PHOTO of the DAY...

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
01/02/21

February touches down with hope for the future and if all stays in place Blackbushe's Court of Appeal day later in the month.




An atmospheric, if damp, Blackbushe apron many years ago...POTD is today literally one photo due time constraints, and events demanded by the NHS. Hopefully normal service resumed tomorrow...




Stay well, have a nice day, and thanks to the almost 9,500 visitors to our daily POTD during what seemed an endless January!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
02/02/21


1st February 2021 was one of those days you'd care not to repeat, but one that proved yet again the priceless services provided by one of our greatest assets, the NHS and its wonderful and tireless crew.

Yesterday, 1st February, but in 1945, tracking back down the roots, or routes, of history to the progress of war at RAF Blackbushe was already undergoing considerations for her future. Wing Commander Collins and three other officers arrived for important meetings regarding the future of the airfield. Such was the geographic suitability of Blackbushe that it was already being considered for conversion to becoming a Transport Command base. Proven good weather, away from conurbations yet conveniently close to London, long hard runway... As is the case today, so it was yesterday, Blackbushe is laden with potential with its natural suitability for aviation.




Transport Command may never have taken over Blackbushe as hoped for, but her post war civil airport status suited frequent sorties by their aircraft..



Still in February, 1945, as the weather permitted Blackbushe's squadrons continued to support Allied troops. 605 Squadron Mosquitoes attacked on numerous occasions during February ,'45, flying "Ops patrols" during which the average flight time was three hours. 418 Squadron damaged a train near Osnabruck on 1st February.

Today, 2nd February, 418 Squadron despatched a raid of fourteen Mosquito aircraft for a raid on Hengelo in Holland. Thirteen aircraft returned with damage. A flying bomb was attacked and destroyed by Flt Lt Hackett, the bomb being seen to crash near Zutphen, Holland.





Post war RAF "Commands" of all types found value in Blackbushe's perfect position..














They may not be back again but they are, hopefully, permanently pasted into history. Not quite history yet, POTD will be patrolling the same bit of sky tomorrow around this time...

Finally, today's Covid estimated figures concerning active cases in Hart District... 533, down by 71 from last week, the curve has started its downward trajectory again, let's hope it continues to do so. Figures from

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
03/02/12

God speed Captain Sir Tom..

A quick turn around at POTD Towers this morning, scheduled for an early touch down at the vaccination centre to join the ten million already primed with shot number one... active Covid cases in Hart show 521, 124 down from last week.

Stepping back to this day in 1945 at RAF Blackbushe, on 3rd February fifteen crews of 418 Squadron took to the skies aboard their Mosquitoes destined for targets in the Cologne area.




Just this today. Reflection of days before Covid came into the world.. Slowly, but surely they'll come back.

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day
04/02/21


Having been directed to attend the Yateley Medical Centre for the first squirt of Astra Zeneca's Covid 19 insurance policy yesterday one could legally route past Blackbushe Airport and soak up the scene en route.

Sad to see so many aeroplanes silently waiting for better times, but gratifying to see so many flying machines that have made Blackbushe their home. Back in the sixties such a scene would have been unimaginable with our handful of resident aeroplanes tied to the apron with lumps of concrete. I recall going home at the conclusion of one of our early fly-ins and reporting to my Dad that we actually had EIGHT aeroplanes on the apron at one time... Believe me, back then that was something of an accomplishment!

The Airport has 'matured' over the past decades despite the actions of one or two local Councillors and our illustrious County Council. One can but dream of the future and what could/should be, perhaps the Court of Appeal hearing in just over two weeks from now will bring those dreams to reality? As mentioned recently, bureaucracy is responsible for some 22,000 days of delays due to its blinkered view point on the potential that Blackbushe holds as a grown-up General Aviation centre...




By the 1970's scenes on the apron we would never have believed back in the dark ages of the sixties.. Doug Arnold's warbirds and some visitors produced quite a bit of variety and camera fodder on days like this when a 'flying day' came along.











PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
05/02/21

Due to an issue with my router the POTD computer is out of commission. No immediate idea how to solve the issue having carried out the usual tests, rebooting, and resetting.... Feel a bit like a beached boat and the tides a long way out!! Will return with the daily asap... hopefully
PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
05/02/21

Not wanting to let the side down and maintain our daily slice of Blackbushe found the problem and fixed it too!! Corrupted DNS config, flushed DNS cache using Windows 'cmd' prompt and here we are again! So easy...thanks to Google search for finding the answer!

To keep things going from the POTD point of view, here's a memory of how to spend a summer's day in good company!!







Tech permitting, see you tomorrow!!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
06/02/21

Having suffered ongoing software problems that consumed most of yesterday and total cut off from the world, cursing, total loss of self confidence, the problems of 'no internet' were eventually traced and rectified guided by various bits of online documentation from my old laptop. Delving into the bowels of one's precious PC and following what you hoped was good guidance the eureka moment arrived and normal service was resumed. Even more amazing, at 05.30 pressing the start button resulted in a still serviceable computer this morning! Did I learn anything? Yes, I fixed a sick DNS server. How? Mainly luck!

'Tis now almost 06.30 and Blackbushe has vanished in a swathe of early morning mist according to the web cam. Temp just on 0C..and snow warnings for tomorrow, winter is not quite done yet.

A quick update on Covid 19, Hart District now showing 468 active cases, down 103 from last week. Going in the right direction but no room for complacency just yet. I have mentioned the ZOE project whereby one submits a daily report on your health, tests, and vaccination status. Over 4.5 million have joined now, their data proving invaluable in tracking the virus, vaccinations and subsequent changes in viral spread. They have offered me a free Test following 24hours of reaction to the Astra Zeneca vaccine on Wednesday. Within 12 hours flu like symptoms made me feel pretty low for 24 hours but they went as fast as they arrived. Compared to catching the virus there is no comparison! For the sake of all of us I cannot stress how important the work of ZOE is in working with the NHS providing facts to the Covid figures. Please consider signing up, it's free, takes only a second and we all benefit. covid.joinzoe.com/ THANK YOU!!

From the POTD vaults this morning...scenes seen on the apron.




The roaring fifties..




United States Navy Neptune, apron that is no more, Blackbushe 'east' in the background AND the original Control Tower. The aircraft is positioned at the hold for runway 32.




Tragedy. 1962/63 as Yateley Parish Council carry out the work of destroying their finest asset. Two thirds of the apron were reduced to rubble. The question as to "Why?" still remains....





The pure magic of our early Fly-ins. Didn't get too many arrivals, but to see our usually deserted apron this well patronised was quite the emotional experience..





The last Lancaster, cc 1968, today she is "Just Jane" based at East Kirkby.




Later in the sixties, Blackbushe 'east' has started to turn wild....




Time marches on, so does the overgrowth of Blackbushe 'east'..




More magic. The memorial Flight's visit not so long ago.





A meal with a view! The cafe at Blackbushe will continue to provide excellent refreshments, and the best possible views!!





Prior to Covid, lockdowns and a world we used to know! It WIll come back!!




There's always one!! Results of deranged driver activity who wrapped the old apron gate around the front of his car. Happily such events are rare and will always be 'seen' whichever way you might choose to exit the car park!!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
07/02/21


What a gift!! David Payne's latest unveiling has taken pride of place as the Forum's 'header' photo, and also rests below....




How does the song go? "If a picture paints a thousand words....". This study of Blackbushe based DC-4 ready for boarding as her passengers wend their way across famed and sadly lost tarmac. Cabin crew awaiting to greet their latest flock. A Dakota's elevator peeps in on the left side, to the right the long forgotten Blackbushe infrastructure of Airwork's technical area. Two Airwork Hermes rest amid the scene. Always neatly cut grass and Blackbushe's distinctive white posts usually connected via white chain link complement the moment. The expansive Blackbushe 'east' offers views out to the eastern skyline, the Control Tower is hidden behind the passengers and very much in line with the starboard wing.. Beyond that, a thousand memories lie along with decades of subsequent hope that someday the pride of Blackbushe will be restored. Could February this year see to it?? The DC-4, G-APCW, enjoyed life at Blackbushe from August 1957 to December 1959. On 11 December, 1959, she suffered an engine fire on departure from Blackbushe but happily returned safely.



