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Post by PB on May 30, 2020 7:04:02 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 30/05/20Wall to wall blue skies again!! The skies producing not just generous levels of UV rays but also a goodly flow of air traffic around the Blackbushe circuit of recent. It would be GREAT to see some more photos of Blackbushe's daily activity on the "Blackbushe movements" pages, they've been a bit bare of recent!! "POTD" carries on daily ploughing through the contents of its history lined vaults.. But we always value massively the inclusion of photos indicating 'movements of the day'.. If you're able to add the odd photo to the movements pages I'm sure it would be much appreciated by those who for whatever reasons do not subscribe to the social media pages? The Forum's "Blackbushe movements" pages have enjoyed well over a quarter of a million visits so it's not as if any photos placed there were not going to be appreciated!!
Moving along..one has to ask "Why" the Government have placed the nation's neck into the hangman's noose by insisting on a quarantine period of 14 days for international arrivals at the same time as the 'lockdown' police roll away some of the barbed wire? Looks like a "somebody thought it might be a good idea" scheme without too much thought as to the consequences or the implementation. Grants Shapps has done his best to avert this disaster by proposing "air bridges" to the most suitable destinations but such an idea has been shot down in flames by whoever fires the Government's anti common sense weaponry.
"Common sense weaponry", a form of armament sadly lacking in the bureaucratic corridors of power where achievements at a certain aerodrome are concerned.. Sadly, today there is very little evidence of common sense prevailing from Town to County authorities as to the management of the Blackbushe issue. History will have its say some day...
History indicates that today, 30th May, was once Blackbushe Airport's penultimate day, tomorrow she was set to die. To swing from the gallows more dramatically than the Government's current quarantine ambitions will swing, Blackbushe Airport was destined to die on 31st May 1960...and never again would the sound of aero engines and the wounder of winged flight be noted from Blackbushe Airport.
Never? How wrong they were. Six decades later, the sound of aero engines - albeit somewhat smaller than of earlier fame - continue to manifest from the majestic acres of Blackbushe Airport.. Sadly her surroundings are a little less than majestic, but the heart of Blackbushe remains beating despite the efforts of those inclined to induce rigor mortis to her activities and see her body consumed in the rampant tangle of uncontrolled nature that has so far consumed her "disused" acres... Blackbushe Airport of 'today' shares memories of her 'yesterdays' while ceaselessly dreaming of her 'tomorrows' when maybe "common sense" will be installed as the reality and worth of an updated and fully 'facilitated' Blackbushe Airport are 'more widely appreciated', and the 'dark forces' of the past six decades are put behind us??Never in the field of British aviation has an airfield of such momentous value been appreciated by so many, yet so much damage been achieved by so few.. We can but continue to await that victorious day when at last Blackbushe Airport secures her hard fought freedom from the shackles of bureaucracy - and she can proudly show her true worth. Six decades ago today (her penultimate day) she was saying "Goodbye" to the wonders of aviation and the incredible history owed to her life since 1942, would "tomorrow" truly have been her last day? Everyone thought it would be........
PB
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Post by PB on May 31, 2020 5:53:56 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 31/05/2031st May. A poignant day in the history of Blackbushe Airport, for in 1960 this was the Airport's last day, from tomorrow she would be closed for all time, her infrastructure destroyed and her carcass left to the rambling overgrowth that we see over large areas of the disused airfield today.
Sixty years ago today Blackbushe closed, ironically on a day in 2020 when Blackbushe is again closed, but this time due to a virus not a deliberate act of mankind and only for a couple of days, not the eternity expected when the Government played its trump closure card sixty years ago... The airline consortium formed in hopes of taking the Airport over was not successful, the future looked bleak, hopeless, Blackbushe Airport's days were over. Tragic for the many staff who would either be out of work or perhaps have to be moved to another airport, a matter of dismay for those young people who often cycled to spend happy hours just soaking up the atmosphere of a unique commercial airport that was also a military base being the UK's only land base for the US Navy.
AVM Bennett's decision to purchase 365 acres of Blackbushe freehold was a life changing moment for anyone subsequently involved with the Airport. Despite the dreadful carnage left by the Government and their demolition people, Blackbushe was slowly cleared up as plans for its development as a General Aviation centre were revealed. Most of us will be only too well aware of the six decades of bureaucratic indifference that have dragged on since the AVM's purchase.
