PHOTO of the DAY...

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
25/06/21

A couple of questions to start the day, the answers to which the POTD editorial staff would be pleased to receive some answers... please and thank you!

POTD yesterday included two links. One to the latest Farnborough Airport Consultative Committee meeting, the other a link to yesterday's live Westminster debate on aviation. Whilst not 'to die for' subjects perhaps it would be useful to know if anybody watched one or both. POTD had over 300 visits yesterday, but no comments received as to the content. We have a Forum section where POTD comments are invited be they good, bad or ugly. It would be 'interesting' to know your thoughts and be able to gauge future early morning scribing accordingly. Many thanks, look forward to hearing from you...

Going directly back to 1945 and continuing our account of life at RAF Blackbushe at this time in '45. You will remember from recent POTD's that the Vickers Warwick, now a predominant type on the airfield, was giving endless problems with its engines and regular engine failures? Blackbushe was by June, 1945, a transport airfield more than an aggressor station, the Warwick being the staple transport aircraft.. Today, June 25th, no less than 25 Warwicks were grounded!! A gentleman with a problem arrived on the 27th June, he was Mr Martin Graham from Pratt and Witney. No doubt he was very popular.

POTD regulars will remember mention of cadets from Wellington College being given experience flights from RAF Blackbushe. Just as I did on my bike so many times to visit Blackbushe from Crowthorne where both a the College and I were situate, the College Cadets were lucky enough to fly in a variety of available aeroplanes. One Cadet, Brian Robinson, was particularly lucky as he was given a flight back to Blackbushe from RAF Brize Norton. His flight was aboard a Lancaster!! The flight must have influenced him, he later joined the RAF rising to the rank of Group Captain..

With the Warwicks grounded crews had spare time and when the summer weather was suitable Camberley's 'Blue Lagoon' swimming pool proved a very popular place to relax..




Another image of an historic moment at Blackbushe. His Majesty King George VI visited the airfield in company with the Queen for an investiture on 12th July, 1944, it was most unusual for such an event to be carried out away from London. F/Lt Simpson of 88 Squadron receives his medal from the King.




..and here we are, 77 years later and dear old Blackbushe continues to serve with business flights and very active flying schools, her war days are far behind but hopefully her heroic war days and post war contribution to civil aviation will long be remembered..


Stuart Marshal's account of war days at Blackbushe has been on the Forum for quite some time. Another link for you!! blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/157

That's it for today, hope to hear from you as per line one this morning.

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
26/06/21

Busy day at the "POTD" depot with near 800 visits since we last linked up this time yesterday. A couple of questions were posed in yesterday's "POTD", thanks to all who responded......

The closing days of June, and despite the weather that is where we are, historically capture the sounds of Douglas transport aircraft, Yorks, Bristol Freighters and the like clambering aloft laden with supplies in support of the Berlin Airlift. A major contribution to the Cold War, soviet forces blockaded all surface access to allied controlled west Berlin. Without assistance life in allied Berlin would have been impossible, fortunately limited air corridors were agreed within which vital provisions could be imported..An excellent opportunity for the UK's independent commercial operators to provide help and also make all important revenue to support their businesses. Halifax (known as the Halton), York, Dakota, Bristol Freighter, all would be seen regularly departing Blackbushe on their mercy missions carrying food, fuel and other essentials in aid of innocents cut off by soviet aggression..




G-AHDM Westminster Airways Handley Page Halton, one of numerous participants who flew essential goods to Berlin from Blackbushe. This courageous old girl flew many Berlin sorties carrying freight and fuel. Sadly, she would be scrapped when her time was up. Our heritage continues to find its value in hindsight!


PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
27/06/21

Sixty one years have slipped by since one of the nation's most popular and viable airports was closed by HM Government in their quest to provide London with a new 'second airport'. Until the end of May, 1960, the delightful Airport in northeast Hampshire known as "Blackbushe" was the home for numerous independent airlines, the United States Navy's UK operations, weather diversions from Heathrow, crew training for carriers such as BOAC and BEA, where RAF aircraft came for conversion work, and numerous private and company aircraft found a very valuable home base.

The location of Blackbushe, its excellent good weather record, it being within easy reach of London and placed within a superb passenger catchment area, plus being atop a massive natural plateau offering long unobstructed approaches area just some of the assets that made the closure of Blackbushe a very debatable question, especially as the alternative chosen was unable to offer much except being adjacent to a main railway line. Gatwick was famed for its horse racing activity until 1940, a location where fog proved a problem and cancellation of some events.

