PHOTO of the DAY...

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
25/07/21

A cool 17C this morning as 07.00 gets closer, the predicted thunderstorms have yet to manifest themselves in north-east Hampshire unless I missed something? Currently a batch of thunderstorms are floating mid Channel and the day is early.. Records indicate that this day in 2019 was something of a record breaker, apparently it was the hottest recorded in the UK and across Europe, it was also the busiest day in aviation history, some 230,000 were apparently recorded by FR24..aviation's busiest day!

25 July, 2021 will be far from being aviation's busiest globally - or anywhere near the hottest in Hampshire..

From history's viewpoint a snapshot of Blackbushe movements on 25th July..

1949, An Avenger, KF446, came over from Farnborough to fly circuits.

In 1950 RAE Farnborough sent Viking VL227 and Dominie NR728 over to Blackbushe.

1952, on this day, Blackbushe witnessed the return of Viscount G-AMAV from her sales tour of India. She had departed Blackbushe just over a month earlier on 21st June.

1958, BOAC Britannia G-ANBI

In 1959 evidence that light aeroplanes can share an international airport, Tiger Moth G-AOAD of Crop Culture and Smith's Instruments Gemini G-AKHY formed part of the day's air traffic movements.

Just snapshots of some of Blackbushe's varied aviation wealth on this day.

The beautiful and British Viscount underwent flight trials from Blackbushe during her development in the fifties and was a staging post for her development flight trials and sales missions. Below just some of the Viscounts subsequently based at Blackbushe...




Hunting Clan.




Airwork.




Eagle Airways.




Fog diversions from London Airport and BEA crew training were all part of the Viscount story at Blackbushe.



So many memories stored up at Blackbushe that not so many of us will be able to remember nowadays, but sights once seen never forgotten.

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
26/07/21

Blackbushe Airport.....

What do those two words mean to you? Depending on our ages, how many years of familiarity we have with the airfield, our points of view as to the importance of aviation and the preservation of airfields, or our points of view as to the use of land, most of us will have varying views on Blackbushe her past and her future. Now that's a pretty broad subject upon which hours could be spent, but time - mine or yours - does not permit right now. Blackbushe, like all worthy institutions, relies on an incredible history and reputation as an essential ingredient in the nation's aviation infrastructure, it relies on its 'image of the day', it also must rely on the future and the concepts held as to her value.

The Blackbushe Airport website www.blackbusheairport.co.uk/ serves all of the above, backed up by the publications of Robert Belcher as to the Airport's history and perhaps our Forum have lent a little as to painting a picture of Blackbushe past, the problems besetting Blackbushe present, and the eternal hopes for Blackbushe future.

Today, Blackbushe is run by a highly professional team backed by dedicated investors whose plans for Blackbushe as a fully developed General Aviation centre remain on the back burner due to well documented bureaucratic behaviour.

This year has seen significant changes and improvements to the Airport's catering facilities as the resident cafe has now come under the arm of the Airport's ownership and management. A couple of months ago the new "Pathfinder Cafe" opened her doors for the first time since when nothing but praise has been directed at the new operation.

If it were not for one man, a man famously known as "Pathfinder" Bennett, there would be no 'Blackbushe Airport' today, for it was he who acquired 365 acres of the Airport shortly after its closure in 1960, and despite fanatical opposition from a local body who disliked aviation, Blackbushe has survived thanks to "Pathfinder" Bennett's attitude and determination to save something of our airfield with its magnificent history and proven value. At the tender age of 33 years Bennett was promoted to Air Vice Marshal and at the insistence of Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris was made AOC of the RAF's 8 Group. Harris had lost confidence in the wartime men at the Air Ministry - he wanted Bennett above all, he knew of Bennett's already proven record with Imperial Airways, his ability and achievements in long distance navigation and setting up the Atlantic Ferry whereby many aircraft were safely flown from the USA to the UK to join the war effort.

Bennett's achievements in leading the new Pathfinder force are legend. Precision guidance to targets achieved far greater accuracy than ever before and indeed saved many civilian lives and indeed shortened the length of the war. AVM Donald Bennett would forever be known as "Pathfinder" Bennett, he is today saluted and respected by the name dedicated to the Airport's superb new cafe..and having known him well I feel sure he will be looking down with a look of appreciation.




As peace returned to Europe after WW2 AVM Bennett's exploits focused on supporting civil commercial aviation, especially in the face of state run monopolies such as BOAC and BEA. He formed Fairflight at Blackbushe operating aeroplanes such as the Tudor. The photo shows Tudor 2 G-AGRY after its delivery from Avro up at Woodford.