Today will see the first manned 'private venture' space vehicle dock with the International Space Station. Such an achievement by mankind and Elon Musk, Space X and NASA...Such a contrast to the befuddled Blackbushe case where today celebrates sixty years of bureaucratic fingering. Without this bureaucratic intransigence Blackbushe would today be a superbly attractive, modern, busy General Aviation centre, a prime example of a General Aviation airport that is affordable, perfectly placed and open to all..The Viking. For so long the "737" of the early prop driven independent era, some thirty were based at Blackbushe until this day in 1960. "HPG" seen here was one of the very last Vikings to depart Blackbushe as she climbed away to distant skies on 29 May, 1960. Today, sixty years ago, was surely going to be the last time aeroplanes would be caught resting by the roadside? 31st May, 1960...39120, US Navy R5D of VF-24 Squadron, the VERY LAST United States Navy movement as she flew to a rapidly prepared new base at West Malling. Such a sad day, but we did get the US Navy back for the Airport's 50th Anniversary in 1992. A much smaller Beech turboprop, but it was a joy to to see "United States Navy" painted on a Blackbushe visitor once again!..and dear old "Nannie Ann", G-AHNA, a long term resident of Blackbushe Airport and the very last fixed wing movement from London's Ministry of Transport & Civil Aviation's Blackbushe Airport.Today, Blackbushe rests in quiet contemplation of her past as she is closed for a couple of days in the post Covid recovery programme.. The past sixty years have been an education in so many ways, the blight and dangers of bureaucratic blindness, the absolute need for patience and focus, and the pure joy of seeing Blackbushe Airport and her owners drive toward the goal that awaits, a new and modern General Aviation centre that will be for the good of aviation, employment, the local economy and the continued use of an historic airfield that otherwise would by now have been lost in the tangled overgrowth that relentlessly consumes her surroundings...
My personal "Thanks" to Blackbushe for giving her friends and me so much for so long..
PB
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Post by PB on Jun 1, 2020 6:27:56 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 01/06/20Whether June proves to be 'flaming' or not remains to be seen, but she's been launched under yet another day of wall to wall blue - or that's how it looks squinting through one's window at 06.30. Nowhere near as hot, but the daily delivery of blue skies is reminiscent of days in the Gulf, Dubai, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, where life was blue skies and an oven hot wind that would willingly cook you...A lot to be said for our more temperate climate, especially on days like today..
May is now wrapped up as our changed world makes its way into an uncertain future. Happily Blackbushe has opened its doors on a Tuesday to Saturday basis, closed today but not quite as seriously as on this day in 1960, the Airport's first day of total closure and the beginning of her destruction.
I haven't noticed any comments on the fact that Blackbushe was closed sixty years ago yesterday, maybe I'm so old I'm the only one who was there to witness the awful sights, or maybe not too many are left to still recall the vivid comparison of full size and fully operational Blackbushe versus today's small slice of yesteryear where the Airport's soul continues the torturous decades spent fighting for breath? I think POTD's near 11,000 visits in May is indicative of plenty of interest remaining in the airfield's story.. I hope it is?
This morning we're taking to the wing, Mike Biddulph's wings from Saturday just passed, another chance to sing praises from the Blackbushe hymn book..Seen from the south in the 07 downwind position, this photo indicates the excellent flying conditions of recent, but more importantly it emphasises the perfect strategic location of Blackbushe Airport. Not just easy reach of London, great surface connections, and corporate catchment viability, but extraordinary environmental suitability located within undeveloped bounds that the busy south of England would find hard to beat elsewhere..It remains unfortunate that for six decades the authorities have not recognised the benefits that await were the site to be enhanced enough to provide the General Aviation gem that awaits to benefit all..British Car Auction's consumption of Common seems to be growing, but not something that seems to cause any 'local worry' compared to the doom mongers who happily predict the owners of Blackbushe intend to build houses on the airfield were they able to develop the site that is still "airfield". There is only one answer, allow the Airport to develop the General Aviation facilities planned and in the post Covid age to come she'll provide employment, support the local economy, and be a good looking asset rather than a 4,000' runway with question marks at each end..Cheap motor Guv? Regardless of the spread of 'pre-owned' vehicles another of Blackbushe's major assets remains untapped - long clear unobstructed approaches over open Common and Forestry land. Compared to other airports in the south unobstructed approaches such as offered by this Airport are without equal.No more to say. Just "Thanks" to Mike for the photos and supporting Blackbushe on Saturday!!! PB
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Post by PB on Jun 2, 2020 6:33:02 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 02/06/20Good news has generally been in short supply this year, the Judicial Review and then a global pandemic. The Judicial Review putting the brakes on Blackbushe's development, the County Council unbelievably doing all they can to further damage the great aviation asset that lies under their noses and then the Covid curse that has affected one and all with aviation taking an oversize share of its knocks.