For whatever reasons, the Government found value in developing Gatwick and despite plans to develop Blackbushe the axe fell as we are all too well aware and Blackbushe was destroyed at high speed to render her unusable. The consortium formed by Blackbushe's resident airlines to purchase the Airport was jumped on by the Government. The sabotage of essential services, water, electricity, telecommunications was a feature of the efforts to make Blackbushe as non-viable as possible. As mentioned just now, there were plans to develop Blackbushe as London's Number One airport and Heathrow closing instead! A 10,000ft runway was viable as shown in plans by the US military who also considered Blackbushe as a base for their strategic bomber force.

But, as we know, none of that happened and local politics continued to tear up what it could of long suffering Blackbushe. 365 acres were, however, rescued by Air Vice Marshal Donald "Pathfinder" Bennett by purchasing and going ahead with his plans to develop the corpse of Blackbushe into a major General Aviation centre.

For over sixty years the owners of Blackbushe have fought local bureaucracy in their endeavours to turn Blackbushe into the pride of British General Aviation. The fight goes on at great expense in legal fees for both the Airport and Hampshire County Council who are obsessed with the job of destroying one of their most outstanding assets - at our expense.

Yesterday, sixty one years and a few weeks since Blackbushe fell to the Government axe, the airfield was its usual busy self as club aircraft, visitors, training flights, prop and jet powered aircraft revelled in the pleasant weather and Blackbushe's excellent runways and facilities.




Photographed by Jacob, one of our young and devoted Blackbushe supporters, an example of yesterday's business movements heads for the runway and much to the delight of the many who were enjoying the Airport's new dining facility, the "Pathfinder" Cafe with its great choices of refreshment, fabulous staff, and at no extra charge the most excellent views! The photo was taken from the "Pathfinder Cafe" viewing area..




Should the weather turn inclement the "Pathfinder Cafe" offers the chance of dining aboard the Cafe's comfortable Boeing 747 seats!



Do make a point of visiting the new Airport "Pathfinder Cafe", it offers an ever growing choice of refreshment and there are very few eating places that offer such an excellent view whilst enjoying their produce! The "Pathfinder Cafe" was, of course, named after AVM "Pathfinder" Bennett who alone saved Blackbushe from ultimate destruction over sixty years ago..

Our thanks to Jacob for his photo of 2-RAYS above and John Varndell for the "Pathfinder Cafe" image, and to you for spending time on our Forum. Yesterday "POTD" logged over 1,000 visits, our sincere thanks to all who click in our direction..please keep in touch with the Forum and Blackbushe as she moves forward to the day when at last she is truly able to develop into the affordable General Aviation centre so needed for the area south west of London.

Finally, another reminder that Hampshire County Council are running an online consultation until 8th July inviting its residents to offer suggestions as to how the Council may save money over the next couple of years... A perfect opportunity for us to emplore the County to stop wasting many thousands of our pounds in their unfathomable bid to prevent Blackbushe from building some hangars and proper facilities over and above the temporary offices endured for so long! Here's the link once more.... www.hants.gov.uk/aboutthecouncil/haveyoursay/consultations/balancing-the-budget


Have a great day, see you tomorrow!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
28/06/21

She first flew in 1935, on this day 28th June 1968, she was finally retired from RAF service.. Nearly 11,000 were built. The venerable Avro Anson excelled as a crew training aircraft with literally thousands of RAF pilots and navigators trained in this delightful old veteran of the skies.

Not a stunning performer in the air, but she worked hard and faithfully for many years. At Blackbushe the Anson was a very familiar sight through war and civil days of the 1950's especially during Farnborough Week when RAF 'Annies' would amass in numbers as they delivered personnel from around the UK's RAF stations.

Latterly the Anson from BAe Systems joined us at Blackbushe for the 2016 'Air Day' and again for three days when we celebrated Blackbushe's 75th 'Anni'versary in 2017.

Slow and somewhat ponderous, the Anson's Cheetah engines left a very distinctive sound footprint, one that I so much associate with the RAE Farnborough communications Ansons that daily flew above home and school linking RAE Bedford and other outlying RAE sites. Silver with red dayglo and RAF roundels, the passing Ansons were just a part of life.




PH693 September, 1953, 63 Group Communications Flight




Dear old G-ALIH. Blackbushe was open to flying again under the wing of AVM "Pathfinder" Bennett. August, 1962, and prior to the year's Farnborough Air Show EKCO's majestic Anson arrived to run some calibration tests on a temporary radar installation at Blackbushe. As was my won't and a very young member of the AVM's Blackbushe staff I offered to accompany Captain Meridith on the forthcoming calibration sortie. In the right hand seat we departed Blackbushe's runway 08 and very much under Farnborough's guidance performed the necessary flight pattern only returning to Blackbushe when we were sharing the sky with the RAF's Black Arrows, the Hunter display team who prided in flying rather large formations. Didn't they once perform a loop with more than twenty Hunters hanging together? Tragically this lovely aeroplane's days were terminated when yobs at Southend Airport set her on fire..




