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Post by PB on May 10, 2020 6:44:56 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 10/05/20Another day in lockdown city, apparently and according to the BBC's dramatic weather forecasters we must expect Arctic winds to cool our fevered brows. Checking it's +6 at EGPF, and +12 on the EGLK weather cam at 07.15LT.
Time is flying by, it is now just over a year since the Forum's trip to and tour around Farnborough Airport. A year has been consumed in a flash, sadly this year's proposed Farnborough Airport tour has been somewhat delayed....I guess we shouldn't wish the days to go by any quicker than they are, but it would be good to see what it is we are heading toward, or maybe it wouldn't? Captain Boris's proclamations later will be "interesting"... I placed an opinion on the suggested Government plan to enforce quarantine on inbound air passengers on the Forum's "Covid concerns" section. The results and reality will be interesting. A brief recall of long gone DC-6 days at London's Blackbushe Airport....Arrived in the UK, now for my coat of Eagle colours..Getting there...Look at me now!Posing with 'friends'....we tried to rescue G-APSA a while ago and bring her home to Blackbushe. Sadly, the project did not work out, but had it been successful she might well be back home again by now..Oh well, t'is better to have tried and failed.....
On with Sunday, every day could be a Sunday of late!!
PB
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Post by PB on May 11, 2020 6:03:43 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 11/05/20Holy mackerel, placing one's nose into the passing airstream risks frostbite this morning at 06.00. Well, feels like it as the enthusiastic polar winds carry their chill of nearer to zero..
Looking back in time one cannot help noting that not much longer than 24 hours ago the Celcius pointed at a max that also indicated 24. Must be what these climate change people are on about? Looking back a little further it was on this day in 2007 a rather well loved and time proven aeroplane, the English Electric Canberra, retired from active duty after 50 years of dedicated service.
The weather will no doubt continue to be a talking point today as Boris's Cumulo Confusion clouds float over our heads. Being retired is not such a bad thing after all, especially thinking of those sardine specials that carry (carried) umpteen thousand squashed commuters into London each and every day. Go to work, but avoid public transport.."Hello? Yeah it's me, gotta bit of a headache today.." My heart bleeds for the airlines and their devoted employees if the 11th hour quarantine thing is applied, the camel's back cannot take much more.
Reverting to far happier times this morning's "POTD" is 100% courtesy of our kind and thoughful contributors! Any Blackbushe related material is very welcome and by coincidence over the weekend two of our devoted followers submitted photos from the day of the Eagle.... to Bob and David, extreme thanks. Seems that the enforced lockdown is producing old photos long buried!!Bob sent this 'wide angle' view of a gathering of Eagle's Vikings parked over on Blackbushe "south" adjacent to their hangar located on the Airport's extreme south-western corner.This is one of the most atmospheric recalls of true Blackbushe I've seen for a long while, and extreme gratitude goes to David who has agreed to its use on our Forum. A hard working Viking of Blackbushe's largest resident airline undergoes a turnaround adjacent to the main Terminal. The photo catches a quiet moment, the apron would always have quite a few aircraft about its once generous size, but it sure brings back the memories held in store in the still functional grey cells. Used this before, it comes from the Farnborough Grammar School collection, and another Eagle Viking steals the scene - this time captured from the US Navy site on the airfield's north-east (Now the Blackbushe Industrial Park). The splendid Blackbushe Control Tower, long gone, and the full size Terminal (two thirds gone) are easy to see in the distance. It continues to strike me as tragic that such damage was inflicted on this once magnificent and large airfield, or that the 'airport-antibodies' proclaim a future de-registered Blackbushe would lead to something dreadful like an industrial park being built. Bit like the one they built on what was also Common after they knocked down the US Navy hangar!!
Nope, you couldn't make it up....
For those who keep tabs on my Covid NOTAM updates on the Forum there are no new ones today. Apparently Brize Norton's windsock serving runway 25 is damaged, no doubt those polar winds up to no good? Or polar bears even?
PB
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Post by PB on May 12, 2020 6:25:35 GMT
"Photo of the Day 12/05/20Cloudless blue suspended above Hampshire this morning, cars frozen with -1C OAT indicated at 06.00.
Yesterday was something of a keystone day from virus control over at Number 10... I'm being as "alert" as possible, it is early, but very glad I don't find myself under the 'go back to work' order if you cannot work from home. I've a funny feeling the virus will have a wry look on its face ready to pounce again as it is in Germany where freedom of movement has been increased as news reports would suggest. Our world of fake news, and rumour mongering leaves increasing numbers of question marks hovering over what to believe... The word from our scientific leaders that a vaccine may never be found was a little brain numbing yesterday, but there has never been a greater incentive to go find one than at the moment so I think one must keep the 'positive hat' on..
