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Post by PB on Mar 30, 2021 7:06:45 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 30/03/21Face tinged pink after a day of perfect sunshine, CAVOK, and a looong walk amid the horticultural splendour of the RHS Wisley. At last a degree of freedom granted and reunited with my daughter and grandson..he's now 18 months old and seemed puzzled as to who this old guy was! The price of lockdown..
Wisley. Close to the old aerodrome from whence Vickers produced their classic aeroplanes, close to the OCK VOR and its flying circus. CAVOK skies should have yielded an endless supply of aircraft inbound to LHR and orbiting the hold a couple of times, or perhaps a string of light aeroplanes transitting as once they used to. The price of the pandemic was all too obvious as the days's CAVOK skies revealed an absolute dearth of flying machinery of any shape or size. The day produced long and brilliant vapour trails by the few who soared to great altitudes. The services of Planefinder were looked to a couple of times to identify the lucky souls who still ride the airways. A few light aircraft added their signatures to the day, however, it was a day that confirmed how the world of aviation has paid a terrible price over the past year. The sun shone to great effect but there's still a long walk before we are out of the woods aeronautically speaking.
Looking back at my old flight log this morning it feels a million miles from the 'old days' where somehow 130 types of flying vessel took your scribe aloft from 188 sites from major airports to a humble sugar plantation far away.. The sad thing is that at a time when enterprise is dearly needed to sustain aviation's hopes for tomorrow a massive asset, such as offered by Blackbushe, is swept to one side by a bureaucratic group and their legal teams who feel no guilt at condemning the airfield into 'non viability' spending vast sums of our money to fuel their blind ambitions.
Looking back in time to when aviation was supported more universally, it was on this day in 1929 that Imperial Airways commenced the first scheduled air services between the United Kingdom and India. Long before my time, I hasten to add....Within living memory..when warbirds with historic feathers gathered at what was once their proving ground in combat..the five temporary resident B-25s provided support for the movie business. "Through the Eye of a Needle" starring Donald Sutherland was the occasion for this view that probably bore similarity to the real world of 1940's Blackbushe..Freedom of the air? Way back in the sixties, an early fly-in, no advisory R/T service, seems that Hoskins is still having trouble improving the accuracy of his circuit procedures? This was the time when freedom of the air meant exactly that, numerous aviators indulged themselves in straffing runs across the apron. A pastime that did not last for long, I recall an instructor fearing a high speed stall would result from some of the enthusiastic zoom climbs that resulted from the inertia of their 'attack'.. it didn't happen but painted a picture of what's not good for your health.Ahh, Farnborough Weeks of years gone by. Taking a week's holiday from aviation pursuits elsewhere to look after the handing of visitors during those hallowed weeks when the cross runways provided a parking ground for aircraft so plentiful in numbers that we filled both sides of 14/32, overspilt onto 01/19, plus keeping the larger aeroplanes on the main apron. Working with Dave Hill, Roger Russell those days were just magic, we simply wished Blackbushe could be frequented like this on more occasions than the two yearly Farnborough Week...Another Mitchell moment. The five film stars spent much of their Blackbushe time sitting in a row mid field..They happily gave me a whole new flying experience, on one sad day taking Roger Russell to Biggin Hill.Onwards and upwards. The sun is already in business, looks like the pink cheeks from yesterday could be heading into deeper red by sundown?
Have a good day, beware the UV bite!
