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Post by PB on May 16, 2021 6:31:03 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
16/05/21 Until May, 1960, scenes such as this at Blackbushe were part of routine life, our national long haul flag carrier training crews on all the types they flew back then..The calendar reminds that it was on this 16th day in May, 1968, that a BOAC Super VC10 made the airline's first fully automatic approach and landing at London Heathrow. Airports known for their better "fog free" record were becoming less necessary as the autoland thing caught on... Scenes like this at Blackbushe due to fogged out London Airport belonged ever more to yesterday. ...what shapes belong to the Blackbushe of tomorrow?PB
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Post by PB on May 17, 2021 6:09:17 GMT
"Photo of the the Day"
17/05/21That's another weekend filed. Somewhat moist, we can but hope the Met 'persons' manipulate their jetstreams and isobars in such a way as to deliver some hope for more seasonally appropriate weather soon. Boris says we can go out to play, so come on Met people.. give us some hope!!
Talking of hope and in this case Blackbushe Airport. Time is short today for much detail, but having just read the draft "Neighbourhood Plan for Yateley, Darby Green, and Frogmore" currently open for public consultation until 2nd July, 2021 the section pertaining to Blackbushe Airport is of significant interest. Later I hope to produce its entire content on Blackbushe elsewhere on the Forum, but for now the following words give rise to the emergence of a common sense bureaucratic viewpoint significantly better then from older local sentiments. "Policy YDFNP13 – Blackbushe Airport. The use of Blackbushe Airport for aviation uses is supported. Changes of use and new development for aviation uses will be supported where they can demonstrate: i) No unacceptable adverse impact on the local community by way of noise, visual amenity, traffic generation, odours or air pollution; and iii) No unacceptable adverse impact on designated environmental assets, having regard to their status. To reduce traffic impacts and support sustainable development all development proposals which are likely to have significant transport implications should be supported by a travel plan to seek, as far as possible, that movements by private car are reduced. Where negative impacts are identified after assessing proposals, these should be mitigated where possible. Where negative impacts cannot be satisfactorily mitigated planning permission will not be supported. In the event of closure of the airport, the return of the land to public open space will be supported".
The sentiment regarding limiting road traffic and car movements stems form the national drive to reduce the national carbon footprint, but it does create a question as to the current part use of Common Land by BCA upon their bit of Blackbushe whereby thousands of cars are stored, parked, sold, and replaced on a daily basis. These vehicles arrive either solo or aboard the very high number of transporters that are now such a common sight on surrounding roads. The resultant pollution, to use the popular term, must far exceed any created by Blackbushe's aviation footprint either today or throughout her lifespan?
 Before I go, one image from yesteryear... Early in the 1960's an extract from "The Air League" journal. Blackbushe has had many friends in her six decades of striving for common sense as to her use and her future.It is more than tragic how her future in the 21st Century is hung on the line by legal interpretation of manuscripts akin to a bygone age.
PB
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Post by PB on May 18, 2021 6:53:17 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
18/05/21So what's special about today? THE "PATHFINDER CAFE" at BLACKBUSHE AIRPORT opens her doors and from today you can eat IN or eat OUT! Your choice, but with recent visits by the travelling monsoons it's a great option to have!!Yesterday "POTD" delivered a section from the draft Neighbourhood Plan for Yateley, the Forum also gives you the full section of the Plan's visions on Blackbushe Airport plus a link to the full draft document should you wish. Click here to read more... blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/15720The old aviation calendars always have some dates of aviation intestest.. Today, for example, in 1953 the DC-7 made its first flight, in 1966 Sheila Scott departed Heathrow Airport in her Piper Comache for her first solo round the world flight, and in 1983 American Airline carried their 500 millionth passenger! Throughout the years since 1960, Blackbushe has fought for her survival against the sticks and stones of a vociferous minority backed by certain local government representation necessitating repeated visits to the courts of law. Blackbushe Airport has no intention of yielding! Above, early faith in Blackbushe when IDS Fanjets established their operation basing themselves here. Later the company opted to move to Heathrow and has subsequently been dissolved.
Remember, eat in or eat out, Blackbushe's "Pathfinder Cafe" awaits for you!!
PB
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Post by PB on May 19, 2021 6:37:57 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
19/05/21So, what was so special about yesterday?
