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Post by PB on Oct 23, 2020 6:44:34 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 23/10/2023rd October, 2020... A date significant in the Blackbushe story. Firstly in 1944, secondly in 1956.
Yesterday made history in the skies just south of Blackbushe as it drifted between the clouds above your scribe's abode. The last last (?) British Airways 747 flight jinked briefly into to view as one of the doomed fleet BA 747 aircraft ferried from Cardiff to Dunsfold for life as a film set component. One assumes the new 'Dunsfold Park Garden Village' will be built around a BA 747? Something always terribly sad about the premature death of something so magnificent, the 74' and Dunsfold aerodrome!
23rd October, 1944. RAF Hartford Bridge. Life had been a little quieter since the departure of the resident bomber squadrons to new bases in France. The war was on the move. Today the quiet gave way to the sound of Merlins neatly arranged in twos as they carried the next chapter in the airfield's history books in the form of Mosquito VIs and the arrival of 138 Wing of the 2nd Tactical Air Force. All the way from RAF Lasham, 107, 305, and 613 Squadrons. Around 200 officers, 100 NCOs and 480 'other ranks'. 305 was a Polish Squadron, 107 was a returning squadron but now equipped with the Mosquito instead of the Bostons flown when previously based at Hartford Bridge. An advantage enjoyed by the crews who had arrived from remote Lasham was the proximity of larger towns and the ease of travel to London. Fully reflective of one of today's 'unique selling points' of Blackbushe Airport. Thus, from today the skies around Blackbushe would echo the marvellous music of Merlins. Another new era in her ever varied life. Significant memorabilia on the walls of Lasham Gliding Club today...Our indulgence with the history books may now move forward to peacetime and Blackbushe Airport as she played a major role in London's airport capacity. 23rd October, 1956. Life in Hungary was anything but rosy. A nationwide revolution against the Hungarian People's Republic and its Soviet-imposed policies lasted from 23 October until 10 November 1956. Soviet tans invaded Hungary, thousands were killed with the arrival of Soviet aggressors, nearly a quarter of a million Hungarians had to flee their country. They dispersed in many directions with significant numbers arriving in the United Kingdom. For many, Blackbushe Airport was their first sight of safety as they arrived aboard mercy flights.
Eagle Airways, under the guidance of Chairman Harold Bamberg, flew numerous of these flights at NO cost to anyone but the airline... When putting together the bones of Blackbushe's 75th Anniversary back in 2017 I had made contact with a number of these souls who'd arrived at Blackbushe as young children and from there started long and happy lives in this country. Attending the 75th Press Day they were interviewed by BBC TV, their story and Blackbushe's involvement consequently hitting TV screens shortly after.Just some of the Hungarian refugees for whom Blackbushe was the first sight of freedom and their new lives safe from Soviet oppression.Blackbushe celebrated her 75th while Hungarian refugees had an emotional reuniting with Harold Bamberg and a chance to meet the new Blackbushe owner!Over sixty years had flown since they first set foot on Blackbushe Airport courtesy of Vikings and Dakotas, it was our great pleasure to take them back into Blackbushe skies in something a little different..pre take-off with the Catalina.Finally this morning, I was delighted to read Rocky14's piece on the Forum's "POTD Comments" section yesterday. blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/14576
I could not agree more!!
PB
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Post by PB on Oct 24, 2020 8:25:57 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 24/10/20This time tomorrow it'll be an hour earlier than it is now, the twice yearly journey around the clocks to wind them back or fore according to the season. Time change without even going to the airport and bouncing across time zones... we must fervently hope come the spring time change that 'times' will have changed? The Oxford vaccine is showing production of strong immune responses in trials, may be by the spring a release from the chains of the varied tiers, lockdowns, and other cunning tactics employed to level a cunning virus? Costs nowt to hope, nothing can beat applying good old common sense to avoid as best as possible the fangs of an unkind invisible alien from the east...
The vision of a British Airways 747 flying over home this week on its way to Dunsfold to a premature death illustrated the dire situation in the air transport world. While huge effort has been made to support British pub life and eating out, the Government's enthusiasm for airport testing and supporting air travel 'corridors' has been slow to put it mildly. Aviation is the keystone to our island's economic success and recovery, not just the airlines who provide the links to the world and its prospects. Brexit marches ever closer, another reason why air transport needs a better deal as Great Britain prepares to venture into the wider prospects of unfettered global trading.