PB
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Post by PB on Mar 31, 2021 6:20:36 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 31/03/21Farewell to March. Another chapter in the Book of Covid wherein a degree of extra freedom has been granted by the powers pertaining to Boris of Westminster, the Judiciary pronounced judgement upon the mystical land of Blackbushe condemning its people to more months of anguish and uncertainty, and our flow of imports from the far off land of China were stymied by a boat's misbehavior demonstrating the Suez Canal's ongoing value..The month is terminating by spreading goodwill amid its people, at least in the southern half of the still united United Kingdom by way of sunshine and pleasant temperatures. The media reporting the 'hottest day of the year since 1968' or thereabouts making a change from the arbitrary 'when records began'.. Personal reflection takes me back to Blackbushe (where else?) and March 1961. The airfield was by now desolate, her runways and taxiways still intact, just the Terminal and the vast US Navy hangar remained. March 1961. No Mans Land.. A huge open flatland where no trees nor scrub had set foot. On the Sunday in March, 1961, of clear recall the dead aerodrome was like Blackpool beach more than Blackbushe Airport. Wall to wall sunshine, it was was truly hot and a perfect example of the vagaries of weather patterns on our island nation. One day wet, the next sub tropical as by March the current bun's elevation can lead to pink skin syndrome.. Possibly some would give the nod toward 'climate change', or see it as an opportunity to spread a few more windmills across the land.
I was fifteen, having decided to pay respects to my recently deceased airport friend mounted the trusty bike and pedalled once again to Blackbushe. The scene by mid morning was extraordinary. I shared her runways with a million Sunday day trippers. With ton-up boys on motor bikes, hot rod boys on four wheels, kites, radio control model aircraft (Yeah..flying continues), and sun worshippers appreciating the benefits of an abused aerodrome. The radio control flying was of interest but the spectacle of what had been Blackbushe Airport becoming a pleasure beach minus the sea was hard to stomach.I know I didn't feel good about the change of use of Blackbushe, never dreamed 16 year later I would get the chance to bring a degree of aviation variety to the airfield that has written itself throughout my time on Earth. A somewhat worrying medical experience awaits at 09.00 this morning. Time to close the shop and boldly go forwards...the sun's going to shine, I'm sure it'll be another good day.
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 1, 2021 6:46:30 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 01/04/2106.00, April has touched down, at least we've had a taste of early summer weather conditions to cheer us through the Easter Weekend's reminder of winter courtesy of a blast of cool apparently heading our way from polar bear country. Is it me, or did the Met Office folk on the Beeb almost relish the fact they could utter a four letter word connected to this Easter? S N O W. Wouldn't be the first time. I well recall an Easter weekend in the early sixties, staring across Blackbushe from the windows of Three Counties Aero Club as snow showers travelled across the land. A US Air Force Dakota dropped in offering the scene of this unusual and large machine as snow busied its way across the aerodrome.
Easter long ago. Sunshine before the snow showers..
Sadly, you don't need a forecast to predict how British parks will look after a 21st Century warm day. Am I just being old fashioned, but was there not a time when the Brits could enjoy a gathering without leaving our well kept parks/beaches likened to an air disaster report with wreckage spread over "a wide area"? The Sunday Market at Blackbushe always left a trail of debris especially noted when the wind originated in the west and the airfield became a refuge for unwanted plastic bags. But, nothing like the achievements of the new Brits of recent...
Turning around toward the past for a moment's escape...1924, 1st April. Today witnessed two significant steps forward. The Fleet Air Arm was formed while in civvy street Imperial Airways were founded with assistance from the British Government. This side of WW2, in 1954, the beloved Spitfire operated her very last operational sortie with the Royal Air Force, a photo recce flight against bandits in Malaysia. On this day in 1974 Britain's once state airlines BEA and BOAC merged into the chalk and cheese conglomerate to be known as British Airways. Looking with an eye to the future, yesterday the Blackbushe Forum carried two reports from AVweb pertaining to two new aeroplanes designed to play a significant role in tomorrow's General Aviation..The Cessna SkyCourier and the Kodiak 100. Both are types that my imagination dares to see finding a place at Blackbushe and opening new opportunities in the world of short haul General Aviation transport..Sadly, I've spent most of my life daring to hope, the window of opportunity is no longer as wide as it once was...tempus fugit, and all that! Anyway, do take a look, there's some excellent video clips too, here's your link >>> blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/15427 Feel free to add your comments! Yesterday, the Red Arrows flew across the town of Wokingham, my birth place..Very kind of them, a flurry of excitement was noted as to this manifestation of vintage jets in formation, but nothing to compare to when Three Counties Aero Club took to the skies in mixed formation!!Yesterday, today, tomorrow. There she lies. Hampshire's 'natural' airfield resting on the broad Hartford Bridge plateau, a more environmentally perfect aerodrome in the busy south-east you could not imagine. There she lies. So full of hope, opportunity, employment, the affordable business airfield whose ambition has now been crushed by sixty years of anachronistically fuelled opposition. It's April the first, the Blackbushe joke has gone on too long...While one has sympathy with the Common Land ideals surely in the 21st Century as man prepares to revisit the Moon, can land on Mars and prepare to fly a helicopter in its rare atmosphere, surely there must be a way that common sense can take the upper hand at Blackbushe and find a way for all parties to agree that a well manicured business airfield and its wide open spaces are preferable to the waste land that will ensue were Blackbushe to be no longer an airport?? Finally, for today, I'm rather pleased that the medical worry hanging over me for some time was dispelled yesterday. Looks like "POTD" will be treading boldly for some while to come. Ain't life grand!! Oh, and thank you for the 7,500 visits to POTD during March. You're doing nicely
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 2, 2021 6:59:07 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 02/04/21"Good Friday", a long weekend.
