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Post by chevvron on Mar 13, 2015 13:02:37 GMT
Bulldog GAXIG. I believe local businessman Alan Curtis owned it as well as owning Compton Abbas airfield. Prince Michael of Kent did his PPL course in it and his 'landaway' was Farnborough. My boss (the SATCO) expected him to climb the stairs to get his verification form signed but Commanding Officer Experimental Flying (COEF) Group Capt Spiers ran down and signed it instead and he got back in the aircraft and departed!!
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Post by britisheagle on Mar 14, 2015 11:59:36 GMT
Among your list of Blackbushe greats you mention dear old Dave Cottrell. Truly a great. Got to know him well whilst at Eagle (Heathrow). An excellent and well respected Radio Engineer. Spent many hours on duty crew operation in the central area with him. Often looking at new arrivals whilst waiting for our aircraft to arrive/depart. One of his special research projects was the Viking. What he didn't know about Vikings wasn't worth bothering with. His work is now in the Brookland archives and well worth a look at if you are interested in Vikings.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2015 11:00:09 GMT
If, as Peter has written, runway 14/32 has been swept is there a chance it could be used again? The cracks in the surface would hardly present any problems to the light aircraft currently using Blackbushe. Just a thought.
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Post by PB on Mar 15, 2015 12:46:07 GMT
Sadly. Bren, the chances of 14/32 being used again must be very small. Apart from the ancient rights issues, the runway is now hemmed in by trees and shrubbery allowing no escape for those who are fond of performing the dreaded ground loop with its almost certain departure into the wilderness. My first landing was on 32 and hopefully wasn't responsible for the cracks that are growing at a rate proportionate to the upthrust of three roots, and the down thrust of weeds that boldly grow in every crack they can find. The 14/32 runway has recently had its dreaded white crosses repainted indicating a non intent for aviation's return..Another rope around the airport's neck and its viability. This runway still affords excellent approached over open unpopulated areas, something that few airfields with such a splendid runway may offer in the south of England..
Whatever, the runway looks much happier than when I last took a stroll down its length, but the frustration remains when you walk over the Airport's vast amount of space that is slowly being consumed by Mother nature. It may be Mothers Day today, but I wish she'd get her mits off our runways.
PB
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Post by poswolf on Mar 18, 2015 9:35:57 GMT
Re todays pic, perhaps you could polish up the old bats and mount them by your history board with an explanation of how the airfield used to flourish during Farnborouh weeks, and a dedication to Roger Russell. I can remember his batting in some really interesting visitors in the good old days.
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Post by PB on Mar 18, 2015 10:35:26 GMT
A nice idea Poswolf! A dedication to Roger and numerous others to whom Blackbushe owes a vote of thanks would no doubt be appropriate. Those who gave so much time in the early sixties during the Battle of Blackbushe when seemingly overwhelming odds stacked up against the airfield ever returning to any decent level of flying deserve remembering too. Tough days that clearly put a division between the men and the boys, the girls and the ladies too might I say..Sadly, we have lost so many of them, and the years make it too easy for those to whom Blackbushe owes some gratitude to be lost in the swirling mists of time. Maybe a spectators' bench near the "Airlines of Blackbushe Airport" sign with the relevant names engraved on it would offer the necessary respect? We've placed the airlines' images and names back on view at Blackbushe, it would be very moving to have our lost friends names back on the airfield too??
I don't think the old marshalling bats will make a very pretty exhibit, best they remain home to the eight legged colonies who have laid claim to them!
Hope all is well with you Poswolf, good to hear from you and thank you for your comment this morning.
PB
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Post by filair on Mar 18, 2015 11:16:50 GMT
"The visitors arrived in droves",should that be Drovers or Doves? Both DH types of course!
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Post by PB on Mar 18, 2015 12:54:26 GMT
Interesting question filair!
The Drover might be have been an appropriate aircraft due to the ancient anachronistic rights held by some to drive their sheep across the country via Hartford Bridge to market. The airfield has been subject to such ancient rights despite the fact that the routes in question no longer go anywhere. Well, we did have a DH Drover for some while. It lived in the Warbirds hangar until it was displayed amid the collection of retired aeroplanes that lived at Lasham for some years.
As for Doves, they perhaps didn't arrive in droves, but they came in numbers...The Dove was the one type that offered an olive branch to the memory of Farnborough Weeks when Blackbushe was a government run airport. Doves and Devons were routine visitors pre 1960, happily we secured the types post 1960 visibility during Farnborough Weeks for many of the years that Blackbushe has survived under private ownership.
Thanks filair, your comment welcome and stored for posterity!
PB
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Post by poswolf on Mar 18, 2015 15:16:13 GMT
Ah yes the Drover, one of the saddest cases of aircraft non conservation perhaps ? It seemed to just sit and rot. And rot. Certainly not a triumph for the Warbird organisation; someome told me it was only acquired for the engines ? Then it went to Lasham and sat and fell apart. It looked such a neat little thing, possibly nobody wanted to fly an aircraft with three engines (except the 52s of coutse)
Re a spectators bench there are problems, spotters will stand on it to take pix (unless they have steps of course), birds will not respect its memorial purpose, rain will soak it etc etc. A panel of pix and names in the cafe perhaps ?
All this Fbro week talk makes one feel old. All those visitors down both sides of the parking runway.
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Post by chevvron on Mar 22, 2015 5:39:56 GMT
GALWC was a regular visitor to Farnborough - almost daily in fact. What it came in for initially I don't know, but when the 2 Daks (Mayfly and Portpatrick Princess) were transferred in from West Freugh, 'WC's pilots helped 'convert' the RAF pilots of RAE Transport Flight. Mayfly was originally to be used as spares for Portpatrick Princess (delivered as KG661 becoming ZA947 and still with the RAF with the BBMF at Coninsgsby) with Mayfly being purchased by Aces High and starring as 'GAGHY' in the TV sries 'Airlline'
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