Looking back in time at 7th February in aviation terms the weather played its hand in making an historic moment. Rather as of today, at this moment, the wind was driving down from the north on 7th February, 1938, and Squadron Leader Gillan of 111 Squadron hit the headlines by making a very rapid flight from Edinburgh to Northolt at an average speed of 408mph, a handy 350 kts or thereabouts. An aeroplane with a promising future..

On this day in 1945 Blackbushe's history, 7th February recorded the last of the "Bulge" patrols. Flt Lt Middleton of 605 Squadron flew a 3hr and 25 minute sortie with 605 Squadron Mosquitos strafing railways and bombing a factory. 418 Squadron were in action against targets in the Munchengladbach region, sadly one aircraft failed to return.

On this day back in 1946 my parents had what I hope was a happy event for them??

Also on this day in history, following his death in 1956 we said 'goodbye' to 1st Viscount Trenchard, Hugh Trenchard, "Father of the Royal Air Force".

Bringing matters right up to date... You might have noticed a recent addition to the "Non Blackbushe News" in the Forum? A piece from AVweb and the future use of 'airspace'. A revolution in technology is moving eve closer as demands to be green link with new and exciting technology. An interesting read and perhaps one day pertaining to airspace near you? It's here... blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/15072




Hard to believe this summer it will be four years since Cameron cut the Anniversary cake and Blackbushe Airport realised she had flown through 75 years of aviation..
















We had one heck of a good party, a fabulous body of good men and women, and a dazzling collection of aeroplanes to mark the occasion!!




In 2021 and lockdown such anniversaries have to be somewhat tempered, but today I now know how dear "old" Blackbushe must have felt being so well matured!!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
08/02/21


Another day, another year older but life goes on!! Huge thanks to all who sent their good wishes yesterday, each and everyone carried the value of friends in these days of lockdown and enforced captivity. Thank you again!! With exciting wind chill factors being beamed down from the weather station today will be another day of embracing the enforced captivity....

Yesterday's photo of an Independent DC-4 waiting to consume its Blackbushe passengers has just sparked one or two others that convey a similar theme, big aeroplanes at Blackbushe and their human bread and butter!




A classic Blackbushe Forum moment....the Eagle has landed.




Worth its weight in gold, the photo that says it all...passengers departing.




Departing by day..




Departing by night..





Four legged arrivals..



Passengers arriving..




Refugees arriving..




Troops departing..




The Paras, about to go up before they come down again..








They might have closed Blackbushe in 1960, but despite various factions and their bureaucratic efforts to eliminate the Airport, aeroplanes have continued to bring their passengers to the historic piece of north-east Hampshire we know and love as "Blackbushe"... Long may they do so!


PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
09/02/21


Turned out chilly again. Minus a degree or so but backed up by the Siberian breeze that tends to freeze all and everything who stand in its way! Through the occasional flurry of snow flakes to keep the birds food supply topped up at least provides some flying activity to watch with envy..from the warm side of the double glazing, of course. The current report from ZOE indicates estimated active Covid cases in Hart district standing at 224, down a significant 309 from last week.

Some BB pictures...




May, 1953. Ex BEA Viking G-AJBV converted to YI-ACJ by Eagle Airways. Soon she would be starting a new life with Iraqi Airways..




Just another evening in the fifties, another Eagle Viking returns home..




Demonstrating the plateau effect. When an aerodrome rests on a natural plateau insufficient thrust can have its consequences. A BEA Viking at the conclusion of a day's training detail.




Further demonstration of the plateau effect. This photo appeared on social media yesterday and amply demonstrates how Hartford Bridge Flats were - and are - the most perfect natural airfield! The A30 running arrow straight and totally flat for almost two miles RAF Hartford Bridge had the unique distinction of being built of both sides of the London Southampton trunk road. The mile stone must be the one that still stands on the southern side of the A30 toward the western end of the airfield. That being the case we are looking toward the east across the wild and wide open flats. History was destined to be made here, and it still is!!


PB