From the view here at "POTD Towers" it's going to feel somewhat akin to more of the same of the past twelve months. The Met Office do not look like being too helpful regarding enjoying the wide open spaces our recent small step toward liberation has permitted. Twelve months, never had such a period when fuelling the car been such a rare experience, no vacations, just a quick Sainsbury's as necessary entering stores masked like a modern day Dick Turpin, fewer visits to Blackbushe than ever before, and skies depleted of passing traffic that would at least conjure memories of one's years gone by.. I know a year has gone by as lawn moving duties have now been resumed. Lawn duty rewarded by the smell of fresh cut grass and rows of parallel lines on one's verdant pasture. Wow betide the lawn mower operative if parallel is not achieved of the lines are not at the prescribed angle!
Couple of facts from 2nd April. Back in 1955 Trans-Canada Airlines introduced the Viscount into regular service. The first North American airline to operate turbine powered aircraft. Back in 1987 the dear old VC10 made the headlines as a Royal Air Force VC10 set a new record time between the UK and Australia, landing in Perth after a flight of 16 hours 1 min.
Easter at Blackbushe.. 1976 Cold, but an excellent Easter 1976 turn out of vintage aeroplanes and their people!..and there we have some of the participants in Blackbushe's 1978 Easter PFA Fly-in..Happy memories. The event organised by Rex Coates, dear Rex is recovering from a stroke and residing in France according to latest news. A more enthusiastic vintage aeroplane person you'd be hard pressed to find. Owner of a couple of Miles aeroplanes during his flying career and one of the great group of pro Blackbushers I met in 1960/61 when the Blackbsuhe Aero Club was formed following AVM Bennett's successful acquisition of 365 acres of Hampshire formerly a part of the land known as Blackbushe Airport.
So many memories to shuffle during the quiet moments.
Here's to a good Good Friday..
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 3, 2021 7:03:57 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 03/04/21Six in the morning, Easter Saturday's not holding much promise from a meteorological perspective, at least the pre-chilled polar air flow should prevent your Easter eggs from premature melting problems?
It's good to see Blackbushe air traffic returning to better times as a result of the eased lockdown restrictions. The Forum's 'aircraft movements' pages have carried some superb photos submitted by our roving reporters of recent Blackbushe activity. While in the air the airfield is humming once again, on the ground work continues on the complete restoration of the Airport cafe. We'll keep you posted as to when the grand opening may be expected, but the wait will definitely be worth it....
Our salute to the past and keeping an eye on RAF Blackbushe's historic records we've from time to time followed the airfield through from D-Day, 1944 and into 1945. Today, 3rd April, 1945, was an important one in Blackbushe's steps from being an aggressive air base to one with peaceful intent focused on logistics and air transport. Newly home based 167 Squadron's first operational transport flight departed. VIckers Warwick C3, AG220, departed for Le Bourget. She carried spares for other aircraft who had become U/S there. Dakotas continued to arrive with casualties from the Continent.