Indications as to when General Aviation might take to the skies are hard to see, how airfields and their resident flying schools are supposed to remain on standby whilst their earnings are slashed is worrying. Empty skies are no longer strange to behold, they are the new normal. Even the sound of Chinooks from Odiham seems to have dried up of late? The wokka wokka is usually hard to miss!Missing men. The late Douglas Arnold and one of his most beautiful possessions, apart from the Airport..Missing man. The late great and very much still missed Neil Williams makes his way to Doug's Spitfire about to provide another impromptu display of the superlative airborne combination, Neil Williams and the Spitfire.With memories of Neil's silky smooth Spitfire craftsmanship in the sky I'll bid you 'good day'...stay alert!
PB
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Post by PB on May 13, 2020 6:13:32 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 13/05/20Bit of a grey day over Blackbushe this morning, but at least the thermometer is waking up delivering 6 at 6...
A few days ago POTD reported an anniversary, that of the dear old Canberra's retirement from active service, POTD may now report that today is the anniversary of the types first flight back in 1949... During her life the Canberra logged numerous visits to Blackbushe, such events seem increasingly hard to imagine as the years roll by, her runways the domain of somewhat less dynamic equipment, the sights and sounds of those years now just in the memories of a privileged few whose grey cells still permit such distant ventures...A Canberra moment from 1959.. 213 Squadron, Royal Air Force. The gifts that Blackbushe bestowed upon young men on bicycles who would perch by the roadside just soaking up her offerings..Happy birthday Canberra, and "thank you" Blackbushe!!Blackbushe at her best, and an alternate to what is today known as Heathrow... fog at London Airport brought gifts to Blackbushe, this Central African Airways Viscount, for example.. All the way from beautiful Salisbury, Rhodesia. Harare, Zimbabwe nowadays. 11th November, 1959.Gifts from Blackbushe, all the way to sunny and beautiful Salisbury Airport, Rhodesia.. One of the Hunting Clan DC-6s. Through 1958 and 1959 Hunting Clans DC-6 aircraft were part of the everyday scene at Blackbushe, two of them G-APNO and G-APNP. Neil Diamond sang of "such a beautiful noise comin' up from the street", he really should have been at Blackbushe when her DC-6's were comin' up from her runways. That would have given him something to sing about...
Have a good day, keep coming back, POTD felt her 340,000th visit yesterday...
PB
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Post by PB on May 14, 2020 7:02:46 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 14/05/20Looks peaceful enough outside this morning, CAVOK again, four degrees and climbing indicated by the trusty home weather station as it inhales Hampshires finest air..
Zipping back in time for a moment. While we are under a degree of concern over a viral enemy invading our land, back in 1944 mid May we were undergoing concerns as to the prospective activity of member of today's European Community. An invasion was increasingly on the cards. Mid May 1944 I can tell you that RAF Hartford Bridge was preparing. Bombs were arriving by road from Longparish near Andover for delivery to the airfield's bomb dump. Now these were nasty little critters with one intent and purpose..250LB chemical bombs containing mustard gas and phosgene. But, they were ONLY to be used in retaliation should the Germans use their own chemical weapons on our troops. There was very little knowledge that these weapons existed or that we had plans to use them. I think we can be assured they have been removed by now, the bomb dump was in the forest close to where British Car Auctions have captured a chunk of our airfield...Scanning across a peaceful Blackbushe it's sometimes hard to connect such tranquility with the airfield's raison d'etre, its consequences, price paid in lives, and demands placed on those who served here.. The need for a suitable permanent memorial has been discussed and numerous offers of support have already been received for when the time is right. The Forum carries the subject elsewhere.Yesterday, another sortie over... Today, total tranquility. Too much!Tomorrow, hungry runways, patience rewarded........ or maybe a few days/weeks/months after tomorrow?We'll be here, whenever!
PB
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Post by PB on May 15, 2020 7:01:59 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 15/05/20Another day has dawned, British blue skies offering a CAVOK vista from the office window..Cool outside, but the deafening and eerie quiet continues suggesting the world is far from back to normal considering the historic background 'life' sounds we remember from the 'other life' from which we all were extracted some weeks ago..
The future, despite today's clear weather, remains in fog through which it is hard to see, yesterday is a much clearer view!
