8 VP-7
02/02/1960 45-0943 Douglas VC-47 34205 USAF EOARDC Brussels
02/02/1960 VR-BAY Vickers Viscount 312 Eagle Airways from Bermuda
02/02/1960 91998 Douglas R5D-3 10750 US Navy VR-24 coded RD
02/02/1960 LA-01 Fairey Gannet T5 F9341 Indonesian Navy from White Waltham on delivery flight
02/02/1960 G-APZC Vickers Viscount 34 Tradair, in Aer Lingus markings.
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Post by rj on Feb 3, 2017 12:26:01 GMT
very little was recorded by spotters of yesteryear on this day. Im sure a afternoon of a Comet in the circuit was welcomed by all local residents!? There are many letter form 'disgruntled of Harley Wintney' in the Hampshire archive complaining about the Comets. Of course back then the circuit was to the north so a 26 departing Comet would climb towards Hartley Wintney before turning and pointing the noise straight at the Village. They would then turn down wind around Bramshill and continue past Eversley and Sandhurst before turning base over College town and turning finals over Blackwater. Im sure the circuit would have become even wider with a couple of heavies in it thus spreading the joy of the comet even further!
03/02/1954 G-ANAV DH Comet 1 6013 BOAC crew training 1518-1701
03/02/1957 G-AHJD Bristol 170 17326 Eagle
03/02/1957 G-AKCF DH Dove 4030 BOAC crew trainer
03/02/1957 G-AJGT DH Dove 4034 de Havilland engines
03/02/1958 G-APDW Vickers Viscount 258 Eagle from Manchester 20:40
03/02/1959 VH-EAN Lockheed L-1049 4803 QANTAS LHR Diversion
03/02/1959 VP533 Avro Anson C19 RAF
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Post by rj on Feb 4, 2017 15:59:27 GMT
again not a lot noted on this day in the 50'. Interesting that D-ABEB is today's banner photo! After being banned from operating aircraft the Germans started again in 1956. This was followed by a holiday charter boom with the recovering economy. Vikings were the main initial equipment, and many were seen at Blackbushe under maintenance. The DC-4 of course offered a increase in range, and capacity. I believe the Germans also operated charters into Blackbushe, mostly on shopping trips for rich Germans.
04/02/1955 G-ALDI HP Hermes HP.81/10 Britavia tropping flight to Nicosia via Naples 23:40
04/02/1957 G-AODN DH Dove 4338 BOAC
04/02/1958 G-APDW Vickers Viscount 258 Eagle training local 18:05-20:40
04/02/1959 G-APNP Douglas DC-6 45532 Hunting-Clan crew training from/to Gatwick
04/02/1959 G-APCL Piper PA-23 23-1159 Earl Of Derby from Gatwick
04/02/1960 D-ABEB Douglas DC-4 10530 Continental
04/02/1960 GA+245 Nord 2501 N2501-039 Luftwaffe.
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Post by rj on Feb 5, 2017 17:42:32 GMT
It's that time of day again, logs from this distant past. RAE Farnborough used Blackbushe for many years for customs clearance. They didn't bother in 1945 but then got a reprimand from HM Customs for flights direct to France and Germany . After that the RAE called at Blackbushe for customs and occasionally to undertake test flying.
05/02/1951 TX210 Avro Anson C19 RAE Farnborough from Wunsdorf 17:35 to Farnborough 18:00
05/02/1951 G-AHFU Percival Proctor K246 Chartair, WFU for 6 months until sold
05/02/1953 G-AHPL Vickers Viking 149 ex BEA conversion by Eagle to VP-YKK
05/02/1957 VL249 Vickers Valetta C1 158 RAF stored with Airwork
05/02/1959 WJ552 Avro Anson T21 RAF
05/02/1960 17191 Douglas R4D-8 12980 US Navy Naples
05/02/1960 G-AIWF DH Dove 4023 Dan Air from Portsmouth
05/02/1960 GB+113 Nord 2501 2501D-18 Luftwaffe
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Post by rj on Feb 6, 2017 17:17:13 GMT
A few from on this day in the past. Couple of Saudi visitors on the same day. The Heron was on delivery to the Saudi Royal flight. Today the royal flights has 747's and A340's! Also we see the start of transferring Airworks African services to Gatwick in 1959. Of course the new Gatwick of 1959 was a world away from Blackbushe in terms of passenger facilities.