With an eye on the future, the Forum carried another 'propulsion' update yesterday. The drive toward alternative power sources for General Aviation continues. This time it's hydrogen fuel cells and the work is being conducted in GB!! A vision of aircraft of up to 50 seat capacity. Here's a link to it.. blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/15449While technology seeks answers to tomorrow's power providers in our skies, earth bound powers continue their efforts to clip Blackbushe's waiting wings. At the end of next month it will be 61 years since Blackbushe closed, 61 years during which life at Blackbushe could have been so different were it not for the unfortunate opposition from sources hell bent on seeing the airfield turned into a wasted opportunity becoming no more than waste land.The Open Spaces Society was founded in 1865, some while before human progress lead to aviation and how it would serve mankind's needs. They have published a report following the Court of Appeal's recent decision to dismiss Blackbushe Airport's February appeal against last year's High Court judgement. Here's some of the OSS's report posted on their website.... "The court of appeal has dismissed a move by Blackbushe Airport Ltd (BAL) to remove the airfield from the register of common land. The court refused to overturn the decision of the High Court that the land must remain registered as part of Yateley Common. That decision was defended by Hampshire County Council and the society, Britain’s leading pressure-group for common land.
BAL applied to the council to deregister in 2016, on the grounds that the entire airfield—occupying 46 hectares—was curtilage of the terminal building. The court of appeal has confirmed that the application must fail.
The society’s case officer, Hugh Craddock, said: ‘We are delighted that the court of appeal has decided that Blackbushe airfield should remain registered common land".
Hugh continued: ‘The outcome of BAL’s application turned on the meaning of “curtilage”. This judgment brings some clarity to that meaning, after a string of puzzling decisions in the higher courts over many years.
Hugh added: ‘We are very grateful to Hampshire County Council and its legal team for taking the lead in defending the status of Yateley Common, to Peter Tipton and his legal team for defending his and other commoners’ rights, and to our own legal team for their thorough research of the history of the presence of the airfield on the common and the varying judicial interpretation of curtilage over more than two centuries. Their work enabled today’s judgment".
While respecting the importance of Common Land and our open spaces it is surely tragic that a present day asset of significant value to the nation's GA and transport infrastructure cannot find a way to be permitted to provide basic facilities when as an airfield it is one of the best ways to ensure its spaces remains 'wide open'?
The Red Arrows flew a few miles north of Blackbushe this week following a fly past at the Runnymede Air Force Memorial. Searching through the POTD photo vaults this morning a photo caught my eye. There was once a time when Farnborough was a place where crowds marvelled at the spectacle of a 'full show' by the Reds. I took the very amateur shot from G-FOTO while on a sortie with the late Arthur Gibson during the last day of Farnborough 1986 - flying from Blackbushe, of course.... The official Red Arrows air to air camera ship we circled at 6,000ft, not an inch lower, as Arthur continued his legendary work through an open hatch accessed from the Aztec's rear seats on the starboard side. The rapidity in which the Hawks traversed from just under 6,000ft to near ground level and back again left much to be desired from the Aztec's capability! It's very sad how changing times have rendered the Red Arrows to no more than a fly-past at Farnborough - assuming another 'Farnborough' is permitted at some point? The decision was taken by the Reds in view of Farnborough's close proximity to the high degree of residential property and business premises that now surround the airfield. Not a problem shared by Blackbushe Airport.
Have a nice day...
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 4, 2021 6:50:55 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 04/04/21Easter Sunday launched at 6am with a refreshing -1C beyond the window. Hopefully the Sun's more commanding elevation will see off winter's sting? Wishing you a Happy and healthy Easter regardless of the weather..