The County Council problems will continue to burn money and precious time for many months to come, but hopefully the virus is under some form of control as life cautiously tries to return to some remote semblance days gone by? The GOOD news is that Blackbushe Airport returns to seven days a week operations from 4th June, details of this are here.. www.blackbusheairport.co.uk/news/2020/5/29/reopening-plan-phase-two. The second phase of "Good news" comes in Chris's very welcome 'Manager's Monthly Report' for the month of April, here's a link for those who have not yet seen it.. blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/13770. The Airport is coming back to life, a welcome comparison to sixty years ago when she seemingly died before our eyes. Casting our eyes back to the Airport's early days when our country, and the free world, were fighting a human enemy. By this time in 1944 the airfield had been operational for just over 18 months and D-Day was just a few days away. The home based bomber squadrons had in previous days been out causing maximum chaos destroying railway lines to hinder the movement of German troop reinforcements once their invasion was under way.
Blackbushe on 1st June, 1944, transferred from the control of 2 Group to 11 Group by which time the following were accommodated on the airfield: 137 Wing comprising 2 Group Wing HQ, 88, 342 and 226 Squadrons. 141 Airfield (85 Group) comprising of 141 Airfield HQ, 264 and 322 Squadrons, 416 Service and Repair Wing. On this day in 1944, 2nd June, a party of six officers from the Empire Central Flying School visited the base to study the latest details of operational flying.
As the D-Day invasion moved ever nearer the Blackbushe Bostons were being fitted with smoke laying canisters in their bomb bays. These were about eight feet long and connected to four pipes which protruded from beneath the aircraft. 342 Squadron were soon in the air with their newly fitted aircraft, practice was called for and this entailed flying over the Isle of Wight at tree top height no doubt to the amazement, surprise etc of the residents... Smoking's bad for your health, not good for the enemy's vision either! D-Day preparations at Blackbushe, June, 1944..."Some years later", and the Royal Air Force still on smoke laying operations as a Vulcan is put through her paces at one of our "Barnstormers" air shows..just a thought, if the local bureaucracy had not attacked Blackbushe earlier this year it's entirely possible we might be enjoying scenes like this! New hangars rising from the ground to protect our precious aeroplanes. Sadly, Hampshire County Council's hostile attack wipes out our hopes for another year - at least...and finally on the subject of smoke, a warning of what can happen to over grown Common Land when dry summer days and perhaps smokers join forces...Yateley Common some hot summers ago.PB
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Post by PB on Jun 3, 2020 6:03:12 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 03/06/20I just don't understand, it's not natural.... This morning the wall to wall blue skies apparently replaced by an equally measured distribution of grey, so unlike England.
Just have to try and get by recalling memories of our blue skies for so long almost void of aviation activity, just the very occasional trail of vapour to mark a passing ship of the sky or the flying prowess of red kites as they gyrated in the joy of nature's seemingly generous thermals. Fancy being born with such beautiful wings permitting soaring flight whenever the fancy took you?
Back to Earth and social distancing. It's still a slightly odd feeling when people walking toward you noticeably move away, not good if you suffer from self consciousness possibly, but probably advantageous should you suffer from the occasional unexpected "gust" and resultant aural or olfactory detection...