06/02/1954 G-ANAV DH Comet 1 6013 BOAC crew training 1038-1130
06/02/1954 G-AMSS Douglas DC-3 16092 Dan-Air delivery
06/02/1954 G-AMWD Bristol 170 13131 Silver City scheduled car ferry to Zurich 08:45
06/02/1954 G-AHWZ Percival Proctor Ae.82 All Power Transformers
06/02/1954 G-AMRN DH Dove 4024 Stewart Smith and Co Based
06/02/1957 G-AOJC Vickers Viscount 152 BEA
06/02/1957 G-AMUU Avro York Hunting-Clan training from/to Heathrow 1800-1810
06/02/1958 HZ-ABA Convair 340 222 Saudi Arabran Airlines Rome to Tollerton
06/02/1958 SA-R5 DH Heron 10450 Saudi Arabian Air Force to Leavesden
06/02/1959 G-AODH Vickers Viscount 77 Airwork, permanantly transferred to gatwick
06/02/1959 WD384 DHC Chipmunk T10 C1/0323 RAF
06/02/1960 G-APTD Vickers Viscount 426 Hunting-Clan
06/02/1960 PH-VII Vickers Viscount 180 KLM, LHR diversion
06/02/1960 G-APTC Vickers Viscount 425 Hunting Clan training 1335-1445
06/02/1960 G-APEE Vickers Vanguard 708 BEA ILS training
06/02/1960 G-APUF Cessna 310 35960 Airwork demonstrator
06/02/1960 17191 Douglas R4D-8 12980 US Navy Naples
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Post by rj on Feb 7, 2017 15:26:19 GMT
Time for another quick look back to the past. A pair of Dutch C-47's in 1956 is very typical of the military aircraft that used to visit Blackbushe. Unlike Northolt Blackbushe was open 24/7 and had plenty of room. These military flights often brought in army personnel to visit Aldershot, Sandhurst and the like as well as London visitors. Of course back then air forces were much bigger and there were so many more transport aircraft.
07/02/1951 ZS-DFA DH Dove 4023 delivery Lyon
07/02/1954 G-AMWD Bristol 170 13131 Silver City charter to Oran via Nice 12:25
07/02/1956 X-12 Douglas C-47 16500 Royal Netherlands Air Force 334 Sqn
07/02/1956 G-ANTF Lockheed L-749 2054 BOAC crew training 1420-1550
07/02/1956 X-4 Douglas C-47 15551 Royal Netherlands Air Force 334 Sqn
07/02/1957 G-AKBG Vickers Viking 263 Hunting-Clan training from Heathrow 15-50-1700
07/02/1959 CF-ILW Douglas DC-3 4352 Eastern Canada Stevedoring Ltd
07/02/1959 91998 Douglas R5D-3 10750 US Navy VR-24 from Naples
07/02/1959 G-AMJX Douglas DC-3 27073 BEA
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Post by rj on Feb 8, 2017 15:59:17 GMT
A bit larger log today, including quite a full log from this day in 58. The Aerocommander 560 was on the long delivery flight to Laos, PB has a nice color photo of it. This was the start of the invasion of American light aircraft. Government restrictions in getting US dollars in the impoverished post-war Uk had kept the imports at bay but by 1960 the restrictions had been relaxed. Airwork became the country's first Cessna dealer and Blackbushe witnessed the first UK examples in early 1960 before its closure.