The Forum's current 'header' photo might need explanation as to its whereabouts?Sadly the photographer is no longer able to tell his story, "Benjy" Wilmer having sadly passed on a few years ago. However, there is little doubt it was taken close to the location of the original Control Tower and is looking roughly east south east. The Meteor is taxiing toward the main apron, the two large hangars being those of Airwork Ltd, while the multitude of offices and workshops can be seen to the extreme left and also between the photographer and the hangars. Airwork carried out much RAF contract work at Blackbushe, to the left the tail of an RAF Hastings is visible. The A30 runs from left to right before the trees you see in the background. All this, of course, fell into the hands of Yateley Parish Council and latterly Hampshire County Council and is consequently reduced to an unusable overgrown entanglement.Recently photographs appeared on the 'Yateley Past & Present' Group on Facebook described as Blackbushe crews from WW2. Numerous copies of our POTD photos also appear on local Facebook groups and I'm delighted that we are together sharing Blackbushe Airport's rich history although some aspects of the past decades I would not call in anyway 'rich' as bureaucratic fingers have an insistent tendency to get in the works. Following a little 'on-line' investigation I've found the photos and identification as to the personnel..... RAF Hartford Bridge, 137 Wing. S.H.Q. Photographic Section. Photographs 1 is of three airmen and a dog sitting on the ground. Reginald George Cavalier is on the left. Captioned: 'Chalky White, Les Seymour.'Photograph 2 is of five airmen sitting on the grass in front of a barbed wire fence. Captioned: 'Chalky White, Tom Thomas, John Johnstone, Les Seymour, Harold Pyatt.'Photograph 3 is of five airmen including sitting on the grass, eating from mess tins. Reginald George Cavalier is on the right.Photograph 4 is of three airmen and a dog sitting on the ground. Behind them are ridge tents. Reginald George Cavalier is on the left.The photo details I found on the "International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive". The descriptions suggest that these fine gentlemen are part of the airfield's wartime photographic unit. It will be remembered that the Photo Recce units at RAF Hartford Bridge performed mammoth and essential work with high altitude unarmed sorties deep into enemy skies preparing the allied forces for D-Day. Locating the German V1 and V2 launch sites was another of their remarkable achievements.
If anybody should perchance to have further details or any photographs from RAF Hartford Bridge days we would be very pleased to host them on our Forum devoted to all aspects of life at the airfield..
Talking of life at the airfield, on this day 4th April, 1945, a second Vickers Warwick squadron formed here. Yesterday's "POTD" referred to the launch of the airfield's move toward logistics and supply as the fighting units had moved into Europe as WW2 progressed. This latest squadron was 301 (Polish) Squadron whose Warwicks added to the types already gathering familiarity within Blackbushe airspace. Finally, a nod to an aeroplane with no track record at Blackbushe. On this day in 1957 the English Electric Lightning made her first flight, the British aircraft industry remained a force to be reckoned with on the global market place for fighting aeroplanes.
Happy Sunday.. hopefully the morning's first frantic couple of hours delving into the past will be of interest?
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 5, 2021 5:52:18 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 05/04/21Easter Monday. 06.00 and +6C on the other side of the window. The ice bound mayhem predicted with such gusto by the weather persons at the BBC has not arrived as yet... The isobars conspiring to drag an Arctic blast with snow et al looked set to mess up Monday, but currently we're six degrees warmer than this time yesterday. Looking at wind flow and current temperatures t'up north there's something on its way though...
Easter. The Christian message of resurrection prevails at this time as we're offered evidence of new life after this one... Whilst Blackbushe Airport was crucified by baying politicians sixty years ago many of us have looked for the resurrection that would bring her new life throughout those six decades, the 'faith' remains strong amid her loyal disciples whose vision of Blackbushe 'reborn' remains as strong as ever. As the years proceed, however, the benefits of a miracle are looked for more strongly than ever. Especially as some of us have used up much of their allotted span!The Blackbushe years since 1960 whilst being long and arduous in many ways have also yielded a huge amount of fun and opportunity to help along the way. Farnborough Weeks' visitor handling being some of the fun!..or traffic just passing by!A bit of traffic variety.Some time shades of days gone by could be seen, and felt....For years the faintist line across the apron could be detected, a line painted to assist new swept wing Comet airliners' crews as they taxied repeatedly across the apron during training sorties. Wing tips were no longer quite so visible from the front seats as they once were. No matter your view point, the past sixty years of bureaucratic disrespect for Blackbushe and the assets she holds are far too easy to see...Happy Easter Monday, remember Blackbushe should you be sending out any prayers..
