PHOTO of the DAY...

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
24/08/21

05.55 and the sound of distant quackery.. The largest fly-past of Canada geese yet flew directly overhead somewhere between three and five hundred feet over the tree tops heading around 210. Too many to count but an impressive way to start the day through bleary eyes.. Perhaps they use the Basingstoke canal as a navaid as they transit the Fleet zone? Would such a long and sizable formation show returns on Farnborough Radar had they been open so early?

This morning "POTD" is duty bound to continue the seemingly forgotten saga of Blackbushe vv local politics and shady activity in the precinct. Previously "POTD" has indicated a whipped up local hysteria surrounding Blackbushe Airport after its acquisition by AVM "Pathfinder" Bennett. The inferno of hate and invective aimed at an Air Vice Marshal endeavouring to save a national asset was not focused on noise but political issues, financial interests, and that human attribute known as mass hysteria that was as contagious as a passing virus.

Then came the nightly blitz raids of broken glass and nails on our runways. Vandalism of high magnitude that could have resulted in serious injury or death. The perpetrators were never apprehended, local councillors were never directly blamed but their activity may well have lead to the inciting of such behaviour. It is reported by an article carried by the Reading Mercury on 17 September, 1966, Hampshire County Council erected a gipsy housing estate in line with one of the airfield's runways while threatening to plant rows of trees in line with the other runways. Some suggest that we should not "knock" Hampshire County Council but I fail to see why we should... The very same council long after the Airport was again established as an important site for aviation tried to demand the removal of the flying club building as it was built on 'common land'. This again lead AVM Bennett to the Aldershot County Court. Judge Claude Duveen QC found for the AVM. He accused the council of discouraging Bennett from erecting the necessary buildings at Blackbushe Airport which was, "Providing a service to the Country".

"POTD" will continue this thread tomorrow with the next eight planning applications. Meanwhile our airfield still balances on the pendulum of local politics and a senseless saga that is now six decades old. 22,365 days have now elapsed since Blackbushe Airport was closed, quite some time for vindictive local politics to have sunk its barbed teeth into one of its finest assets?




The caring owners of Blackbushe Airport have invested large sums of money improving its facilities and continue to do - as far as bureaucratic constraints will allow.




The resident flying schools continue to turn out highly trained new pilots some of whom become tomorrow's commercial pilots upon whom the world depends..




The superb and highly popular "Pathfinder Cafe" is one of the latest additions to the Airport and there for all to enjoy while watching the flying activity.. The bureaucracy would have this and the rest of the airfield turned to non productive wasteland by now, another 300+ acres to join the thousands of acres of open space already in the area!



So where do you think common sense should lead to??

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
25/08/21

Initial peruse of the garden at 06.00 to assess the night's badger damage. More snout induced holes over the lawn, some small some not so small...but at least it was pleasantly mild and CAVOK. A vic formation of Canada geese timed to perfection, still following the Basingstoke Canal, while overhead the clear skies brought flights from YYZ and DTW to Europe into view while QATAR Airways ploughed on from DOH to JFK. Thirteen hours in a 707 from LAX to LHR seemed a long time to be hanging around, but today's very long hauls run by silicon chips must be a tad tedious? Looks like a nice day in store for those of us ground born Earthlings..

Blackbushe Airport has been doing her share of international flying this month. From our roving reporters POTD notes Blackbushe originating flights this far in August have spanned Malaga, Kos, Naples, Antwerp, Pisa, Jersey, Menorca and Charleroi plus across the UK as far as Stornaway. For an airfield forced to operate with at least one arm tied behind her back by local politics and its needless negativity POTD suggests the political forces in Hampshire should revisit why they are acting so badly toward Blackbushe? The Forum's Blackbushe movements section includes some details and numerous photos of Blackbushe's August operations..













Some reminders of Blackbushe in August and the business front. Flying training from the resident and visiting schools also continues at a very healthy pace. A fully licensed civil airport stacked with potential, but.. burdened by bureaucracy!!


Talking of bureaucracy, a little more detail of events in the early 1960's as we continue our daily journey into Blackbushe's long term antagonism from shallow thinking local bodies of 'responsibility'...

Following from yesterday's "POTD", continued hostility from the early days confronting Hampshire County Council. Eight planning applications were turned down causing AVM "Pathfinder" Bennett to eight times resort to costly and time wasting appeals. Each time the Ministry of Housing and Local Government upheld the AVM's appeals primarily because the Council had no good reasons to turn down the Airport's applications. Under the chairmanship of a Ministry Inspector he concluded one appeal by stating the council were running a "senseless vendetta". These were just the first five years of what has to date stretched into a six decade long debacle, an ignominious example of blatantly misguided bureaucracy.