Of course, our freedom took some big steps closer to the old thing referred to as 'normal', but what made it really special? Yeah, the "Pathfinder Cafe", Blackbushe's totally new dining experience could now invite you in to eat and drink, and eat in at the comfort of the all new tables and chairs - or even the suite of fully refurbished Boeing 747 seats! The changes brought about to the premises are amazing, from floor to ceiling, wall to wall, you name it..it's new! To mark the occasion, I gathered some of my family and in the comfort of the "Pathfinder's" Boeing 747 suite we enjoyed the benefits of an "all day breakfast". In my case it was the 'Flyer Fry-up'...cooked to perfection and served with the professional care and courtesy that are key aspects of Blackbushe's new "Pathfinder Cafe". Knowing Air Vice Marshal "Pathfinder" Bennett as I did, I know he'd be totally in approval of the Airport's new premises named in respect and honour of him, a great aviator who also saved Blackbushe from annihilation. The transition. From this.... ...to this in a few short weeks. From desolation and despair.. ...to a thriving modern GA centre. She may have been physically split apart by bureaucratic weaponry, but the last six decades has been a period, so far as Blackbushe and her locality are concerned, where nobody has won, and everybody has lost.... What a title to hang on today's local politicians and their ancestry?Blackbushe Airport has survived six decades of bureaucratic adversity to become, despite local politicians, AOPA's 2019 "Aerodrome of the Year", a title she still holds I believe, and one of General Aviation's foremost airfields in the south east of England.. If Hampshire County Council could stop playing their games and recognise Blackbushe as a modern day asset, not a spin off of Henry VIII's manuscripts, employment would leap up, the local economy would benefit, and Blackbushe Airport would become an ever greater source of pride for north-east Hampshire.
The "Pathfinder Cafe" gives you a taste of what the Airport owners would do to improve and upgrade the entire Airport from the ground up - if only. Meanwhile, why not give the "Flyer Fry-up" a spin, just one of the delicious options available today at the "Pathfinder". What a great name, whoever chose it must have been inspired...  ?
PB
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Post by PB on May 20, 2021 5:26:58 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
20/05/21A brief "POTD" this morning...
 Farnbrough Week at Blackbushe during the fifties presented a generous selection of aircraft types... After the airfield's untimely closure in May, 1960, it was assumed that "Farnborough Week" at Blackbushe would be a thing of the past. NOT SO, as this Italian Air Force G222 confirmed during "Farnborough Week" long after the Ministry pulled out and the survival of Blackbushe was left to private hands...Blackbushe Airport's potential still lies below the surface, akin to a caldera wherein pressures build up below the surface just waiting to erupt. It would have done by now if local government had not blocked up the works..
PB
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Post by PB on May 21, 2021 6:27:17 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
21/05/21Our windswept isle continues to suffer the vagaries of life on a lump of land ceremoniously dumped on the Atlantic's eastern reaches..
POTD steps back for a moment..glancing back in time to see what 21st May achieved in aviation history. In 1927 Charles Lindbergh landed 'Spirit of St Louis' near Paris having completed the first solo crossing of the Atlantic (imagine!). In 1977 Concorde flew a special New York to Paris flight to the 50th Anniversary of Lindbergh's incredible solo feat on the same route - Lindbergh took 33 hours and 29 minutes, Concorde consumed the trip in 3 hours and 44 minutes. When you think it was only 50 years separation mankind's exponential growth in its ability/capability is very obvious.
It is now 50 years plus ten that Blackbushe Airport has been denied the benefit of some hangars to protect aeroplanes that dearly need them. In this age of human enlightenment, capability, and ability to rapidly create vaccines capable of netting a global pandemic how can it be that a local antediluvian bureaucracy has been able to block the airfield's employment and GDP supporting potential for over half a Century whilst also destroying as much as they were able in the process..? Could anybody reading this please explain the basis behind the farce created at the hands of our local politicians? We look forward to hearing from you............... Like time, just passing....1950's Blackbushe resident Percival Prince (1956-1959) of Stewart Smith & Company, taxies abeam the splendid Blackbushe Control Tower en route to the 26 hold. The Tower was, of course, destroyed in 1960 as was Airwork's widespread infrastructure part seen in the background. The site is today lost in a tangle of overgrowth, scrub and bureaucratic malevolence, it really is a pity foresight did not grant the Tower a stay of execution - today it could perhaps have become a place of public interest akin to how Greenham's old Tower has become a visitor attraction.. Job for Airwork. One of the numerous RAF Hastings that came to Blackbushe for conversion work by Airwork... Job for Doug.. One of the many warbirds that came to Blackbushe for restoration and recovery to high quality museum pieces. The benefit of new hangars in the background made such work possible, sadly the hangars have been acquired by a sprawling car auction concern while Blackbushe continues with a few temporary plastic hangars to give much needed shelter to a mere handful of flying machines.POTD asks again... Can anybody explain the logic exercised by local bureaucracy for over half a century preventing this local aviation asset from becoming what common sense surely says it should be??
