PHOTO of the DAY...

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
15/07/21

Predictions of 29C over the south of England in the near future, must say the met at 07.00 is looking very positive..

Lunch at the "Pathfinder Cafe" yesterday. Busy as always, but plenty of room! Another resounding 'thumbs up' from family members with me as to the whole "Pathfinder" operation, food, service, you name it..simply excellent! The flow of aircraft movements adding the final touches..




One of yesterday's visitors courtesy of Steve Lynnes...



One thing is very obvious about Blackbushe Airport in 2021. The County Council might be spending vast sums of OUR money trying to ruin the Airport's prospects by legal means, but the spirit of the old place is still very tangible at the airfield who stubbornly refuses to yield to wayward bureaucracy..

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
16/07/21

06.00, July over half way to August and the threat of some summer weather looms large.. With Covid the past months have been welded into an almost timeless amalgam of tragedies, political gesturing, sensational media headlines, the awful realities of a global pandemic, endless illustrations of human compassion, and the marvels of 21st Century technology whereby vaccines have been developed and produced in their many millions of doses. History will outline this time we have experienced together, no doubt future generations will be glad they were not here to witness it?

At this moment in time our own region of Hart District Council in which Blackbushe lies there are, according to the ZOE Covid study, 193 active Covid cases in the district, up by 47 from this time last week. According to my calculations that's just under 0.2% of the Hart population. While Boris hales a relaxation in Government imposed restrictions from 19 July, there's no doubt the future is going to be dependent on our wisdom as to how we proceed so as not to spread - or catch - the minute virus with a very powerful bite.

Meanwhile, on the subject of passing time, I took a walk on the wild side a couple of days ago venturing onto the Airport's eastern end that is now the domain of Hampshire County Council. I stared up at the Terminal Building's eastern wall that marks the division between common sense and bureaucratic mayhem...



The Terminal's first east end wall in 1956 prior to the final extension..




The fully intact Terminal as seen from the A30 in 1964..




..and from the air in 1963!



That now long gone eastern wall and far end of the Terminal was where numerous young aviation enthusiasts spent many happy hours soaking up the wonders of 1950's Blackbushe. Road traffic was less intense back then and once cleared to go solo on my bike my first cross country- and many subsequent ones - lead to this very spot from whence the future would unfold. To this day, so many years later, the Blackbushe 'bug' remains alive and well and ready to do what it can to promote and defend the south's 'natural' airfield..




There it is today, the latest "eastern wall". It looks just like the one in the late 1950's, but Hampshire County Council destroyed it along with their two thirds of the Terminal. Not only did they have to pay for this terrible destruction, they also had to build a new wall to repair the Airport's end of the building. Such a farce, and as you see from the photo, the Council's care for the Common that they are so keen to preserve is already growing into more waste land where once the splendid Terminal did stand. The irony remains that the Council were offered substantial sums of money to save the building, but you've guessed it.... 22,326 days have elapsed since the Government gave up Blackbushe to the wolves. Most of those days a large portion of the Airport has survived under private ownership, but for all those days, sixty years, this great aviation asset has been bludgeoned by bureaucracy that rather than endorse one of its outstanding assets has done all it can to smother the potential that awaits... But, looking up at 'the wall' today it looks just like the original and therein lurks many a ghost.. You just have to be of a certain vintage to see them!


PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
17/07/21

Stranger things have happened, but it's Saturday and the weather 'persons' are promising blue skies and something around +30C...

A great day for Ben & Jerry's ice cream at Blackbushe's Pathfinder Cafe, plenty of tables and chairs and refreshing breezes while flying machines pass by just the other side of the fence. How cool! Where will you go today?

Yesterday was a good day for the POTD editorial staff following receipt of a most welcome communication from one of our very latest Members, "airbair". This link from our Members section tells all.. blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/16013 Airbair's final sentence read, "I hope you will be able to create more POTDs to inspire others to love this dear old airfield and maintain its life and character". Kind of sums up the Forum's raison d'etre, an ambition to retain something of the treasures that Blackbushe Airport provided for the airline industry post war plus, of course, the unforgettable sights and sounds of what was the most delightful of London airports. The Airport has changed beyond recognition but, nonetheless, her unique geographic position will always be one of her unique selling points, while the spirit of Blackbushe lives on with pride at having survived sixty years of bureaucratic insanity, holding the AOPA 'Aerodrome of the Year' award, providing a base for her very high standard flying schools for training from PPL to CPL, while her description in the commercial days as "The Happy Airport" applies today in just the same way, only the players have changed...