In his endeavours to bring harmony within the corridors of power amid local councils and authorities Bennett put forward an intriguing plan whereby the eleven councils with any claim to interest in the airfield might co-operate and jointly form an operating group who would run the airport and develop it. Surely, as every planning appeal had found in Bennett's favour the local councils would be only too pleased to take on such a unique opportunity? No, of course not!! You name it, the councils found every reason they could to prevent such a circumstance or the AVM from running a viable aerodrome.

At this time Bennett employed an Airport Manager, Bill Freeman, who was then managing Staverton Airport, to come and bear the attacks from local sources. Bill became Airport Manager and like a second father to me, and this was where I jumped ship and joined him full time at Blackbushe. A risky move for the sake of the airfield as I walked out of an engineering apprenticeship at RAE Farnborough in hopes that Blackbushe's success would bring my success too..After four happy but rather variable years as the Airport's 'operations department' it became more than obvious that local councils were not going to let up their ankle biting tactics to ruin the Airport's chances. I moved on to pastures new, but never ever broke my association with Blackbushe. With numerous events and shows over the years I still hold hope for further entertainment at the one and only Blackbushe!




Blackbushe as she looked in 1962...




Short final to 08, 1963, note how Blackbushe 'south' looked having been dug up. Today's overgrowth still shows clues as to where taxiways once were from above.




One Sunday afternoon back in those very early days a Comanche came down to do some demo flights. Really cannot recall which Comanche it was, maybe this one, but we were all taken aback by her extreme sleek lines and her powerful sounding engine! The price new was £11,000. In 1962, or thereabouts, that sounded such a vast amount of money!! In 2021 11K won't buy much in the way of a 'pre-owned' motor vehicle from BCA who have occupied our Airport's western end..



Tomorrow, further revelations from the book of Blackbushe..

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
26/08/21


Blackbushe Airport, once second only to Hounslow's London Airport she was very much a prime part of the national air transport structure. This superb aviation asset was reduced to rubble in the blink of an eye to suit 'policy' at the time and prevent its ever coming back in competition to the state run airfields. For sixty years the spirit of Blackbushe has somehow pulled through and despite the endless decades of bureaucratic vitriol the airfield and her spirit are still very much in fighting condition.

The last few days have seen POTD reaching back into the dark days of the early 1960s and relating to just a slice of the difficulties presented by various local authorities, difficulties that still counter the plans for a modern and improved Blackbushe. This morning sad recall from the early sixties. You may recall POTD mentioning Holly Birkett, he was one of those larger than life characters, a real go-getter, Chairman of the brand new Blackbushe Aero Club, editor of the "Bushe Telegraph" the Club's newsletter, and a much respected vet from Farnborough. Once met you'd never forget 'Holly'.... He owned a very smart Auster based at Blackbushe, and it was in this aeroplane he departed for a holiday in France with his wife Margaret. Tragically they were both lost when their aircraft came down on the French coast, a dreadful shock felt by all at Blackbushe and in the new Club.

AVM Bennett thought a fine mark of respect would be to name the lane that bordered the Airport's north-east after Holly and call it Birkett Lane. The council was incensed by this stating that "only councils can name streets". The Council accordingly pulled down the "Birkett Lane" sign and put up one that now said "Little Vigo". Persons unknown decided to rip out the "Little Vigo" sign. A local publican reported to the Police that he had seen the guilty person and named John Varley, CFI of the new Blackbushe Aero Club, a BOAC Senior Captain on the 707 fleet, AFC and 30,000hours. Nobody could imagine Varley to have been the person, such activity was strictly not in his nature. A gentleman of the first order. The Police believed the publican's story, and prosecuted Varley who was found guilty. Bennett employed a barrister, Varley appealed and was subsequently cleared of all charges.

The Battle of Blackbushe rages on with no end in sight, but without the efforts and foresight of "Pathfinder" Bennett there would be no Blackbushe today, I would be enjoying breakfast rather than relating old history, and you would not be doing what you're doing now...reading this!




With massive thanks to Forum Member "Jamo" recall of Blackbushe's 10th Anniversary Air Show. Next year Blackbushe will unbelievably be contemplating her 61st Anniversary as a private airfield, and her 80th Anniversary of aviation serving activity.




Demonstrating the act of smoking, the Rothman's Aerobatic Team as Blackbushe celebrates her 10th Anniversary surviving as a private airfield despite everything the local authorities chucked at her!



See you tomorrow, same place..

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
27/08/21

The past few days "POTD" has given an indication of the rocky path Blackbushe Airport has been forced to follow in its fight for survival in private hands and in particular the turbulent passage that AVM "Pathfinder" Bennett found himself travelling having acquired 365 acres of Blackbushe freehold upon which he planned to develop a major General Aviation centre. Bennett was famed for his determination and 'can do' attitude toward life's challenges and for overcoming obstacles that came before those challenges. The negative bureaucracy that emerged from local and county councils was perhaps his greatest challenge as he faced all from the local villagers who screamed their bile at village hall meetings to the influences of local industry that appeared to have an 'interest' in Blackbushe for non-aviation purposes and, of course, the famed negativity that emerged from Hampshire County Council with volcanic regularity.