Another Anson from the 1960's. Lord Trefgarne's Treffield Aviation Anson popped in from time to time.. Lord Trefgarne was a great advocate of Blackbushe, last met him at Fairoaks seeking his co-operation with my plans for the Blackbushe 75th.




The other EKCO Anson joining Blackbushe's Farnborough Air Show visitors a little later in the 1960's.




This Anson was resident at Blackbushe for quite some time before departing for unspecified duties abroad.. A degree of mystery surrounded her fate and intentions. Again, we're looking back to the 60's.




Faithful Annie, thanks to the generosity of BAe Systems 'HKX' spent the 2017 75th Anniversary weekend on show at Blackbushe! The previous year she flew down to join for the Air Day.




August, 1962.... Beautiful Blackbushe slides under the Anson's wing on that August day in 1962 when strapped to the right hand seat the size of Blackbushe's apron and Terminal building were clear to see. Sadly, this Anson, two thirds of the apron, and two thirds of the Terminal have been lost to vandalism conducted by either thugs or misguided bureaucracy.



Old and historic aeroplanes or old and historic airfields, both need to be treated with the love and care they deserve.

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
29/06/21

When launching the Blackbushe Forum alongside Stuart Marshal the objective was to create some kind of portfolio to which members could sign up to show their allegiance to the airfield or anyone could drop in and explore some of the Airport's history. At the time there were few documents that brought together the aspects of Blackbushe including war and peace and it was felt that some form of living legacy - a forum - might fill the gap. Robert Belcher's magnificent tomes on Blackbushe history have filled the gap magnificently, "Blackbushe, London's Lost Airport" is available online via the Blackbushe Shop.. www.blackbusheairport.co.uk/shop

Stuart has suffered from severe health problems and has accordingly had to step back from involvement with the Forum or any other aspects of Blackbushe's extraordinary story. However, the Forum is blessed with Stuart's work regarding accounts of the various heavies that flew from the Airport in her commercial days and his account of wartime days too. Fuelled by a life long passion for the airfield and a very strong belief in what she is capable of and what she must be permitted to do, I fully intend to continue the daily discourse for as long as possible via "POTD" and I hope most sincerely you will stay with me on the journey and perhaps spread the word amid those whom you think may also be interested.

AVM Bennett's dream in 1960 of acquiring Blackbushe Airport once the Government had abandoned her still lives on. The dream is far from accomplished due to the six decades of political 'debate' that have prevented her from becoming the AVM's major General Aviation hub, but the hope is still very much alive thanks to the present owners/investors whose plans are simmering and waiting...it's almost beyond belief that 80% of my life has been spent largely devoted to a few hundred acres of north-east Hampshire. Happily those years have been blessed by so many wonderful friends and associates, many of whom are today members of our Forum and often encountered at the airfield, often at the new and superb "Pathfinder Cafe" named as a token of respect for AVM Bennett for whom the title "Pathfinder" became his middle name.. Therein lies a long and extraordinary story..

Rather than take more of your time on this day, I'll place a link for you to take a look at. It's the account of a Boston trying to return to Blackbushe in 1944. Sadly her flight ended in nearby Sandhurst. The account rings many bells as until he age of four I lived in Sandhurst with Mum and Dad. I well recall my Dad accounting of this tragic occasion, and of Mr Peabody the butcher. We used to purchase our meat from his shop post war, while George Loader, mentioned in the text, was a friend of the family for very many years. Thanks to "Aviation Safety Network" for the account of Boston BZ387 and her sad ending...


aviation-safety.net/wikibase/163242?fbclid=IwAR2PJzWesZo-pM-Qcqe0ffSdq3yeqYiQdJT7JdIonYZdY0u1GVlzboKuwME


That's all for today, 07.00 and I've a squadron of hungry jackdaws squawking their hunger distress signals outside, at least they provide plenty of flying action and how I envy their ability to take flight whenever the mood takes them! Free food too...

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
30/06/21

Flaming June as just one more day to live and regain its reputation, but 'flaming awful' looks like the best description for a disappointing month. Of course, it wasn't all bad! Cheering across the land last evening as England said 'cheerio' to Germany, and a new Health Secretary arrived to steer us on a more positive Covid course....