Historically, we can slip back to this day, 15th May, 1944, and take a look across the airfield. There goes 226 Squadron again...Another fighter escorted "Ramrod" sortie against a specific target, today it's the marshalling yards at Charleville. Nerve stretching for the crews, unable to drop their bombs on this occasion they were obliged to bring them home again, landing with a belly full of bombs does not require much imagination as to the possible consequences. All came home safely. Earlier General Koenig, French representative at Supreme HQ, Allied Expeditionary Force, visited 342 (Lorraine) Squadron, Free French Air Force. His visit was accompanied by General Valin, Commander of the Free French Air Force in the United Kingdom. Numerous VIP visits were enjoyed at RAF Hartford Bridge during the war including the King and Queen on medal pinning duties. The war did not see the end of bomber activity, a B-17 moment from the seventies..The famous five, five B-25s who lived at Blackbushe for a few months in the seventies amid motion picture filming.Very occasionally something extraordinary would come into view. No recall as to when, but no matter, the vision includes something sadly missing from the BBMF.Ahh de Havilland! We had our own Blackbushe based Mosquito G-MOSI during the Arnold era! During the war no less then twelve Mosquito squadrons were based at RAF Hartford Bridge (Blackbushe!)at various times. Therein lie many stories.For now we can but scan the distant horizons for signs of aviation, and look forward to days when our eyes can lock onto Blackbushe as she again yields movements of interest for all to enjoy..Working in the garden yesterday was rewarded by signs of aviation. Three Red Kites circling overhead, their wings feeling for and biting into thermals as they wheeled against the perfect blue obviously enjoying their soaring skills to the max. A perfect straight crisp white trail crossing the heavens caught my attention too, the old firm with a newish type, a KLM 787 flying the KL757, Amsterdam to Panama City. A few old memories unleashed to make removing moss from the driveway a little more interesting. Life is so full of amazing memories, it would be so nice to go make a few more.......
PB
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Post by PB on May 16, 2020 7:12:18 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 16/05/20...and so we meet again? Good to see you, the world having completed another rotation since we last met here. Amazing how reliably our planet goes about its daily flight in the infinite vastness of what we call 'space', happily gravity continues to be a reliable way of staying put whilst giving aviators the same old hopes of overcoming it around the 'rotate' moment.
That 'rotate' moment will soon be achieved on Blackbushe's main runway from 19th May as the Airport commences a 'phased' reopening programme. The Forum's update here... blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/13657
The way ahead is uncertain being so locked into the C-19 story, something that will depend on human diligence, common sense, and drugs or vaccine that will deal the necessary body blows in due course.. But, the weeks of stillness and and eerie silence will be coming to a gradual end, the Airport can reassure the employees who keep it going, and its operators, of continued employment and the local community will continue to benefit from the finances Blackbushe Airport pays into their coffers. Good news for many, although a voice has popped via social media expressing dismay that aeroplanes might be heard from the property purchased close to the aerodrome. A reaction one has to question...but one flying sites endure.
These days will be returning...Not long to that 'rotate' moment...Everybody on the runway, the airfield's gonna open soon......wait for it!..it's somewhere round here, the magic rotate moment draws nigh!!Back tomorrow.. PB
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Post by PB on May 17, 2020 6:13:01 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 17/05/20On the morning of 17th May, 1943, 617 Squadron's survivors were back at base, their extraordinary "Dam Busters" task complete, but not without terrible cost. The Imperial War Museum cover the subject with authenticity - www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-incredible-story-of-the-dambusters-raid. Salute to 617. A lone Lancaster, today better known as "Just Jane" displays at Blackbushe in the 1960's...Neil Williams in command.Also on 17th May, 1943, a certain B-17, "Memphis Belle" of 324th Bomb Squadron, makes her 25th Bombing mission. The aircraft and her crew were then returned to the United States to sell war bonds. Destined to be scrapped along with most other WW2 veteran aeroplanes happily somebody, the Mayor of Memphis, had the foresight to save this courageous aeroplane after which she was restored and resides at the USAF National Museum in Dayton, Ohio.Closer to home, Blackbushe Airport have released further details of how they plan a phased return to flying following the closure enforced by the Covid 19 virus.. www.blackbusheairport.co.uk/news/phase1-reopening. Please note that unnecessary gatherings on the Airport premises are to be avoided, and spotters are requested to view from the delights of the Common east of Blackbushe for the time being.The way we were, and will be again, but not quite yet....We'll smile again, we'll all smile when life eventually returns to something we recognise from bygone days...and a journey back to October, 1962, just one of the very large number of aircraft that arrived to celebrate the re-opening of Blackbushe for our "Re-opening Air Display".. ..surely the last word belongs to the Lancaster today. G-ASXX looking quite content on Blackbushe's apron on the type's last flying visit to our airfield. Another dismantled Lancaster travelled through the Blackbushe Warbirds of Great Britain hangar during the Arnold era but she never tasted the Blackbsuhe air beneath her wings.Doug's Lancaster.. She now proudly lives out her days on show - and immaculate - at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford..PB
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Post by PB on May 18, 2020 7:29:56 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 18/05/20A vaccine by September?