AVM Bennett acquired this Lancastrian from Thame airfield, carried out enough work to enable it to be flown to Blackbushe for more thorough remedial work..



The Bennett story is long and variable.. After the war Lord Beaverbrook was instrumental in setting up three national airlines, BOAC, British Overseas Airways Corporation, BEA, British European Airways, and BSAA, British South American Airlines. Bennett was invited to become Managing Director of BSAA. BSAA enjoyed the experience of many ex Pathfinder air crew in its operations.. AVM "Pathfinder" Bennett was in command of the first international flight departure from what is today known as Heathrow Airport at the end of 1945.




A reminder of Blackbushe 'east' as seen from a departing Fairflight Tudor departing from runway 08. Sadly, this is the part of Blackbushe AVM Bennett was unable to secure, it remained in the clutches of local bureaucracy, the reason why Blackbushe's eastern end is overgrown and unused.




British South American Airways made use of Blackbushe for crew training, their Avro York G-AGJA takes a rest on the Airport's then very large apron back in 1949.



The briefest of descriptions as to the naming of the new Blackbushe cafe and who and what lies behind the name. Bennett was not necessarily the easiest person to deal with, determined, stubborn, get the job done, he did not drink or smoke and suffered fools very badly, but his achievements in the air were exceptional, and today his moves to save Blackbushe from eternal damnation should never be forgotten.

See you at the "Pathfinder Cafe" sometime?

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
27/07/21

..and so we met again, "POTD" seemingly receiving around 300 visits per day, this time tomorrow our 470,000th visit will have been logged something never dreamed of when the first tenuous pages of "POTD" spilled out of the trusty PC.

As the years tick round there is little doubt that they are consumed ever faster. For example, it's 72 years to THIS day that the world's first jet airliner took to the skies. In the evening of 27th July, 1949, John Cunningham was carrying out various tests on the ground at DH Hatfield factory when after a brief runway 'hop' with flaps he elected to fly the aeroplane for the first time. The press who had been at the airfield earlier had all gone home and consequently missed the moment when four Goblin engines wound up to take off thrust and the magnificent Comet rose from the Hertfordshire airfield to become the first airborne commercial jet aeroplane. The rest is history...

A curious consequence of the first flight was concern as to the very high volume four jet engines could produce, apparently noise had not been a consideration while this new concept in air travel had been on the designers imaginations. 20,000lbs of Goblin thrust were very far from silent! Airborne for 31 minutes Cunningham concluded with a low sweep across the airfield before joining the circuit and landing. The jet age had arrived...




Comet 1 G-ALYU. Blackbushe played her part in the Comet story becoming a regular base for BOAC crew training, all the variants from the Comet 1 to the Comet 4 graced Blackbushe flying approaches, touch and goes and full stops. The aforementioned output of her four jet engines did not ride well with the local community, especially flying circuits through the night..... Necessary adjustments were made to the night training schedule!! "LYU" famously ended up in the Farnborough water tank during trials that took place following the types tragic and then unexplained break ups.



Through the years all variants of civil and military Comets would be seen at Blackbushe until 1960 when the great axe fell from the sky and the airfield was pretty much wiped out by the Government of the day.




It was back in the seventies after Doug Arnold acquired a retired Comet 4 from Dan Air that the type made its very last flight into Blackbushe, and DA asked me to marshal her into a suitable spot. Why me I'm still not sure, but I was happy to oblige, deciding near the A30 would be a great place to show her off. As mentioned before more than once, Hampshire Count Council saw red and requested the aircraft be moved as it was a distraction to passing traffic. She was moved to the apron and eventually broken up, the final manifestation of this beautiful British aeroplane at Blackbushe lost for all time.

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
28/07/21


Just one photograph today, but a unique and very special one.

Kees Van Eedenburg, a flight commander from RAF 332 (Dutch) squadron explains a Spitfire controls to Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands at RAF Hartford Bridge (Blackbushe) on the 18th May 1944. The Prince’s dog Martin, a sealyham terrier, had a special harness for flying with the Prince.

The monochrome image has been colourised by Nathan Howland www.facebook.com/HowdiColourWork/ and is reproduced here with his kind and specific permission.Please respect this is reproduced here with Nathan's personal blessing, it must not be reproduced without his authority.









A reflection of the many extraordinary and historic events that have taken place on Blackbushe's very special acres since 1942....



A very interesting YouTube video on Nathan's extensive work is below...



...



Sincere thanks to Kevin Pizzey from 'Yateley Past & Present' for his valuable assistance!!




PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
29/07/21


Hopefully yesterday's "POTD" featuring Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands in a Dutch squadron Spitfire at RAF Hartford Bridge during the grip of war proved interesting? Being in colour from a monochrome image it reflected greatly on the skill of Nathan Howland in bringing colour to the past..




Colour certainly makes a difference as it would in this image of an early days visitor. Colour is not necessary to appreciate the background where Yateley Parish Council are well under way in their project to destroy Blackbushe's east end. The US Navy hangar survived a few years longer as seen on the left hand side, but the amount of broken concrete that once was the base of the full sized apron gives testament to how remarkably strongly the airfield was built by Mcalpine back in 1941/42.... Under the left wing the eastern skyline is easily seen, under the right wing a mountain of tarmac that once felt the tread of wartime and helped support this country's commercial aviation find its feet in the post war years.



PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
30/07/21


Nostalgia's in the air today.. On this day, 30th July, back in 1977 the curtains were rolled back and thirteen months of dedicated work were about to be revealed...

This was the first day of the Blackbushe Air Festival, an event devised on the basis of raising money to support the Airport owner's legal campaign to develop the airfield to the required standard, a campaign that to this day still goes on so far as bureaucratic obstacles are concerned.

As the Public Relations Officer of the Blackbushe Airport Users' Association I was well placed to advocate an event to promote the airfield as well as satisfy some personal desires to see heavy metal in the air and put on an event like none other at Blackbushe. The weather for the weekend was perfect, unlike today, thirteen months at the Air Festival grind stone would either work, or they wouldn't. A fabulous but very small team took on various tasks, Pete Dobson was 'volunteered' to Exhibition Manager and given the job of organising trade shows, fun fairs etc etc..Howard Fullbrook took on organising sound, PR, etc etc while I focused on flying and overall cohesion of the product I'd been foolish enough to devise.

A few photos today and tomorrow to remember our weekend 44 years ago today... FORTY FOUR years ago, how can that be?

















































Twelve memories of long ago. Impossible to replicate today as we've subsequently now lost the north side of the airfield. However, we proved back in 2017 for the Airport's 75th that it is still very possible to stage an event on the generous amount of Blackbushe's 'airport' space still remaining..

More recall of the summer of '77 and day two of the Air Festival tomorrow...

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
31/07/21


Considering its July, nearly August, it's somewhat chilly in the early morning. Happily 31 July, 1977, was far from chilly as the Blackbushe Air Festival enjoyed its second day of action. A few more images of a weekend that meant quite a lot to some of us..






























































....there's a whole lot more of which I've no photo records, I was bit busy most of the weekend, these are just some that have been sent to me plus a few snaps I grabbed when the moment permitted. IF you've any that could be added to the collection I'd be very happy to see them!!

Have a great weekend, at Blackbushe it probably won't be quite like the one in 1977....

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
01/08/21


So, it's August! The very height of summer yet the leading edge of an 'iffy' summer that will crack open the door to autumn.

Yesterday being the 44th anniversary of the Blackbushe Air Festival, 30 and 31 July, 1977, I ventured down the runways where four decades ago today's scene of abandonment was full of aircraft, exhibitions, and people.. It was quite an emotional journey too remembering 'the team' some of whom are no longer with us. The local population have gained a tarmac playground upon which 'Fido' goes walkies and local yoof smash glass, the scene today of neglect and loss because of inflexible bureaucracy and ancient laws pertaining to a long forgotten era is no less than tragic.




1977...Saturday 30 July, 1977.




2021... Saturday 31st July, 2021.




1977...Sunday 31st July, 1977.




2021... Saturday 31st July, 2021.



Make your own mind up as to what is right, and what is wrong. Some rejoice at this scene, others cry.




July, 1977. Sally B's allotted space..




July, 1977. Same place, no B-17...




Returning to civilisation and resorting to peeping through the fence, it was reassuring to see life going on at Blackbushe, the airfield was alive with circuit traffic throughout my 'expedition' to the wild side while business jet movements added detail to the picture. The Airport car park was jam packed with cars. The occupants of some were noted using it as a gateway to walking on the disused acres of Blackbushe 'east' complete with dogs, others enjoyed watching the flying, the Pathfinder Cafe was doing a roaring trade as always, the flying schools were buzzing, life indeed appeared to be thriving at this superb aviation asset.


It's simply tragic that local bureaucracy and certain local vocal voices are so deadly opposed to what is a gift to Hampshire..