Blackbushe. Must concentrate! Glancing back some 76 years to this day in 1944.. a few precious days before D-Day and giving the Germans something of a surprise visit. 342 Squadron were fitted with smoke canisters and practicing their visibility obstructing skills on the people of the Isle of Wight, ground crews worked day and night to ensure 100% serviceability of the aircraft that were soon to play a vital role in the execution of D-Day.. The A30 was now closed 24 hours a day for security reasons. Flying training continued at a pace, night flying training was so important that on the 4th they started at 1600 when it was still daylight.. There is no doubt that one of the greatest ever, the greatest ever, armadas of aircraft flying from English soil in the name of freedom would soon be forming over southern skies.June 1944, Royal Air Force Hartford Bridge prepares for events now just a few days away.Nineteen years later, 1963... The airfield had changed its name, she was now Blackbushe Airport, had served from war to 1960 as a second airport to London, been laid waste by an unappreciative Government with investments in a patch of land in West Sussex, been largely saved from ultimate destruction by AVM Bennett and now used by small numbers of light aeroplanes as demonstrated whilst on short final to what was then runway 08. Blackbushe south of the A30 had been ploughed up, as you see, while tragically the Parish Council of Yateley elected to spend their money destroying all they could of the Airport's precious eastern extremity..Days like these were gone... But, happily decades of smaller aircraft were to come. Six decades so far! This photo gives an idea of the apron's size before the local Parish Council's destruction took place eliminating around two thirds of a truly precious asset..
It is remarkable that the Airport has survived so long under private ownership considering the bureaucratic buffers continually laid out before her.. but survive she has!!
PB
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Post by PB on Jun 4, 2020 7:03:20 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 04/06/20First, massive thanks for the very kind contributions to our Forum by the ace photographers of Blackbushe who have placed their work on our Airport Movements pages. Pages that have enjoyed over a quarter million visits! Thanks to Paul, Steve and ace cameraman Edward who is now eight years old!! Thank you, you've no idea how good it is to receive support in keeping the Forum alive and providing the images necessary for our Members who for whatever reason do not subscribe to the social media pages where numerous Blackbushe traffic photos appear on a daily basis..
The Blackbushe "One-Stop" Forum was borne out of total commitment to Blackbushe by souls who had lived the Blackbushe 'experience' for decades, not for any commercial gain or any gain at all except for the satisfaction of spreading the Blackbushe message and maintaining an eye on the progress of the Airport along with the unfathomable opposition to its future by ratepayer funded opposition. We have continued to gain a membership that now heads toward 600 and harnessed many friends via our pages over the small number of years we have been here, gathered a fantastic body of volunteers who have provided invaluable help in the execution of air events in 2016 and 2017 - hopefully services we may call upon in the future?
Thanks again for the recent photos, the Forum's thanks is all yours!!
Meanwhile, our country is about to lock its doors to visitors from abroad by imposing a 14 day quarantine, a compulsory quarantine with a £1,000 fine to those found breaking the rules. I seem to recall back in the early days of the Covid attack POTD suggested the Government were treating the disease with a rather 'Sergeant Wilson' attitude, a rather "I say would you mind awfully being careful about catching this virus thing" without any specific mandate as to how we should form a collective 'barrier' to the Covid spread. On Monday we start the 11th hour quarantine to close the doors for any realistic hope for holidays either starting here or coming from abroad. At the same time the beleaguered transport industry upon which our national status depends is delivered via a Government powered punch in the face, umpteen thousands of airline employees must be looking at the skies and wondering "WTF", 'Where's The Future'? This is our 'Captain Mainwaring' moment as orders are issued but not perhaps with an 'overall appreciation' or necessary consideration of consequences. Purely a personal point of view but one shared by many.. The BBC Breakfast programme have just interviewed the Government, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis, and attacked them for their new quarantine policy, they then interviewed Ryanair and attacked them for opposing the quarantine policy. The 'you couldn't make it up' era is alive and well!!
It must be tough for the business jet operators whose fast and efficient means of reaching markets across the Channel is going to suffer with effect from Monday?
Happy memories! These days WILL return, we just need to ride the coming weeks with heads above the water...PB
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Post by PB on Jun 5, 2020 6:34:22 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 05/06/205th June...
Blackbushe Airport, or should we say, Royal Air Force Hartford Bridge, on this day in 1944.
The before D-Day. Preparations for tomorrow were proceedings with intensity, crews checked their aircraft with absolute thoroughness, something very big was going to happen soon.