Just one split second from the past, but a great reflection. British independent aviation was on the rise, Blackbushe thrived, much of her infrastructure mirrored the days of war from whence she arose while new lighting, a new Terminal, GCA approach, and her excellent weather record provided a great and much loved asset to aviation. Built on a wide and natural heath land plateau that gave the airfield something of a rugged nature this almost eighty year old airfield remains a gift to aviation and the local community, if only the County Council would accept it....


Sincere thanks to ALL who contribute to the Forum, the true upholders of that Blackbushe spirit....and thanks to all who drop by and hopefully share something of the quality that makes Blackbushe a special place.


PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
18/07/21

18th July, looks like the 30C expectations are going to fall short by a couple of degrees, but it's sure going to a nice day!

Treading the miles back into history, going back to 1941 the RAF had their first aeroplane equipped with radar, a facility that was to prove quite popular in the years ahead! Closer to today, it was eleven years ago today that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner made its first international appearance at the Farnborough Air Show.. Time is getting scary, eleven years since I took a distant photo from the front garden as it descended south of Fleet ready to turn downwind at the end of its positioning flight from the USA. Seems like, well a lot less than eleven years.. It has certainly proven a delightful aeroplane to fly in, just like flying a big 737 according to my Virgin crew a while ago.

At Blackbushe, July 18th produced a host of fascination in the way of aircraft movements prior to 1960..



18 July 1953, KFC arrived at Blackbushe, not the 'Finger lickin' one but Ercoupe G-AKFC; seen here at Southend Airport.



Also on this day in 1953, Fairey Air Surveys Dakota G-ALWC arrived at Blackbushe. The photo above was taken in the 1960's when LWC returned to a very different Blackbushe due to her White Waltham base being water logged.




Fairchild Argus N6669F arrived on this day in 1953 and flew from Blackbushe right up until 1960. She said 'farewell' to Blackbushe after the closure, departing by truck to White Waltham. The aircraft belonged to Captain R Young of Pan American whilst he was Blackbushe based with Eagle Airways.




18 July 1956. This S-51 G-AJHW departed Blackbushe enroute for Greenland aboard Silver City Freighter G-AMWB.




Another moment snatched from the past..18 July 1956. QANTAS Super Connie was at Blackbushe for crew training...



One more visitor of interest amid the many aircraft large and small that frequented dear old Blackbushe, on this day in 1959 Fairey Gannet of the Indonesian Air Force dropped in. I assume to clear Customs and such formalities prior to leaving the UK for good. Blackbushe was valuable to manufacturers such as Fairey, Hawkers and Vickers for crew training and delivery flights to customers around the world..

Ahh, such memories...

Enjoy Sunday 2021, Blackbushe is still there and today, as everyday, she offers the Pathfinder Cafe for refreshments and great views!!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
19/07/21

19th July, 2021 Freedom Day when the shackles of Covid restrictions are lifted! "Freedom"? Freedom of choice will perhaps be liberated as to how we behave following many months of lockdowns, controls, restrictions and instructions as to how to meet someone on a park bench, meet limited others outdoors but not in your garden, working from home, shielding, wearing masks, and so forth. For a country where freedom of choice has been a selling point for living here we have nudged mighty close to a state where fear has been fed to us by bodies such as the Independent Scientific Pandemic Insights Group on Behaviours, the advisory group whose purpose would seem to have been creation of a national state of alarm - one that makes us more likely to tow the line and bow down and stick to the rules.. Now it's down to us as to whether a mask is deemed appropriate or even of any benefit. Quantum like, mask evidence bends in both directions at the same time. Maybe the mask will reveal a divided society in the making? Hopefully, the state 'pinging' will soon be harnessed, the dreaded 'ping' indicating 'state control' remains a part of modern living. As of today, the ZOE Covid study indicates 192 active cases in the Hart District, up 26 from this time last week...

Here's to 'freedom', and you couldn't have better weather in which to exercise it, 30C plus predicted today...Blackbushe continues to enjoy visiting aeroplanes, busy local traffic, and contented diners at the ever more popular 'Pathfinder Cafe'.. Do look at the Forum's 'Blackbushe movements' section, Paul has provided more superb photos, this time illustrating yesterday's Blackbushe action from multi engined jet movements to single engined flying machines of varying shapes and sizes.. Here's a link to Paul's pictures from yesterday.. blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/16026




One of Paul's images from yesterday at Blackbushe..the mighty Falcon 50..