Looking forward to hearing from somebody out there.....anybody??
PB
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Post by PB on May 22, 2021 9:08:43 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
22/05/21We know the weather has been unseasonably cold, last night "POTD's" editorial writer broke the ice accumulated over the many months of lockdown, hiding behind the furniture, socially distanced, masked, dowsed in Covid repelling chemicals, washing hands every two minutes and chanting the Boris mantra "Hands, Face, Space" and, of course, anxiously waiting for the next Downing Street briefing starring the 'Two Ronnies of Doom' as ever more dire prophesies emerged - as they did in the early days! Well, maybe that's just a little overstated, but last night my far better half and I joined friends and went to a superb Greek restaurant for our first meal out for a very long time! All precautions were in place ad carried out, nonetheless, the atmosphere was amazing, as was the food, and the company... Hard to believe so much time and tragedy has passed since we last did this. Life is returning, but looking at Hart District once more we have 71 active Covid cases according to the ZOE study, that's up 19 from last week. All fully jabbed, we felt we have to start taking steps towards 'tomorrow'...and life in the 'new world'..The Forum carried a message of hope very recently conveying details of how the General Aviation market is faring in the United States. Obviously a very different market to that found in the UK, but nonetheless encouraging that GA has by no means lost its grip. Here's a link to the article.. blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/15735 A reminder of apron life at Blackbushe in the fifties.  Guess I was about twelve at the time, it seemed very fortunate to have a busy airport relatively close to home, especially having clearance to fly solo on the trusty push bike.  Probably taken in 1950. Photos from Stuart Marshal today. This Westminster Airways Halifax had returned from duty on the Berlin Airlift, sadly she was broken up on site in November, 1950. How much for a complete Halifax today???Don't forget the "Pathfinder Cafe" is open 0800-1600 everyday except Monday. From June opening will be every day of the week....with the recent weather it has been necessary to eat inside as, of course, you may now do at the "Pathfinder"..
PB
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Post by PB on May 23, 2021 9:31:38 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
23/05/21On this Sunday morning a few steps back amid the pages of history, after watching the Eurovision song contest last night and consequently losing the will to live, history is probably a safe refuge..
Royal Air Force Blackbushe by this time in May, 1945, was establishing in its new role as an RAF Transport Command base, Group Captain PH Maxwell AFC had assumed command of the airfield by this day in May, 1945.
Remember Nimrod? On this day in 1967 she made her first flight. Scenes of wanton destruction tend to lodge in the mind, the sight of new and incomplete Nimrods being broken up following the Government's cancellation of the Nimrod MRA4 project in 2010 are hard to forget. New and incomplete Nimrods being destroyed before they tasted the air provided a sorry sight.
On this day in 1969 a drunken US Air Force assistant Crew Chief boarded a USAF C-130 at RAF Mildenhall, started the engines and took off.... Two RAF Lightnings, a couple of USAF Super Sabres and a USAF C-130 were launched to try and contact the USAF's latest pilot. Speculation spread a to whether the Hercules was actually shot down, but it crashed into English Channel off Alderney following some 90 minutes airborne. The "pilot" was never found. Just one image today. RAF Hartford Bridge as she looked shortly prior to her official opening in November, 1942. The sad east end of the airfield hacked off by the local Parish Council following the 1960 closure provides the foreground, the thin white dividing line of Vigo Lane may be seen crossing the aerodrome right to left.. (It crosses the closest runway intersection in the photo). Aero Flight from RAE Farnborough's gliders may be seen adjacent to the main runway, they took advantage of the new runway and free airspace as Farnborough was increasingly busy with war's demands.As always, any comments from POTD reader would be welcome on any subject pertaining to Blackbushe, why not share your points of view for all to read....?