Blackbushe Airport under AVM Bennett followed the paths of democracy, local people had their chance to say what they wanted about the future of the airfield, but a vociferous minority took this to extremes vandalising the site and pumping out misleading propaganda. Local authorities behaved in a way that showed the very worst in local government fuelled by self serving and perverse motivation, but at the end of the day AVM Donald Bennett overcame their adversity and won the rights of Blackbushe to remain an airport licensed and approved by Government. He won his fight against councils who automatically rejected every application he made to improve the airfield although how many times costly appeals could go on nobody knows.

It may be questionable as to why Blackbushe needed planning permission for some developments, it had been a fully established airport for a long time. Today, Blackbushe has overall planning permission for development as an airport, it's just the thorny issue of ancient common land laws that stand in the way. Tragic,and time wasting. The new airfield was built under the needs of war, but today there is an urgent need to preserve the nation's ever reducing numbers of airfields, Blackbushe has a superb runway, albeit shortened by the Parish council, the needs are not the same as of war but undoubtedly deserve a better deal than that handed out by blinkered bureaucrats?

The time came when endless appeals against the tide of bureaucracy would break the bank, they were immensely expensive, they still are! Bennett sold the airfield to Douglas Arnold. He too suffered at the hands of bureaucracy and giving up on his plans to develop a premier warbird museum sold the site to British Car Auctions who at the time had an interest in aviation. When they floundered due to the ongoing belligerent authorities they sold to the present investor group while retaining the hangars that Arnold had built on the one small piece of Blackbushe that was not "common land"...Today we have been to the High Court, Judicial Review, Public Inquiry, you name it...but still that fist presses down hampering development of what would now be one of the finest General Aviation centres in the United Kingdom.

Blackbushe Airport is a 'natural' airfield, she begs for common sense to prevail and be allowed to gain what she's fought for sixty years to achieve..

Has anybody got ANYTHING to add???



1961, just a windsock to tell the story that Blackbushe still lived!




2021, sixty years later. The Blackbushe car park tells the story of whether the Airport is necessary or viable! Furnished with 'temporary' offices and business premises Blackbushe Airport screams out for common sense and ancient laws that date back to Henry VIII to at least allow some common sense in their application?




If you disagree or if you agree, why not add your thoughts to the Forum's POTD 'comments' department... Why not?

Why not?

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
28/08/21

For the past few days POTD has focused on the early 1960's and the trials and tribulations faced by AVM "Pathfinder" Bennett when he decided to purchase the husk of Blackbushe following the government's sabotage of the airfield. We briefly followed some of his subsequent endeavours to create a first class General Aviation centre to serve the growing need for such an airfield close to London but also within an environmentally suitable location.

It has been noted how Blackbushe airfield was unsanctimoniously destroyed by forces who no longer wished its survival, or who had ulterior motives for such behaviour. Ironically the airfield was saved by one of WW2's outstanding aviators and military strategist while the dark forces who wished an end to Blackbushe destroyed all they were able without one iota of credit or respect for the many young airman who flew from her runways and never returned. They gave their lives for our freedom and elimination of the Nazi scourge yet the small minds who could see no further than the destruction of Blackbushe gave not one jot of thought or respect for the many who gave their lives flying from here in war...for them.

The passing years suggest a permanent memorial to these men is increasingly important. Numerous members of our Forum have offered to contribute to the cost involved while offers of help toward the actual structure have also been received. The current owners have indicated a willingness to erect the missing memorial, but all is subject to the common land question and Hampshire County Council's efforts to block any progress at the Airport. AVM Bennett's war with bureaucracy moves painfully onward....




The Boys from Blackbushe. 137 Wing Tactical Air Force briefing prior to smoke laying sortie at RAF Hartford Bridge/Blackbushe




226 Squadron, 12 May 1944, railway yards in France to receive attention.




Free French Air Force based at Hartford Bridge, they had the dreadful task of bombing their homeland to rid it of the invaders.



So many lives were lost amid these heroic young men, the fact that local authority attempted to destroy their historic base without so much as a thought for what we owe them or the price paid by her wartime heroes is abhorrent.

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
29/08/21


Remember the Vikings? Not the seafaring invaders from across the North Sea who invaded and pillaged our fair isles, but the rotund product from Vickers with a couple of Bristol Hercules engines that throbbed through southern skies as they ploughed their routes from Blackbushe to many a European destination until Blackbushe was no more in the eyes of Government ministers who could see no more than pouring millions into grassy Gatwick...