If you look at 30 June in the aviation calendars one or two items catch the attention. In 1926 Alan Cobham departed England on a round trip to Australia in a DH50, that lovely large biplane that could carry four passengers. He returned on October 1st receiving a Knighthood for his ambitious endeavour. A few years later, 1947, the Vickers Valetta made its first flight, and in 1968 the mighty Lockheed C=5 Galaxy made its first flight.

Had you set foot on or near Blackbushe on 30 June, 1955, BOAC Constellation G-ANUR would have seen flying circuits while crew training, in 1957 KN645, Field Marshal Montgomery's personal Dakota made one of its many visits to Blackbushe with the man himself, 1957 the US Navy Attache to Oslo arrived aboard a Grumman Albatross, and in 1959 one of many Blackburn Beverley movements was recorded. Our old airfield was indeed a source of much variety from both civil and military sources!!

However, she may have been closed in 1960 when the end of this extraordinary airfield looked certain, but thanks to those with the courage to operate her privately and fight for her ongoing survival Blackbushe has witnessed a fair degree of aeronautical variety since being 'closed'....




Vickers Gunbus, Three Counties Air Show..




Multi engine mix..




RAF Transport Command popped in a number of times..




Commercial transports have carried passengers in and out..




So many times since being 'closed' Blackbushe has shown herself as the perfect location for business flying..




..or making movies..




Warbirds of all ages have found refuge or been rebuilt and put back into the air..




..and what about Farnborough Weeks when she was bursting at the seams with visitors?




The 1980's, the era of the light business 'twin' of which Blackbushe had no shortage!




..and there have been times when the scene perhaps lent itself to former days, but one thing is for sure...The sun has never truly set on Blackbushe Airport, for six decades she has survived the malevolence of hostile bureaucracy, we just need to inject a shot of common sense into those who have failed this splendid asset to aviation..

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
01/07/21

July already... while the pandemic has rather blurred the passing of weeks, months, and the past near on two years it might be safe to think that this month greater realism as to the threat of Covid-19 and Governmental restrictions on our movements will become clear to see? The media, and politicians, need to slow down their scare mongering as to Covid in the vaccine age and balance it against the threat of other conditions that continue to form a threat to our human lives.

Aviation and in particular international travel are key subjects toward the UK retaining its position in world markets, not to mention the once high employment in these essential sectors, we are but a trading island that cannot lose its links to foreign markets. Yesterday, MPs questioned the Government about their plans for international travel. If you wish you may watch the debate as carried by Parliament TV on this link:- parliamentlive.tv/event/index/bbac374c-b46f-477f-bac9-e0fdbbf9f949?in=13:28:25

Moving on, or rather reflecting on last month, June was a busy month for traffic visiting "Photo of the Day" with just under 11,000 visits. Sincere thanks to all who clicked in our direction, it's certainly encouraging to know that the Blackbushe subject continues to generate the interest it so richly deserves.

Our first line in today's "POTD" considers time's passage. This line continues in the same vein as it is FOUR YEARS today that the Blackbushe 75th Anniversary celebrations took place over 1st and 2nd July, 2017. An event that arose from the desire to see the milestone occasion given the credit it deserved, show the world what Blackbushe represents from past history to present time, and vitally what she stands for as prime General Aviation terminal long into the future..

Today, some memories of four years ago....





















































































Would we do it again? You bet, well I most certainly would!! But not without our brilliant volunteer brigade who were just priceless. Sure, we had a mountain of "high stress" times before the event that are now best forgotten, but blessings of great weather, a good attendance followed by many very positive reports on social media and lasting memories of what can be achieved. VIPs, historic aircraft, a flying 'programme' that kept interesting aircraft in the air throughout the days, our History Hub, a widespread ground exhibition, and the Anniversary cake..combined to produce an event that proved how much space Blackbushe still affords for use in the interests of aviation...

Blackbushe Airport's true birthday date is in November, but our advanced planning machinery indicated that the eleventh month of the year might not be entirely suitable for crowds or for aviation purposes.

More 75th photos tomorrow..

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
02/07/21

July's second day, four years ago to this day it was the Blackbushe 75th Anniversary's second day of fun, flying, and festivities..