08/02/1951 L958 Hawker Sea Fury FB11 Pakistan Air Force delivery
08/02/1951 L957 Hawker Sea Fury FB11 Pakistan Air Force delivery
08/02/1954 G-AIKR Airspeed Consul 4338 Airwork
08/02/1956 N2714B Aero Commander 560 214 delivery to Laos Air Force
08/02/1957 G-ALWC Douglas DC-3 13590 Fairey Surveys from White Waltham 02:25 to Cherbourg 07:45
08/02/1957 G-AOTI DH Heron 14104 Rolls Royce
08/02/1957 G-AMXM Avro York set.58 Hunting-Clan training 1340-1450
08/02/1958 G-AODF HPR7 Herald 148 Handley Page Reading Ltd from Woodley
08/02/1958 G-AJBN Vickers Viking 240 Eagle
08/02/1958 G-AHPM Vickers Viking 152 Eagle
08/02/1958 G-AIFV Bristol 170 12781 Silver City
08/02/1958 G-AIMK Bristol 170 12801 to F-OBDP
08/02/1958 G-AIVH Vickers Viking 221 Eagle
08/02/1958 141297 Lockheed WV-2 4421 US Navy
08/02/1958 G-AGRS Vickers Viking 110 Eagle
08/02/1958 G-AKBG Vickers Viking 263 Hunting Clan
08/02/1958 G-AIVK Vickers Viking 224 Kuwait Oil Coroporation
08/02/1958 G-AJBP Vickers Viking 242 Eagle
08/02/1958 G-AKBH Vickers Viking 264 Eagle
08/02/1958 HZ-ABA Convair 340 222 Saudi Arabran Airlines
08/02/1959 91998 Douglas R5D-3 10750 US Navy VR-24 to Naples,Akitori,beriut and Athens Naples
08/02/1960 141281 Grumman UF-2 Albatross G-430 US Navy US Navyl Attache Oslo to be replaced by 137915
08/02/1960 56500 Douglas R5D-3 10638 US Navy coded 7T Seattle
08/02/1960 141301 Lockheed WV-2 4425 US Navy, VW-13 Sq, coded MK301.
08/02/1960 G-APUF Cessna 310 35960 Airwork demonstrator
08/02/1960 G-APTK Cessna 310 35453 St.Mawes Enginerring
08/02/1960 G-AHOU Vickers Viking 122 Overseas Airways
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Post by rj on Feb 9, 2017 16:07:33 GMT
Some interesting Dak's passed through on this day in the past. The Australian pair were ex Ansett and were being worked on for sale to the French Air Force. Generally eagles carried out work on Daks at Manchester, with Vikings and DC-6 at Blackbushe. G-AOJI was something of a celebrity Dak. Eagles brought the fuselage of the Berlin Airlift veteran from the Army for a small amount of money.It has been used for ground loading training and had been stored outside for some time. The Fuselage was transported to Manchester where Eagle's completely rebuilt it with a wing a peace from BEA and SAS. It returned to Blackbushe for fitting out and delivery.
09/02/1951 L956 Hawker Sea Fury FB11 Pakistan Air Force delivery
09/02/1955 G-ALDI HP Hermes HP.81/10 Britavia tropping flight from Nicosia via Naples 22:35
09/02/1957 VH-BZK Douglas DC-3 13362 ex Ansett from Rome for work at Eagles
09/02/1957 F-BCJM Bristol 170 12787 SCAL
09/02/1957 N7461 Vickers Viscount 216 Capital Airlines ILS
09/02/1957 G-AOJI Douglas DC-3 16411 Eagle, unmarked for Aden Airways
09/02/1957 VH-BZJ Douglas DC-3 9740 Ansett, enroute to French Air Force
09/02/1957 TX170 Avro Anson C19 RAF Home Cmd Com Sqn
09/02/1957 VH-EAE Lockheed L-1049 4578 QANTAS
09/02/1957 124876 Lockheed P2V-5F 526-5012 US Navy coded HD-6
09/02/1957 FS881 NA Harvard 14A-1021 by road ex RAF coded X
09/02/1957 G-AIMA Bristol 170 12791 Eagle
09/02/1957 131489 Lockheed P2V-5F 526-5370 US Navy coded HH-2
09/02/1957 G-ALDX HP Hermes HP.81/24 Britavia trooping flight from Entebbe via Nice 07:50
09/02/1958 G-AHPB Vickers Viking 132 Hunting Clan training from LHR 14:30-1530
09/02/1958 128426 Douglas R6D-1 43209 US Navy
09/02/1960 G-ALZX Airspeed Ambassador 5220 Dan Air Services, delivery from Cambridge
09/02/1960 56500 Douglas R5D-3 10638 US Navy coded 7T Seattle
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