Whether we're talking long haul international travel or closer to home, airports will always be the vital first step. Blackbushe Airport this week, business traffic continues to benefit from her survival, her position and her runways!It is ever harder to comprehend how Hampshire County Council, who are now publicly running short of cash and cutting public services accordingly, can continue their mid boggling cash expenditure in legal action to prevent Blackbushe from the development necessary to create an airfield that is not only 'viable' but one that will provide employment and economic support to the County coffers..
As may have been noted by some of POTD's followers these pages have long lamented Blackbushe Airport's unfortunate situation brought about by ancient laws and parties resolute in her downfall. Happily, Blackbushe continues to feed the appetite of the aircraft enthusiasts who enjoy seeing aeroplanes close up, logging registrations, and sharing the experiences with their fellows, but a prime factor behind POTD and the formation of the Forum remains a focus on the Airport's future and a hoped coming together of those with a vision and hopes for a future viable and ever more valuable Blackbushe, an airport designed to serve General Aviation markets of tomorrow.
I was drawn to Rocky14's input to the POTD Comments section a couple of days ago. He said, "Does anybody out there have something to contribute re the future of EGLK? There is plenty of gen on airport movements but, surely, there must be some members in the forum who have something to say: 'The Sword of Damocles' is dangling but not if I can do something about it! Let's hear your opinions please. Thank you". Wise words as to the 'Sword of Damocles' situation the airfield faces. The Forum has increasingly of late included updates on the latest aviation technology, new power sources, increased autonomous activity in the air, greener and quieter aviation for tomorrow.. The Forum's news banner under the Forum 'header' photo running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, continually relays my ten key reasons why Blackbushe should be given the highest priority not only in her protection as an airfield but her unique viability as a prestigious facility for the business of General Aviation in the needing south west of London region. The Forum gives you the chance to voice your opinions on future Blackbushe, now just as vital as relating her past, please if you find a moment respond to Rocky14's behest do let us share your visions of Blackbushe 'future'. A view to the past. Early days showing the full size of the apron to be constructed, the white line of Vigo Lane runs from the top to the runway intersections and the final shape of a once huge apron. The Control Tower and signals square are easy to see, sadly an area now lost and of little value to anyone since its destruction by local bureaucracies.A view to today...One of John Varndell's stunning captures of Blackbushe life this week. More will be placed on the Blackbushe movements section later..A view to tomorrow... Her location makes Blackbushe an outstanding candidate to serve the air traffic of tomorrow. There will be changes coming, it's in the nature of aviation to progress, high speed autonomous links to city centers with craft almost undreamed of today, unmanned cargo deliveries by small but efficient drones of tomorrow, Blackbushe Airport could not have had a more varied past life serving the country and aviation, do not rule anything out for the future as aviation and Blackbushe link arms and take on tomorrow together...
PB
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Post by PB on Oct 25, 2020 6:53:27 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 25/10/20So THIS is winter? 05.30, night still as black as pitch and granted yet another hour thinking it must be time to get up.. Winter was christened by last night's heavy rain fall discovering a leak in the roof and my far better half's precious and aged collection of "The Waverley Novels" getting a soaking. More wave than Waverley, another large repair bill to soak the pension in the offing. Happily Blackbushe sails along through whatever the Met person might predict although the onset of the sixtieth winter bereft of Blackbushe hangars thanks to those who serve us from a local political point of view is becoming beyond the joke. Jokes seem few and far between as the nations comprising the "United" Kingdom go about their own peculiar ways of 'defeating the virus'. The moveable 'feast of lockdown' could be coming to a street near you.... Winter's onset, and in Wales the enthusiasm and power to inflight whatever can be inflicted now bans one from the purchase of clothes for babies and children. Apparently they're 'non-essential', a description pertaining to these shopping items - not children. Home workers are banned from buying stationary, even cleaning supplies have been down graded to 'non-essential' The expression "killer Wales" comes to mind..Ahh, yes it's good to be alive now that winter's here. At this juncture a word of thanks to the NHS. It's nine years since they saved one's bacon by rescuing your scribe from a coronary artery that was 92% blocked and fully intent on preventing the Blackbushe Forum's future and perhaps one or two other Blackbushe associated events that have occurred in the intervening years... Very lucky boy. Thank you NHS and Southampton General could not have a deeper meaning! One hopes for a little longer, at least until Blackbushe has built some permanent hangars?Flying back in time to check how things were progressing at post D-Day RAF Hartford Bridge, 305 Squadron newly arrived with their Mosquitoes were being kept busy. Their duties included supporting the allied advance through Holland and right up to the borders of Germany. The writing on the wall for Hitler and his Nazi lot was becoming increasingly clear.
