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Post by proctor kex on Feb 13, 2015 17:51:17 GMT
Nice to be back on the deck! Friday the 13th is my and my twin brothers 55th which we celebrated by flying to Redhill and back. Has to be said that we suffered a good beating up aloft, very turbulent, not an ideal day to fly. This time last year I was cruising around Gran Canaria in a Cherokee 180 where Pat lives, in gin clear warm blue skies quite a contrast. Nice to know that 55 years ago in 1960, PLUNA Airways Viscount 13/02/60 was sat out at Blackbushe whilst a few miles away in Windlesham double trouble had arrived for my parents. Wonder what will be sat on the ramp in 2060??
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Post by a30yoyo on Feb 13, 2015 18:04:05 GMT
Notes on the PLUNA Viscount CX-AQN....a swift look at its history online shows delivery to Uruguay May 1958 with slipper tanks and return to UK in 1971 for re-sparring at Hurn , then return to PLUNA in May 1972....the Viscount site has it's first flight Jan 20 1958 at Weybridge so this could be a test flight 13th Feb 1958...guess they fancied a cuppa at BB
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Post by PB on Feb 13, 2015 21:20:46 GMT
Very Happy "Twin Birthdays" Mike and brother..Nice day for flying?? Hope you're having an amazing day with both feet on the ground..no, all four feet on the ground!!
a30yoyo.. ref CX-AQN, I must ask you to look back to my early morning message of today. "Friday 13th" was my 'theme' and PLUNA CX-AQP was at Blackbushe on 13/02/60. CX-AQN was recorded at Blackbushe 15/02/58. As AQN was the only PLUNA picture I could find I used this today and carefully mentioned that it was the "Right airline, but the wrong aeroplane" under the photograph to help illustrate my early morning effort. A degree of license must be afforded me as on occasions such as this a 'stand-in' has to be employed. I strive to convey accurate information,and will continue to do so. Many Viscounts routed through Blackbushe on delivery from the factory at Brooklands en route to their customers all over the world. Additionally, customer crew training on the Viscount was carried out at Blackbushe due to the rather short runway at Brooklands, not to mention the railway embankment in line with the Brooklands r/w. Nowhere in the south of England offers better approaches than Blackbushe!! No doubt the crew took the chance of a cuppa while at Blackbushe, even if the Bushe Cafe was still far in the future. Hopefully that clears up this bit of confusion?
PB
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Post by a30yoyo on Feb 13, 2015 22:11:08 GMT
Peter...Apologies.I did try to remove the puzzlement from my comment before I sent it because I had seen your note about the 'wrong' aeroplane ...as it turns out there is a little mystery about CX-AQP being at Blackbushe 13Feb60 because it had been built 2 years earlier but not delivered....see www.vickersviscount.net/Index/VickersViscount323History.aspx...and they don't know why it was delayed. The lateness of Feb1960 for a new series 700 had alerted my antenna Did Vickers use Blackbushe rather than Wisley to appease the Wisley neighbours over noise?...some overseas brand new Viscounts did practise ILS approaches at Heathrow (did Blackbushe not have ILS? did it have P.A.R?) Footnote...I logged export Viscounts CX-AQN (and VT-DIX) at Heathrow 18Feb58 so presumably ILS tests? EDIT...THe reason for non-delivery seems to have been the collapse of Uruguayan finances 1958-1960...in 1960 they devalued and a new (no doubt right-wing) government signed up to an IMF plan to 'stabilize' their economy.... (that story rings a bell....)
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Post by PB on Feb 13, 2015 22:42:58 GMT
Thanks a30yoyo..I work with record passed on to me, and can but put my trust in them. The records I have used for the four years prior to the cork being pulled out of my previous boat!!! Your knowledge on Viscount matters far exceeds mine...Re the ILS question, it's a matter that has been raised before. From my understanding there was the splendid striped GCA unit parked out by 08/26, and for whatever reason it was manned by the United States Navy personnel..The reference earlier to the ILS approaches was taken from the records I have, and should probably have read GCA approaches?
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Post by a30yoyo on Feb 13, 2015 23:54:48 GMT
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Post by PB on Feb 14, 2015 7:00:30 GMT
14 February, 2015.
PB
Hello one and all..It would be appreciated if from this point any comments or questions that may arise from the daily "Photo of the Day" could be placed here. This will facilitate smoother continuity of the daily Photo of the Day contribution, and hopefully lay out questions that our resident aviation experts/professionals will be able to answer in a timely fashion??
Your co-operation is really appreciated as we move forward to whatever future our forum has in store...
PB
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oap
Junior Member
Posts: 24
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Post by oap on Feb 15, 2015 8:50:35 GMT
The PLUNA Viscounts were at Wisley for quite some time - didn't realise it was so long ago! ,
Mike
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Post by a30yoyo on Feb 15, 2015 14:55:42 GMT
Transferring from POTD page 15/2/2015: And then the fog lifted at Northolt and it flew back there? (regular Northolt-Rome service late 40s...early50s) I-DALL by David Whitworth, on Flickr Probably taken at Northolt Did you take these classic late 40s shots yourself, Peter? a30yoyo from PB Administrator ***** Good afternoon Mick, and thank you very much for the splendid shot of a one time Blackbushe visitor. I trust this photo was taken at Blackbushe......?? Probably Northolt as I don't think this Italian flying machine was seen at Blackbushe at other times, but I wouldn't know for sure. Not a bad looking aeroplane conveying something of the classic Italian styling... To answer the question as to whether I took today's photos...?? If you read the words that cost me my Sunday morning, you will see reference to the fact that I joined the crew on planet Earth at the time these aircraft frequented Blackbushe. I was really too young to lift a camera, and probably would not have been too good at pointing it in the right direction. A motorised pram would have been a good first step toward getting on location, but Santa never brought me one. I had a great pedal car, but....hadn't got the range. No, the photos were given to me by various friends and acquaintances to whom I - et al - will no doubt be eternally grateful!! Finally, as previously requested, I would be very grateful if all questions and comments with regard to "Photo of the Day" could kindly be directed to the Photo of the Day 'comments and questions' section which is next door to this in the "Photo of the Day" category...as said previously I would like to keep the continuity of the daily POTD as smooth as poss.. In the previous life there would be a whole page of correspondence appear, sometimes not relevant to my thread, separating the daily Photo and blurb. That did not necessarily amuse me too much! I trust I may crave your indulgence on this one, I certainly very much appreciate discussion on our old airfield and its past - hopefully this won't come across in some dictatorial fashion, that's the last thing I would want....Forums are indeed for exchanges of ideas, and experiences!! Wishing you a pleasant day! PB
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Post by PB on Feb 15, 2015 15:09:48 GMT
Hello again!!
Thanks very much for the move Mick, really appreciated, and look forward to many more contributions from you. I get the feeling you may well be a mine of information??
Cheers Peter
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