The first indication that something unusual was about to take place was when Group Captain MacDonald called the entire base together. Speaking to a large yet silent audience he uttered these words, "Gentlemen, from this moment Hartford Bridge is on standby. You are confined to quarters." This was the prelude to the invasion of Europe.Royal Air Force Hartford Bridge personnel receive the big news..."D-Day".I quote from Stuart's work, "The Wartime Years"....and the words of an 88 Squadron Air Gunner. "The airfield was placed on 24 hour stand-by and we had to report our whereabouts to our superiors, the airfrield was cut off from the outside world. We were not permitted to contact anyone off the airfield." "On a number of recent flights we had seen many unidentified structures and formations including the Mulberry Harbour, various and numerous types of landing craft and huge convoys of vehicles stretching for miles..."
Late on the evening of 5th June smoke cylinders were installed in smoke screen laying aircraft and white stripes hastily painted on wings and fuselages. All the RAF Hartford Bridge messes were closed at 18.00, intense anticipation was felt across the entirety of the base. At midnight crews were called to a briefing..
Stripes and smoke canisters...If you're at the airfield today, maybe stop and reflect for a moment on the scene as it was was here on 5th June, 1944? Once Group Captain MacDonald had placed the station on stand-by the scene changed dramatically. Frantic activity as armourers bombed-up aircraft, fitted smoke canisters to others while fitters carried out last checks on engines and airframes to get everything as ready as was possible..Air crew were engaged in their own detail planning. Imagine the scene, bomb trolleys, crew transport vehicles, fuel tankers, ammunition fitting, and personnel all over the place. The painting of D-Day stripes was done at very short notice by most of the Hartford Bridge personnel, sometimes in a rather haphazard manner!! While all this was going on, 264 Squadron were constantly patrolling between St Pierre and St Martin watching for enemy aircraft..
Tomorrow was another day, but what a day it would be...Sadly, a large part of this historic airfield has either been destroyed or allowed to become overgrown, but neither local bureaucrats or nature's contribution to the destruction of RAF Hartford Bridge/Blackbushe Airport have the ability to lessen the debt we owe to her and her air and ground personnel who on this day - and the next - in 1944 gave their all for our freedom and ability to enjoy what is left of RAF Hartford Bridge and our lives!!
Please give them a thought today whether you're on the airfield or not..
PB
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Post by PB on Jun 6, 2020 7:09:11 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 06/06/206th June...
6th June, 1944, D-Day 226 Squadron, Royal Air Force Hartford Bridge in action.....attacking strategic road layouts behind the beach heads in support of our invasion forces.With terrible irony, the airfield that Hampshire County Council are seemingly intent on eliminating was on this day in 1944 giving maximum effort in its endeavours to thwart the Nazi aggressors and preserve the freedom that we continue to enjoy.On this day, 6th June, Hartford Bridge's 88 Squadron would lay smoke in support of the Navy Second Cruiser Squadron, while 342 Squadron took on a similar task supporting the American invasion fleet off the Contentin Peninsular. Their Bostons carried just three crew members, flying at very low level the lower gunner would have been of little purpose. Somewhat akin to 2020 the wearing of masks on smoke laying sorties was essential due to the highly toxic nature of the smoke as it seeped into the aircraft. 342 Squadron were airborne by 05.00 weaving between the massive shipping convoys at wave top height. Their height was such that fire from either side passed overhead the aircraft. The enemy coast line's anti-aircraft batteries did their worst, 342's Boston BZ213 took a flak hit, she and her crew were lost in the Channel. An 88 Squadron Boston also failed to return, presumed to have crashed in the Channel.
On returning to base the ground crew caring for one of 88 Squadron's Bostons counted no less than sixty flak holes in the aircraft. Many years later crew accounting for their D Day experiences explained, "The activity on the beaches was fantastic, but it was hard for us to absorb much detail due to our very low height and high speed". They late learned that the 'powers that be' had estimated a 75% loss rate of the 24 aircraft from 88 and 342 Squadrons responsible for smoke laying. "We think we got away lightly as only three aircraft were lost during this particularly hazardous operation".
The last Boston returning to RAF Hartford Bridge was an 88 Squadrom machine. BZ214 returned to the circuit with only two wheels lowered. Rescue crews stood by waiting her arrival but sadly the landing went wrong, the aircraft caught fire the intensity of which prevented rescue of the crew. The accident also claimed the life of an heroic soldier who did his utmost to save them. 50 Square feet of runway melted in the conflagration. Despite the sorrow that came with the loss of our crews, the missions flown from Hartford Bridge were considered a great success contributing to the saving of many lives amid the invasion force.