For the record, a few more images of the occasion....photos largely thanks to Paul and Steve appointed as photographers in chief!!








































































































Four years have melted away since then, two days after many months of devoted sweat and tears amid the 'team'... Blessed by great weather once again, we showed off the airfield's past in the History Hub, ensured interesting aircraft were in the circuit throughout the 'open hours', while the show ground held many stalls, stands, rides, entertainment, and great food and drink, even a tea room and, of course, the Spitfire Lounge for elegant dining!! Radio interviews, television reports/preview, press coverage, newspaper competitions for free tickets, and posters distributed to shops/pubs etc etc requiring days of hand deliveries and persuasive conversation...Buses from British Airways transported visitors from the huge north side car parks. Volunteers who glued the occasion together, putting up miles of fencing - and taking it down again - equipping the History Hub with so many images and models, cadets who kept control of safety and our visitors, the team who managed ticket sales, and to those who supported us by bringing their magnificent flying machines. The team in the Tower, medical teams, the Airport ground crews who kept the wheels turning and ground handling aircraft, the Airport admin operation and the list goes on...So many to whom gratitude is due. One thing was very obvious in comparison say with running the Air Festivals back in the 1970's...red tape, bureaucracy, control, risk aversion, and expense in providing for the 'requirements' imposed by the contents of the CAA's CAP403 documentation..and local bureaucracy's requirements for crowd management, "risk", etc etc..

But worth every bit to keep Blackbushe in the mind's eye of the people, to celebrate her significant birthday even if it might have knocked years off the lives of some, but most of all the greatest thanks goes to the Airport owners who agreed to the event and underwrote the proceedings. Without you we would have no Airport to celebrate....

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
03/07/21

Hopefully the past couple of days wherein "POTD" recalled Blackbushe's 75th four years ago brought back positive memories for those of us who were there? Today, July 3rd, marks the first Royal Air Pageant held at Hendon Aerodrome in 1920. A relaxed event where guests may mingle with aviators and their flying machines, sit eat and drink in comfort and a degree of elegance while those magnificent men - and women - go aloft in their flying machines sounds a perfect means of blending aviators and the public in the best of environments. Why, it sounds just like a visit to Blackbushe Airport's new "Pathfinder Cafe"!!!

From the lightest of light aeroplanes to multi engined jets, a relaxing visit to the "Pathfinder Cafe" will satisfy your appetite for close-up aeroplanes and excellent personal refuelling!




This week, for example, the latest in single engined turbo prop luxury in the form of this PC-12 from the Continent..




..or the fabulous pressurised PA-46 might have slipped past you while enjoying the Pathfinder's unique viewing position..


Thanks to 'slideman' for the above photos!!




Back to the 75th for a moment..the joy of months of sweat and tears as the first aircraft arrived for the coming weekend. Friday 30th June, 2017.




What it's all about. The joy of flight on an English summer's afternoon... a moment captured flying with 'Baders Bus Company'.




The narrow margin. Operational Blackbushe sits between disused Blackbushe 'south' and the Common Land covered by British Car Auction's many hundreds of second hand cars.. Common Land covered in cars??? We don't seem to hear too many objections to this use of Common..




Obviously I have no intention of being controversial, but isn't it written in Common law that you may not fence in Common Land? Seemingly British Car Auctions think otherwise on what sadly is now their part of Blackbushe Airport..



According to the Met man (or woman..) we're in for some thundery stuff this weekend? Wishing you a great weekend and, of course, c'mon ENGLAND, let's hope we make a good few strikes at the goal mouth?

PB

[PB]

Photo of the Day"
04/07/21




July 4th, Independence Day in the USA!! There once was a time when the US military machine played a part in the Blackbushe scene with its US Navy base and US Air Force and Army passing through. If you looked upon the A30 as a viewing platform Blackbushe offered much US military variety for those who stopped and stared!




Globemaster from the USA, at the time the world's largest aircraft quite happily fitted the once full sized Blackbushe.. Parked on the northern end of runway 01/19 on this occasion.








The United States Navy, so much a part of Blackbushe's history..



Over sixty years have flown since those photos of US 'occupation', but dear old Blackbushe despite being shamefully beaten, kicked, and abused by local authority still holds her head up high fighting off the desires of some to turn her into more of the vast amount of unused scrub land, or Common Land, that already fills so much of her surroundings. It's interesting that Farnborough Airport was established on Common Land when HM Balloon Factory was established, land acquired by the military at the end of the 19th Century.. Common sense has prevailed at Farnborough, it's tragic that similar common sense cannot be applied to the problem that deprives Hampshire and General Aviation of a prime asset called Blackbushe!

Meanwhile common sense has prevailed at Southampton Airport as described in the Forum's "Non Blackbushe news" section... If you're interested here's a link to the article >> blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/15934


In hopes that one day common sense will be seen arriving at Blackbushe Airport it's 7am and I must attend to many things, not least making a cup of tea.....

Happy Independence Day to all our friends in the USA!!

PB