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 6, 2021 6:40:50 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 06/04/21Well, that's Easter done. The world at 6am is feeling one degree under so far as the local outside temperature is concerned but no doubt the rising sun will attend to that soon enough.
Yesterday's "Member of the Month" award once again went to 'Rocky14' for his latest contribution to the Forum's "POTD Comments" section.. Nothing stirs the POTD heart more than comments/ideas from our members! Rocky14 observing from POTD 05/04/21, "Third pic down on POTD provides a very good feel of how much of EGLK has been lost - masses - the USN hanger looks a long way away!" Here's a prime example of how the mighty US Navy hangar looked in the early days of the 1960s. The operational airfield perfectly mown, to the right gorse growth can be seen at the start of its six decade take over of what was also once immaculate aerodrome. Beyond the Ercoupe visitor our trusty and only source of aviation fuel, to the right just in picture the little guy is Peter Johnson, son of the late Derek CFI Three Counties Aero Club. Peter now works in the USA for Gulfstream. We were all so much younger back then....Early 1960's Farnborough Week gathering on our shrunken apron. The late great Formula One Champion Graham Hill's US registered Aztec lower right. As the years passed and Farnborough visitor numbers swelled we had little choice other than to start using the cross runways for additional parking space.Back in 1the 1960's a Government logistics exercise brought three Argosy transports to Blackbushe. Here one of them arrives over the already growing entanglement of Blackbushe 'east'..Another 'apron moment' frozen from the sixties. A Zlin Akrobat, turbo powered Auster, Tipsy Nipper, and Bolkow 207 enjoy Blackbushe accommodation. Freshly broken up apron lies beyond.... Bill Freeman, Airport Manager, is seen wearing dark blazer heading back to the Terminal. Memories of those treasured days remain indelible amid the odd remaining grey cells! Indications advise runway 19 is in use...As it was in the beginning. 1962. Early residents mixed with visitors. The EKCO mobile radar unit on a temporary trial, but no recall of it actually being used. It was fully calibrated for Blackbushe use, I having the pleasure of flying in EKCO's Anson for the calibration flight! We still had hopes that the apron on the other side of the red flags could be saved, but the Parish Council would have none of it..Destruction was forthcoming.Finally, who says the Red Arrows have never performed at Blackbushe? Show time in the 1960's!! We had a Red Arrows flypast during the Airport's 75th Anniversary in 2017, but how the world has turned from those days when display flying was somewhat more spectacular than of now with documents such as CAP403 spelling out what you cannot do in great detail. Much depends on your Display Director's ability.If you allow it, Blackbushe Airport will ensnare you in its web and forever grip you in her control...For those who have known her from early in her commercial clothes right through to the present day of legal confrontations and unfettered hopes and endevours to secure this most excellent site for aviation purposes there is little hope left of ever escaping the magnetic grasp of the aerodrome we know and love as Blackbushe.
Meanwhile, have a nice day...
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 7, 2021 7:30:06 GMT
07/04/21My tribute to a dear friend..REX COATESLife, like every successful flight, has a beginning and an eventual ending.
Last night I learned of the very sad passing of a good friend and someone for whom flying was the keystone of life. Rex recently passed away having suffered poor health for some months, he leaves his daughter and many aviation friends who will be deeply saddened by this news.
Rex whom I last saw over lunch at Blackbushe a couple of years ago was one of the Blackbushe pioneers and a name deeply associated with the efforts toward setting up a Blackbushe flying club in 1961, he was one of the now legendary group of people who gave so much time and effort in assisting AVM Bennett with the clearing up of Blackbushe's chaos following her post closure destruction. An aircraft engineer with BEA at the time Rex gained his PPL and eventually went to own and restore Miles Monarch G-AFLW and also owned Miles 18, G-AHKY. From an engineering stand point Rex was an engineer licensed on a very large number of civil aircraft, organiser of various Blackbushe fly-ins and PFA events and someone who for many years was a part of life at Blackbushe. I had the pleasure of sharing many flights with him in a variety of aircraft types and will never forget his friendship, company, and devotion to Blackbushe.. or the small aged blue Fiat 500 that was so often in the Blackbushe car park indicating Rex was around in those far off early days. Sadly, being only 15 in 1961 when first meeting Rex and the others who formed the Blackbushe Aero Club, Rex's departure means that none of the names I looked up to in those early days are now left...