The Mitchells of 226 Squadron were airborne later in the day attacking strategic targets behind the beach heads. Once the landings were complete 264 Squadron changed to patrolling the Normandy beach heads, patrols that continued for two days and two nights ensuring aircraft were overhead the beaches at all times. The weather did not help with a 300ft cloud base, FIDO was used as necessary to help crews return.
RAF Hartford Bridge was home to the mysterious "C Flight", equipped with B-25 Mitchells. On the night 5/6th June, 1944, a crew were summonsed to the Ops Room for briefing. They anticipated a beaches support mission was in the offing but instead were told that as far they were concerned the forthcoming flight was a VHF calibration.. Hartford Bridge - Point of Ayre - Trevose Head and return via Basingstoke. Met forecast cloud base 1,000ft, tops at 20,000...icing index high. Thick clag awaited. The VHF was full of static, Gee box failed, 20,000ft, freezing , on oxygen and flying on dead reckoning while strange meaningless messages arrived from somewhere below. Blind, they never saw the Isle of Man, headed hopefully for Cornwall and still blind finally headed for Basingstoke. Time for descent with no idea where they were...Out of the murk there came Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament right on the nose necessitating rapid avoiding action. After 4 hours and 30 minutes flying time the B-25 returned to Hartford Bridge. "Operational" bacon and eggs were enjoyed in the mess. A year later a B-25 collided with the Empire Sate Building in New York. The crews of C flight did question whether their flight on 6th June, 1944, might have made an even more spectacular bid for the history books?So much was happening at RAF Hartford Bridge on D-Day, the above can be just a taste of a vital Hartford Bridge day in history 76 years ago..
Perhaps worthy of an appreciate glance when next you set foot on the airfield that still fights for her survival? This time the enemy is closer to home.
PB
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Post by PB on Jun 7, 2020 10:30:33 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 07/06/20POTD operations department suffering a bit of diverted attention today, thus just the one image going back to blissful days in the sixties; the Aero 145 provided a new shape on the apron...Sunday at Blackbushe was an essential part of life as numbers of home based aircraft slowly increased. We all had a massive sense of pride and immense camaraderie seeing the airfield's increasing activity and an acceptance and awareness of Blackbushe's growing viability as an airfield that slowly evolved amid the General Aviation fraternity and even the public. Cars on the runways, walkers, horses, and Uncle Tom Cobley still required polite reminders that the airfield was a licensed airfield and runways were primarily for aeroplanes. Routine patrols in the AVM's Land Rover to clear the runways were part of Blackbushe Sundays, always with maximum courtesy... even if the persons walking between landing aircraft clearly said they did not know it was an airfield. Things have changed dramatically in that sense, but not in some others..PB
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Post by PB on Jun 8, 2020 6:40:37 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 08/06/20Despair. What else can one feel with riots, vandalism, desecration of war memorials, mass and civil disobedience all flying hand in hand with a global pandemic that continues to feast itself on innocent humanity as it journeys around our precious planet.. Human sanity is taking a holiday perhaps? No better demonstrated by a County Council who profess to be in financial hard times, announced £80,000,000 in expense cutbacks over two years, receiving vast Government handouts courtesy of the Covid 19 situation and yet happy to spend thousands of their rate payers money on legal endeavours in support of their drive to eliminate Blackbushe Airport and the exciting prospects it holds for their county? Back in the days...the 1960's! We NEVER dreamed that in six decades time the Battle of Blackbushe would still be being fought... Riots happened on the streets, Mods and Rockers clashed on the sea front come Bank Holidays while Blackbushe quietly got on with the job of flying aeroplanes. The Cessna Skywagon was a welcome resident as we made the best of what we had of Blackbushe. You'll note the US Navy hangar proudly occupying the north east of the airfield on the Parish Council controlled bit of Blackbushe, you will also notice the line of white crumpled concrete behind the apron. Evidence the local Parish were spending their pocket money destroying all they could of Blackbushe as fast as they could. It would be a fascinating exercise to add up just how much local public money has been wasted by our local and county authorities in their drive to inflict mayhem on Blackbushe, and exactly why...
The good news is that Blackbushe Airport's operational acres have never looked better despite bureaucratic blows, the even better news is that Blackbushe Airport's owners are far from beaten when it comes to finally winning the Battle of Blackbushe....
PB
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