Meanwhile one ducks the arrows of Covid crossfire as the disease mutates into a politico left right union stirred conflagration, the BBC running a comedy programme last night turning the whole thing into a joke.. I doubt the 35,000 plus grieving families see the funny side of all this? BUT, yesterday the skies over England fair burst out like the buds of May as light aeroplanes once again reached for the sky and a myriad gliders rose amid May's finest thermals. Enough to lift the hearts of all whose senses reach for the sky, and light aviation outweighed commercial aviation's numbers by a significant factor..
Tomorrow, Blackbushe Airport will open her gates cautiously as she too becomes a way to the waiting blue, but please don't all rush to the car park, if you're intent on viewing please do so from the Common that once was the east of Blackbushe. The Councils have spent a fortune preparing it for your recreational activity - or so they said in the sixties when they spent the people's rates destroying the airport surfaces east of Vigo Lane. Maybe a book is in the offing, "East of Vigo Lane"? A thriller documentary featuring political administrations and their use of the people's money, a six decade search for common sense on the Common...or an historic trail from the days of Henry VIII and dividing up of the land to facilitate the needs of the poor and their limited rights to pick up sticks? "East of Vigo Lane" or maybe, "Heading West with Hampshire"? Much flying to catch up on, no doubt the crew in the Tower will have some busy days ahead?Happily the ever thoughtful Councils responsible for the upkeep of Blackbushe "east" under their caring wing have provided very suitable viewing facilities...One could say there have been a few cracks appear in the political administration of and bureaucraticly bomb shelled Blackbushe, tales for history books (unwritten) of the past decades, cracks not just in her degrading runways that have happily escaped the bureaucratic urge to exterminate, exterminate, exterminate... Sorry, another BBC influence.The Blackbushe story grinds on. We had no hangars, then we had hangars, and now we haven't any hangars. An exciting saga! Blackbushe holds memories of airliners being serviced in large black hangars at each end of the Airport, hangars that were destroyed by men in striped suits to be replaced years later by hangars built on bits of Blackbushe that were NOT marked as Common Land! These new hangars gave home to business aircraft, the Queens helicopter, and life to legends of the past giving them a way back to the sky where they belonged. The latest chapter in the Blackbushe book of wonders is that these hangars hijacked by British Car Auctions are now full of old cars being buffed up prior to finding new owners, the spirit of aviation once again strangled by the demon jinx, gravity felt from however you viewed it...the force that keeps your feet on the ground or the depressing effect of seeing Blackbushe Airport suffer decade after decade after decade..Not good reading...
PB
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Post by PB on May 19, 2020 5:35:42 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 19/05/2006.00, rather a grey day beckons from beyond the window, but who cares?? Aviation returns to a re-opened Blackbushe from 09.15 this morning, a number of resident aeroplanes straining at their tie downs to go feel the air where it should be.... Goes without saying life will be very different for the time being as social distancing rules apply just as much here as they do anywhere else.One day scenes like this will, hopefully, return....A moment from the 1962 "Blackbushe Airport Great Re-opening Air Display", part of the United States Air Force participation....Happily, since 1962 the Airport has subsequently only 'closed' because of the present pandemic, despite all that local bureaucrats have hurled at her, the Parish Council's assassination of Blackbushe "east", the runway nail sprinklers, the person who fired shots at aircraft on the approach to 19, Hampshire County Council and the Open Spaces Society, Blackbushe Airport has maintained her right to operate flying machines at all times except for two minutes on 11th Novembers at 11.00, a Bob Dylan concert and Drag Racing weekends when it was considered wise to restrict flying...One way, or another, we've seen a few changes over the decades, it is just very saddening so much time has been lost to persistent bureaucratic fingering that has achieved nothing except great losses to public funds, destruction, frustration and threats to an airfield that remains of great value to General Aviation today and into the future as the world works its way back to normality. As it will.The Forum wishes Blackbushe Airport a loud "WELCOME BACK", long may you be with us!
PB
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