Today is a sad day, but one of many wherein we may look back and be grateful to Rex for all he did and his undying enthusiasm for vintage aviation and Blackbushe. He lived in France for much of his time over the past years but also had a property in London. Rex's immaculate Monarch getting a salute from the Red Arrows at one of the BA shows at Wycombe Air Park long ago...The other aeroplane, Rex's equally immaculate Miles 18.The Monarch arises, Rex departing Blackbushe..Rex (left) and Alan Chalkley during vintage Blackbushe days... Rex did much work with Alan restoring G-ASPS..A great day out with Rex. Booker-Blackbushe-Shoreham-Portsmouth-Blackbushe-Booker.September 1967, a vintage fly-in at Portsmouth and probably the last event before the airfield's closure? We were followed by a vintage aeroplane out of Booker but cannot remember who, or what..French coast ahead. Rex in command as we conclude the over water stretch in an Airways Flying Club Terrier en route to a vintage club fly-in at Berck-sur-mere in 1966.Missing men. The late Maurice Robinson (Robinson Aviation, Blackbushe) and Rex (right) examine a Proctor prior to the task of turning the aeroplane into a 'Stuka' for the Battle of Britain movie. The Proctuka was born but did not fly.Man and machine. Rex in the Monarch's cockpit, completion of the mighty restoration job in one of the Blackbushe hangars was close.Another Mile's moment! Rex (left) turns finals for Blackbushe's runway 32, the aeroplane being Miles Messenger, G-AKBO.Another chapter closes....I am truly grateful to Ted Gardner who has kept me posted during Rex's illness. As he said to me in a message this morning, "It's the end of an era". It most certainly is, to Rex I can but thank you for years of fun, flying, and friendship. Fly on my friend, wishing you good VMC all the way....
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 8, 2021 8:08:52 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 08/04/21Following yesterday's sad news regarding Rex thank you to all who knew him and responded either on the Forum or social media sources..
Business goes on. Yesterday the Forum carried another report on alternate powers sources, this time on progress at Lillium and employment of electric thrust for eVTOL air taxi craft of the future.. For those interested here's your link to read more.. blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/15475
Going back in time to RAF Blackbushe on this day 8th April, 1945, our reporter from the time gives his update.. A convoy of 81 vehicles was seen arriving at RAF Blackbushe with 170 personnel requiring accommodation in the extensive air base facilities.
The Blackbushe story goes both ways on the time spectrum. A rich history, and still there remains a potentially buoyant future as a business airport. Of immediate interest, the Airport's new public dining/refreshment/viewing area is progressing well, and will deliver a vast improvement over previous facilities as visitors will discover in due course.. A close inspection yesterday totally satisfied my curiosity as to the new layout and also a chance to meet the delightful team who will be in control... I would very much like to meet the sad person who took it on to vandalise the old mural painted by Tony Harold in the 1960's going back to the priceless Three Counties era..It's repairable, but why - and who - would choose to deliberately gouge Tony's artwork that has been in situ for over half a century with some kind of blunt instrument? An act of supreme courage, but "who done it?"..By way of a change, social media pages continue to show Blackbushe visitors. Of recent Kevin Withers has posted some of his collection of Blackbushe jets on Facebooks's Blackbushe zone. With his kind permission some of the business jets, "that have graced Blackbushe over recent years"... Makes you realise the potential locked up in Blackbushe when Hampshire's affordable choice for business flying is finally able to complete her infrastructure....
Thanks to Kevin for the above photographs, I am quite certain there will be more to follow!!
See you tomorrow..
PB
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