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
02/08/21

06.00 signs of the season of mists were quite obvious as the dead still air sponsored by thermal radiation produced the tranquil scene despised by aviators dependent on the Mk1 eye ball.. Blackbushe, of course, remains famous for its fog-free capability. Nowhere in the UK is ever 100% for free, but Blackbushe lying atop its plateau produces less radiation fog than the lower surroundings hence all those fog diversions from what is now known as Heathrow...




An example of fog at Heathrow before 'blind landings' were devised. Blackbushe with just some of her diverted traffic, these being on Blackbushe's old eastern end's runway 32 just prior to where it once joined the southern taxiway close to where the main apron once reached. Sadly it's not just the aeroplanes that have been broken up and lost to history..




Still feels like only yesterday that airlines from the world over arrived at Blackbushe when fog prevailed elsewhere. Somewhere, somehow six decades have intervened...




My all time favourite that tells the story of the foggy airfield near Hounslow and the value of far less foggy Blackbushe.




...or even longer ago when new airlines fledged on Blackbushe's acres. Fairflight, for example, the photo illustrates their new Avro Tudor.



The photo & terrain above shows off the natural slightly wild ruggedness of Blackbushe's character. Built on wide open unused heathland it formed a natural plateau-based aerodrome that has served aviation for almost eighty years. Next year it will be eighty years since this wonderful aviation asset first went operational to span her career as a major wartime airbase, becoming the second London airport, followed by six decades of bureaucratic mayhem - where we still are today.

Perhaps someone should remind the County Council, whose cash consuming legal tactics are aimed at silencing Blackbushe, of the severe damage they are trying to impose (with OUR money) on one of their nation's most historic and valuable locations for British aviation? It's been done, but needs doing again!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
03/07/21

06.00, it's another day and the weather's not looking too shabby if rather cool for the time of year..

In the skies this morning the regular cloud of jackdaws have arrived for breakfast while of late increasing traffic from EasyJet, Ryanair, Whizz, British Airways etc etc indicates the move towards normality despite civil servants who are seemingly intent on frustrating the aviation industry's efforts to fly us back into that place referred to as 'normal'...

The virtues of the business jet keeping people and business on the move are perhaps truly showing their merit of late. Use of airports such as affordable Blackbushe makes so much sense. Not tied to airline schedules, freedom to fly to/from the airports of choice, avoid the clamour and congestion of major terminals such as Heathrow, and from a business point of view you have the option of conducting several business meetings in different countries during one trip from your point of origin. Saves a fortune in hotel fees, and if the trip includes a number of executive staff the cost per head comes down nicely..

Blackbushe has been demonstrating her suitability for this business travel of late with increasing numbers of business jet movements, once again a point that should be made clear to the ruling bureaucracy whose ceaseless efforts to silence Blackbushe look increasingly absurd...and surely worrying to the County of Hampshire's tax payers?




This photo of yesterday's action at Blackbushe indicates one of the numerous visitors with various business jets who played their part in yesterday's theatre. Great show, ENCORE!!




Another photo from yesterday courtesy of John Varndell. Blackbushe's big boys are back, long may they return!




Another John Varndell study...Blackbushe's superb "Pathfinder Cafe" not only produces excellent food, it also provides a perfect platform from which to keep an eye on the Airport action!




Another of yesterday's visiting aeroplanes, photo from John V, it clearly confirms the greatly advanced Blackbushe infrastructure compared to my time in the AVM Bennett years when even getting our row of new Shell pumps made you feel Blackbushe was coming on in leaps and bounds..and before that we just had one rather ancient old bowser! Before that, there was nothing....



Next, yesterday I had some questions regarding Blackbushe Airport's navigation facilities and approach charts. For Julian, and anybody else interested..some plates from 1959..














Courtesy of Harry Hobden of Blackbushe ATC in "the days", the Blackbushe 'control room' back in 1949..the time of the rebirth of British civil aviation, one can but imagine the atmosphere and the sound of big commercial piston engines becoming ever more frequent..




An ancient chart again from Harry Hobden.




1946, let down for Northolt. No longer current!




Finally, with due reverence, the wonderful and original Blackbushe Control Tower as she looked in the beginning and long before the new Visual Control Room was added atop the structure. Tragically it was built on Blackbushe 'east' and was destroyed when the Government closed the airfield. It's location is all but impossible to pin down nowadays due to the growth of brambles, scrub, and other ex-airport Common Land detritus.




That's the morning's typing practice over me thinks, hopefully its contents have brought you interest and encouragement as to how Blackbushe is progressing despite the bureaucratic hurdles from Hampshire County??

PB