In more recent times, looking into aviation history the the first Airbus A380 passenger flight took place in 2007, Singapore Airlines, SQ380, brought new capacity to services between Singapore and Sydney, Australia. Yesterday, in 2003, saw Concorde make her last scheduled flight New York to Heathrow. 27 years of supersonic passengers drew to a very sad close.It's at this time of year I look back on cold, damp, 'rugged' weekends at Blackbushe in the early sixties. Bleak, but warmed by the wonderful camaraderie that blossomed between the team who launched Blackbushe Aero Club and gave most weekends to the airfield and the spirit that prevailed as we all hoped to see Blackbushe's revival sooner rather than later...............The chance to touch and feel these machines, our rare weekend visitors, was a gift bestowed by Blackbushe... Model aircraft operations took a rear seat, this was the real thing! I still look back on those days as being particularly precious and wonder what life might have been like without Blackbushe and her people?Adventures undreamed of awaited!The sting of passing time. Reg Venning, to the left and owner of G-AHUG, plus Gordon Wilmer photographer and 100% Blackbushe person...Many such wonderful friends are no longer with us, but they'll always be very much alive in my mind.. The first daylight of winter has now illuminated a very soggy looking outside. Definitely Weetabix time.. enjoy the day, each one is precious.
PB
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Post by PB on Oct 26, 2020 8:03:14 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 26/10/20Monday again. There you are, POTD has its uses keeping its viewers up to date! Scanning aviation's history books this October day, the 26th, made a number of entries... 1931, the Tiger Moth made her first flight, nearly 90 years later she still flies although a little more expensive should you be looking to buy one +/- £70/80,000?; 1958, first commercial flight of the 707, PanAm New York to Paris; 1962, the last B-52 rolled off the Boeing production line, 744 were built; 1967, first flight of BAC Strikemaster; 1968, first flight of the Embraer Bandeirante; 2011, still seems new, but the 787 made its first commercial flight Tokyo to Hong Kong with All Nippon...
...and Blackbushe has faced bureaucratic adversity since a couple of years following the first 707 commercial flight. That's an awful long time.............Can somebody explain "Why" and how much our local politicians have squandered fighting Blackbushe, not to mention how many jobs have been unable to materialise or how much extra revenue Blackbushe Airport would have fed into the local cash boxes if 'common sense' had been given a chance?
Still we march on ever hopeful of Blackbushe's sunlit future. POTD has arrived on screens around the world over 2,000 times, and by the end of today will have welcomed over 390,000 hits. Amazing what technology can do although how I've no idea! Last night apparently running short of useful things to do I Googled 'peter brown blackbushe airport', the result was a little surprising. No family connection, dear Reg Gregory welcomes David Brown's Dove to Blackbushe in the 1960s. Between the mid fifties and 1960 David Brown's Dove G-AKYS was a regular visitor to Blackbushe when Doves were rather small compared to most other Airport users. After 1960, the Dove appeared quite a large aeroplane when landing on Blackbushe's remaining precious acres. Reg at this time was in charge of aircraft handling at Blackbushe whilst I did my stint in the Airport's 'operations' department, a cold room on the Terminal's ground floor.The way we were. The late Clint Gurry's great recall of landing on Blackbushe's runway 'zero one'. The aeroplane belonged to resident ICL Flying Club, landing on 01 was always fun providing you had some height as eyeballs rotated upwards capturing the spectacle!Cherokee days....I've tried to give something to Blackbushe over the past six decades of dismay as ancient laws, bureaucracy, and repressive activity by parties who prefer further overgrown wasteland to a viable airfield, BUT Blackbushe has given an awful lot more back to me - "Thanks" Blackbushe...Finally, POTD mentioned a couple of days ago how good it would be to have input from our members and their views as to Blackbushe in the future and how new technology may suit such an airfield. To date, nothing heard!! Your thoughts would be very welcome, just put them in the POTD "Comments" section if you wish to add your thoughts.. Thank you!!