PB
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Post by PB on May 24, 2021 7:32:51 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
24/05/21Running late, not actually late for anything, just behind the usual schedule. 07.00, blue skies and sunshine..it almost feels like those far away days when you'd fly from the UK's often grey and damp climate to a land where sunshine rules, a few hours' time change awaited as did the blue skies that brought you here.. Ahh, memories!
Memories are valuable friends, they keep so much of the past alive as life's mores sedentary passage in 'retirement' proceeds in a somewhat more passive way than it once did.... Apart from the hopes for good health and well being of friends and family, I seem to have a lingering desire to see dear old Blackbushe Airport emerge from her chrysalis state. The state from whence she will emerge when the conditions are favourable and she may spread her wings and show exactly what has been held in store for so long. That long awaited 'butterfly' having been pinned down by a circumstantial farce for six decades, she's got to emerge soon...one cannot wait for ever!
Today's 'header' photo goes back to the now legendary days when Three Counties Aero Club established at Blackbushe around 1963 with Auster 6 aircraft as their means of flight. Founded with close links to Dan-Air Engineering at Lasham the Club aircraft had bright day-glo fin and rudders, otherwise white with a black fuselage cheat line.. The 'header' also shows our new Shell fuel station complete with underground tanks, we could now refuel aircraft via brand new facilities! Combined with the arrival of Three Counties it felt as if Blackbushe was truly going somewhere, it surely wouldn't be long before the local authorities approved the development plans? Well, we all know how they have fared...
Three Counties Aero Club did have permission to erect a temporary club house. Happily, the premises have ridden the passage of so many years, they've changed a bit in the process but today they have provided the basis for the Airport's excellent new dining facility, the Pathfinder Cafe. To some of us the premises are so full of ghosts and wonderful memories of friends, flying, and fun.... One minute I was sixteen washing the Club's aircraft at the weekend to earn free flying lessons, the next in a blink I'm not quite sixteen anymore, but still able to cobble together memories of the times.... G-ANIS. Another old friend, Three Counties Auster V, the Lycoming engine provided a somewhat less robust sensation than the Auster 6's Gipsy Major.. By the mid seventies the fleet had become Americanised with Colts, Tri-Pacer, Cherokees and a Comanche 250, along with a couple of Piper Cubs, and a Beagle.. Must not forget the Rapide and beloved Chipmunk and the Cessna 150's that came along too. Oh, and "Pretty Louise" our fabulous Percival Prentice. A Twin Comanche came along too, a distant memory of flying in it with Vic Hargreaves and getting the feel of a twin... Happy days. Very happy! Beautiful "MXL", the Chipmunk, she loved being upside down in flight, cleared the dead moths from the cockpit too.. Three Counties Comanche 250, my first venture on top, 8/8 all the way to RNAS Culdrose.. I do not recommend trying to prop swing this engine!!  Three Counties Rapide. For some reason folk enjoyed jumping out whilst in flight? I flew as an 'observer' when the Blackbushe Parachute Club used her. Odd feeling being alone in the back of an aeroplane when moments before you had good company... Today, too many faces have disappeared from the scene, hard to believe so many years have elapsed since those hallowed Three Counties' days... Guess that's life!
PB
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Post by PB on May 25, 2021 6:13:23 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
25/05/21Those of us who might have looked forward to hiring a supersonic business jet are heading for disappointment. I know, you're bound to feel the news comes as a terrible blow, but the project reported on POTD a couple of times in the past has come to a grinding halt. Details on the Forum here... blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/15744
Aerobility are one of Blackbushe Airport's most widely known residents achieving amazing results, hope, and achievement amid their disabled members. Although focused on Biggin Hill, the coming weekend will bring the Aerobility Air Show, a free to view arm chair air show. Take a look, proves the spirit of aviation remains intact if a little restricted over the past year, or more... www.aerobility.com/armchairairshow
 Aerobility's Tecnam with the most appropriate registration.. and they do. Out of curiosity I've just glanced through the years 1950 - 1959 to see which airlines flew from Blackbushe on today's date 25th May.. Britavia, Westminster Airways, Silver City, Aden Airlines, Eagle, Independent, Meteor Air Transport, Trans Canada, Air France and Orion are some.. Many military flights noted on this day too. One's curiosity sometimes becomes aroused as to what the airfield would look like today if plans for its development by the Government had come to fruition? We'll never know! It's also fun to speculate as to how Blackbushe Airport would look today if her present owners had been able to press ahead with their plans if Hampshire County Council had not put their foot in the door.
PB
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