..and this very recent image of 'Blackbushe today' from John Varndell confirms the Airport's current position. A very neat compact community who continues to live in 'temporary' structures or portakabin accommodation while the County Council hold their draconian grip on blocking any significant development opportunities.. It's an airfield with full planning permission for development as an airport, permission that is thwarted by anachronistic thinking based on ancient decrees that emerged around the time of Henry VIII. Nonetheless, it's a brilliant photograph confirming Blackbushe proudly flies on despite six decades of bureaucratic oppression!!



OK, it's now turned 07.00, time to activate the kettle and prepare for another demanding day of bountiful solar energy. Massive thanks to Paul and John for today's Photos of the Day!!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
20/07/21

July20th.. 07.00 and just 20C on the roof, but with the Met Office issuing what the BBC proclaimed as the first ever 'severe heat warning' for southern England the temperatures are no doubt set to rise a little more before the sun goes down?

One of Blackbushe's 'social media roving reporters' mentioned that during a twenty minute visit yesterday afternoon a Beech 200, a Citation Jet, a Citation 525, an Airvan, and a Vans RV-6 arrived. There is no doubt that Blackbushe is attracting a good visitor mix appealing to operators of GA aircraft at varying ends of the performance spectrum.

The Blackbushe 'One Stop' Forum remains grateful to her members who update us with photos of Blackbushe's traffic and would be more than happy to welcome ever more members from amid the social media pages..Judging from the 'market' our Forum includes many who either remember Blackbushe from her days as a commercial aviation hub or who have deep and unreserved emotions as to the value of Blackbushe as a General Aviation hub as intended by her present owners/investors.



Blackbushe as she once was...




Just some of the many who made Blackbushe such a happy and popular airport in the fifties..




What became of Blackbushe, once London's second airport...1962.




..and once again thanks to John Varndell for this atmospheric image of Blackbushe 'today', once again a happy and popular airport!



But, she still has a way to go, and we all know what's stopping her.. nonetheless, the signs are unmistakable as to Blackbushe's growing popularity and realisation that this historic airfield is far from finished with its long association with aviation.

Here's to ALL who support Blackbushe and her tireless endeavours to be what she ought to be..

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
21/07/21


07.30, just a mere 20C indicated by the faithful weather station, 30+ promised for a little later..

Back in 1945 on this day in July things were hotting up at RAF Blackbushe. The value of the airfield as a civil commercial airport was dawning on many minds, this day was a prime example. The station was visited by Grp Capt Pelly OBE, of 110 Wing, accompanied by Captain Lybye, Managing Director of Danish Airlines DDL. Also present were a Mr Neilson, Secretary, and Capt Damm, the airline's chief pilot. They arrived to discuss the use of RAF Blackbushe by the airline on a regular basis, Croydon Airport was being used for airline operations but was too small for the envisaged future services with larger aircraft. Blackbushe proved perfect.. Danish Airlines started regular services to Blackbushe from 6th August, 1945, and the airfield's future became clear.




Shadows of war. Converted Halifax bombers were a regular sight at Blackbushe as civil operations opened up, while Danish Airline operating the first scheduled services to Blackbushe using a Focke-Wulf Condor and converted B-17s.



How the hands of time point at Blackbushe in the future has yet to be decided. Her owners are fully prepared to stand by her for as long as it takes to create the south's best equipped fully fledged General Aviation centre, tragically Hampshire County Council seem equally disposed at the other end of the equation prepared to spend unlimited sums of our money seemingly wishing an end product of more acres of overgrown waste land rather than the proposed development that will bring jobs, support of the local economy, and an affordable GA centre that all should be proud of.


PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
22/07/21

"Freedom Day" has come and gone, 19th July now seems like ancient history as the day was marked by the Prime Minister being incarcerated in solitary confinement followed now by the verbose leader of the party in opposition to almost everything who yesterday was also cast into pinged imprisonment.. Freedom! The last PMQ's until after the summer recess brought the usual bluster from representatives of the UK's member 'states' while BJ answered all remotely from the bonds of Chequers and its isolation. Covid remained a topical subject where some seemingly are in favour of continued restrictions that will damn industry, transport and international travel be it vacational or in pursuit of business, no better way to slide into the shadows of recession if we remain in hiding. "If not now, when?" is the all important question..There is no doubt Covid is here to stay, the fly in the pandemic ointment comes in the form of the yoof category who for whatever reason, refuse to have the jab... The vaccine is proven to be doing a magnificent job in cutting down serious illness and hospitalisation, it really is our rope ladder to tomorrow, a tomorrow where life resumes something of its past.