PB
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Post by PB on Oct 27, 2020 7:28:56 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 27/10/20October draws to a close, POTD will provide an account of Blackbushe life as October 1944 drew to a close before the month ends. By Mosquito the enemy was no more than an hour away, an hour the consequences of which were always uncertain.
Meanwhile, history dictates some content. Back in 1931, today, the Detroit Aircraft Company filed for bankruptcy. In due course the Lockheed portion of the Company was bought out of receivership. Shows you never can tell.. More recently, 1979 witnessed the first flight of the Tornado ADV, 1988 the first flight of the ATR 72. Blackbushe has enjoyed products in the past from Lockheed and one or two ATR visits, looks like she's going to miss the Tornado popping in.
POTD still waits some comments from our Members visions or points of view on Blackbushe and her future potential....
From the album this morning one or two images caught during assorted past moments at Blackbushe.The mighty Luton Minor..A Condor moment..Minicab, sadly lost following an accident at Hurst Farm, Winchfield.Show time. Barnstormers Air Show late sixties, or thereabouts. 14/32 was used for take offs/landings, the display line ran parallel to the main runway. RAF Meteor about to cross where BCA are today.Doug Arnold's new eastern taxiway, built despite 'opposition'.. What's an airport owner supposed to do after the Parish Council have ripped up the Airport's eastern end? The public car park located on the far north east corner can be seen if you extend the new taxiway line.. Popular with spotters, and casual aeroplane watchers, the car park for ICL Flying Club when they were based close to the car park, and non-specified nocturnal activity.Neil Williams, Spitfire, what more needs to be said?Well, maybe some feedback from Members regarding their visions/thoughts on Blackbushe's future given that the current opposition sponsored by local bureaucracy is eventually overcome.. Somebody?
PB
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Post by PB on Oct 28, 2020 6:58:21 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 28/10/20"POTD" comes to you yet again from the darkened skies of late October, the coming weeks are crammed full of unknowns and uncertainties, but hopefully we will be granted safe passage to the other side of winter when maybe - just maybe - the future of Blackbushe Airport will have been resolved via the Court of Appeal in February? Ahh, the future. POTD has questioned its followers, and we are blessed by around 300 very day, to perhaps express their views as to Blackbushe Airport in the future and how they envisage this aerodrome of great potential once the way ahead is cleared in the Courts. We have the POTD "Comments" section just aching for your input but to the disappointment of the "POTD" management to date the suggestions/ideas/concepts have reached an amazing zero. Maybe we could ask just one more time, we've even made a space for you... blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/14599
Blackbushe Airport past...
Blackbushe Airport present...
Blackbushe Airport tomorrow...? How do YOU see it, we'd love to hear, just leave some thoughts in the awaiting Comments section blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/14599. Dreams cost nothing, they are the inspiration of mankind's progress...
PB
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Post by PB on Oct 29, 2020 6:36:28 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 29/10/20Grateful to our 'familiar voices' who added their thoughts to POTD's "Comments" section yesterday conveying their aspirations toward Blackbushe Airport of tomorrow.
As we slide into a winter of unknown consequences positive thought waves are going to be ever more valuable. No doubt a winter of considerable discontent lies ahead, however, a beacon of hope awaits our arrival in February when Blackbushe goes to the Court of Appeal once again seeking justice in her struggle to overcome the snares laid out by the unfathomable Hampshire County Council. Talking of the future, the Blackbushe Forum included a piece yesterday in her "non Blackbushe" section regarding this new joint venture between Rolls Royce and Tecnam. The future is emerging, we must fervently hope that Blackbushe Airport plays her part in what WILL be an exciting future for aviation...BUT, we must never forget the proud and historic past of Blackbushe, the solid foundation of the Airport today and, more importantly, the highly significant Airport of tomorrow..We'd still be pleased to hear your thoughts, or points of view, on Blackbushe of 'tomorrow'... just click and tell!! Here>>> blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/14608
PB
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Post by PB on Oct 30, 2020 8:23:52 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 30/10/20October 2020. Not a month to remember for a whole raft of reasons, the media force feeding the nation with gloom and doom, the weather aiming autumnal depressions at the UK with great accuracy, health issues, dark mornings and dark evenings. The ray of light shining through the month coming from the continued healthy air traffic reports including a good number of visitors to Blackbushe's hungry landing surfaces.
The greatest joy has to come from the fact that Blackbushe is still operational while awaiting the next round of her legal battle for life in early 2021. The Forum still offers you the chance to record your hopes for the Airport's future, although it's disappointing how few have actually done so as yet.
Moving on, POTD has periodically looked back to 1944 over the past weeks keeping an eye on how operations at RAF Hartford Bridge fared during the months following D-Day. The end of October, 1944, was anything but dull... The fighting spirit was in good shape.
FIDO was given some exercise, the newly installed sunken FIDO system had to be tested. The furious fog dispersal system no longer had its hardware over ground, now came the time to try out the revised layout.. 138 Wing aircraft were used while 34 Wing Support Unit were tasked to photograph the occasion. A low-flying programme was undertaken to assess the effect of the rising hot air from FIDO's flames, but no adverse reactions were experienced.
Or imagine landing between rows of fire! FIDO might have been scary but proved its value..
End of October, 1944...The newly arrived Mosquito squadrons enjoyed their arrival at Hartford Bridge for a variety of reasons, one in particular being the ease of access to rail services to London.. The war was no more than sixty flying minutes away by Mosquito. Recall from Flt Lt Eric Atkins of 305 Squadron regarding an attack on Flushing.."To cross the North Sea in a Mosquito doesn't take long and as we approached the islands we climbed to be in a better position to identfy the target. We were immediately surrounded by light flak which was coming up from all sides. We flung the aircraft around to shake off the attack and at the same time climbed onto our bombing course. First we had to drop our flares which were placed spot on target which we could tell by the fury of the opposition. To some extent we were being hampered by low cloud but on the other hand it was offering us some cover. We were on the bombing run and low enough to see tracers coming up at us and within limits for dropping our short-fused bombs...Bombs away!! We gave a last swift turn with our cannons banging home on the target for good measure and then out to sea". An hour later back at Hartford Bridge they ate a full English beakfast and a ration of rum. "Hartford Bridge was sheer luxury in tents at Lasham".Flying from Blackbushe today is a little different. Imagine such ventures in Mosquitoes, being shot at, at night, in cloud... we owe them!The way we were October, 1944. Mosquito Squadrons, immense courage.. RAF Hartford Bridge, today better known as Blackbushe. For Blackbushe in 2020 the fight goes on.PB
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Post by PB on Oct 31, 2020 6:04:54 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 31/10/20Are you flying tonight?Hopefully see you in November...........
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Post by PB on Nov 1, 2020 9:11:29 GMT
"Photo of the Day"01/11/20That was Halloween, no spooks noted just another month where not only rough weather is blowing in to make the next four weeks 'interesting'... Thank you for the 8,000 plus visits to POTD during October.
Moving away from the latest topical news to days gone by. Yesterday, diligent member Mike Biddulph kindly sent over some pages from Air Pictorials dated for the 1950s to the 1970s. November can start with some reflections from the aviation press...One of my very last memories of the living Blackbushe Airport before the axe fell in May, 1960. Blackbushe's Airwork were importing these new metal products, the very beginning of the metal movement that now dominates our skies.. Parked outside Airwork's hangar these new small aeroplanes certainly caught the attention of your scribe, fourteen and bike propelled... Quite unknown at the time was how the metal aeroplane would play a role over at least the next six decades of Blackbushe Airport after her 'closure'..Recall of Three Counties days under the auspices of Derek and Co.. The most wonderful days they were too.Advert.. ..and memories of another mighty Blackbushe name...EAGLE>Looking back into history for the time of year, 31 October, 1947, the Avro Tudor 4 entered service with British South American Airways. Blackbushe links with AVM Bennett and crew training.
Still in 1947, A US Navy R4D Skytrain is the first aircraft to land at the South Pole. US Navy R4D's a routine sight at 1950's Blackbushe.
2003, British Airways’ flagship and first Concorde, G-BOAC, makes its final flight, ferrying from London Heathrow to Manchester, where it sits on display. No Blackbushe links, but how time flies...
Time flies, that's all for now. "POTD" will not be undergoing a November lockdown. Don't let the media doom and gloom get to you, stay well, stay safe..and if time continues to fly it will soon be spring - and Blackbushe's next legal encounter will be over. The question is, what then???
PB
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