Why all this talk about 'current affairs'? The words from our Prime Minister "If not now, WHEN?" struck a clear note yesterday... Thinking of Blackbushe Airport, if not now, "WHEN?".... The Airport has planning permission for development as an airport, the Government's Planning Inspector had approved the required land 'de-registration' so as the permitted development may take place at Blackbushe only to be smitten by the faceless powers within Hampshire County Council who screwed the whole deal by opposing the Planning Inspector's decision. The County Council have just concluded their Public Consultation seeking 'guidance' as to how they save many millions of pounds while cutting back services yet they continue with their hellbent opposition to the development of Blackbushe jeopardising employment and the many benefits that would result. "If not now, WHEN?" would seem to be a leading question to put before the County. Their answer would most likely be "Never" while the battle created by themselves goes on absorbing vast sums of public money in their legal battle against Blackbushe, also sucking equally vast sums of cash from the Airport's legal funds piggy bank. There is only one logical answer to the Blackbushe question of "If not now, WHEN?"... and that must be, "NOW". That way, everybody wins.. Next year will mark the Airport's 80th, we can but pray IT will be the year when "When" becomes "Now"?

The value of Blackbushe remains undiminished as the years tick by, we all know that at Blackbushe there lies an airfield not just excellent for pilot training but for other forms of air transport, people and parcels..




Thanks to Steve Lynnes a couple of examples of modern day logistics aeroplanes arriving at Blackbushe over the past day or two..




Smaller but a very versatile van of the skies..




The ultimate in single engined passenger/freight operations. More frequently seen at Blackbushe nowadays, and just perfect for our excellent runway..




The mighty Falcon returned yesterday, all the way from southern Spain.




..and thanks to 'slideman' another example of how modern man finds the light jet an amazing way of getting about.



The above clearly demonstrate the increasing awareness of Blackbushe and her excellent and affordable services. Going back to our earlier question of "If not now, when?" it is ever more obvious so far as Blackbushe is concerned the answer has to be "NOW!!!".... Get on the case Hampshire.

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
23/07/21


It's a bit much, you oversleep and at 07.30 you find the temperature outside is a miserable 16C..and cloudy too. Yesterday it was more like Barbados at Blackbushe, just needed a few more palm trees, a steel band, and a slug or two of Mount Gay, Mount Gay for those of a sober disposition is the rum that blows your head off should you buy it 'locally' at the right place in Barbados!

Yesterday's long overdue sortie to Blackbushe found a number of the Blackbushe 'regulars' taking the sun, after so long in captivity the emerging freedom and the chance to catch up under the sun was very welcome..

Yesterday's "POTD" concluded by stating how the continued use of the Airport by business aircraft demonstrates not only an increased awareness of Blackbushe's availability, but also an awareness of Blackbushe's convenient location, its affordability, its ease of use, and its friendly and professional staff. Yesterday's visit once again confirmed Blackbushe's business benefits, and sincere thanks to Paul for again providing the evidence found below...
















Just need Hampshire County Council to wake up and 'smell the coffee' as it were...

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
24/07/21

What can one say? Grey skies, precipitation, it's the weekend!! However, past days have shown cloudless skies, amazing temperatures, and some fabulous aviation hardware descending from the week's blazing blue... As "POTD" has suggested, there are signs of a growing awareness amid GA business operators both in the UK and Europe of the benefits Blackbushe affords with her facilities and affordable professionalism.




Rob Belcher's excellent study of six engines shared between a couple of visitors yesterday. Flights this week have included arrivals from Malaga and Naples.. At this time in July, 1945, Naples was served from Blackbushe by Vickers Warwicks.. They could not have dreamed of today's air traffic linking Blackbushe and the popular Italian resort. The Warwick was dogged with engine problems, no doubt passengers in 1945 would have enjoyed the Dassault choice of today?




..and this view from the Blackbushe Airport social media pages of yesterday's jet action...


Thanks to all who provide photos of Blackbushe in action!!

PB