The squat little Viking carried many names upon her fuselage operating from Blackbushe, parked alongside the A30, on the apron gathering up her next passengers, or the oh so familiar as they appeared on final approach or the delightful sound of her twin Bristol Hercules engines as she powered her way to far away places.



She was not a beauty contest winner maybe, but the old Vikings were packed full of character and indeed were the most predominant of transport aeroplanes once based at Blackbushe..At least thirty Vikings were based at Blackbushe during the times this venerable old girl and Blackbushe were related... Why the interest in the Viking today? No reason other than noting that had you been a young person who had aeroplanes in his head day and night, a trusty bike, and just old enough to go solo on said bike on sorties from home to Blackbushe, the Viking would have been the most predominant type on show. What else does one do early on Sunday morning but look back for no good reason on movements at Blackbushe on this day in 1959. The Airport had now less than a year to live although at the time nobody knew such awful news..but today Vikings of at least six operators would rumble into view.. Eagle, Continental, Pegasus, Blue Air, Airwork, and Orion all took to the wing today. Nothing unusual, not business as usual for Blackbushe..



What was the first aeroplane you ever photographed? I remember vividly, it was an Orion Viking parked on 'the loop' today frequented mainly by light aeroplanes. The result was a small square black and white print of which I was immensely proud. It's probably buried in some envelope long forgotten, but never forgotten.




Not my photograph, but similar, the A30 provided such a unique platform for capturing the Airport's residents while they rested between sorties.




Slipping back into yet more distant history the annals of Blackbushe tell me that by this time in 1945. the old Manor House in Hartley Witney had just been opened to accommodate passengers and VIPs who were by now using the airfield increasingly for international travel.

Yesterday, in 1945, Mosquito KB483 suffered a tail wheel collapse landing at RAF Blackbushe after a night cross-country training flight. In August 1962 I experienced a similar sensation when the tail wheel assembly of a Bolkow 207 broke up as we landed on what was then runway 26. The elevator trim cable had snapped half an hour earlier resulting in rapid onset positive G, events that left the Bolkow product in the 'interesting' category regarding the various machines in which I had left the ground so far...

That's it for today, POTD will continue further accounts of "Pathfinder" Bennett's life, while keeping an eye on local politics, and past, future, and present activities at the one and only Blackbushe Airport.

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
30/08/21

Another day of skies painted with battle ship grey as the anticyclonic spin continues to deliver its cloud generating chilled air masses across Bank Holiday Monday's fun..

Finger trouble resulted in the POTD editorial staff totally deleting today's contribution to its thoughts of days gone by... perhaps just as the title says we'll simply have a 'photo of the day'...




The pure joy of flight that awaits..sunshine too!


Back in history this would have been the build-up week prior to the Farnborough Air Show when it was an annual September event and Blackbushe, up to 1959, would soon be covered in the most extraordinary collection of civil and military visitors from around the world. The decades keep revolving, summer is about to go into recess, while Blackbushe continues her valiant fight against the County Council in order to one day become the General Aviation 'centre of excellence' that she so wants to become..

As we bid farewell to summer, if that's what it was, we await news from the Supreme Court as to whether they will hear the Blackbushe case and if so when..

Maybe next August Bank Holiday will see the sun shine and the battle for Blackbushe resolved? Dreams cost nothing, they just take up your time.

Enjoy the day..

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
31/08/21

This is it. Bye bye summer, tomorrow we walk into September as once again under leaden skies and temperatures that demanded a touch of central heating. Is it just me or did the 'summer season' of 2021 somehow evaporate with just a few sparse days when that summer feeling brought reddened faces and a few hours deck chair time in the log book?

Looking at today's date in 1958's history at Blackbushe Hermes G-ALDI returned to Blackbushe empty following a trooping flight, BOAC Britannia G-AOVI was crew training here, Continental Airlines Viscount N248V was on pre-delivery flights, resident FASRON 200 of the US Navy were flying a Convair R4Y-1, USAF Douglas JZC-54a from Edwards Air Force Base arrived, AV Roe Ltd were active with Anson G-AGPG, the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation's Dove G-ALFT was active plus all the regular commercial traffic. In those days time spent at Blackbushe would usually yield a crop of fascinating or rare air traffic movements..




Take yourself back just 63 years to this day and this might well have been one of the passing types seen on the still very active southern taxiway.





Av Roe's Anson was at Blackbushe during the golden fifties, she was also here in less golden sixties. Now operated by EKCO she's seen here during one the early 1960's gathering of Farnborough Air Show visitors, a vestige of pre 1960 Farnborough's when Blackbushe was swamped with all manner of flying visitors.




Convair moments were very frequent at Blackbushe with the US Navy resident..




Another type that arrived on this day in 1958..the chunky DHC Otter driven by the US Army.


See you in September...

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
01/09/21

September! The doorway to winter, Indian summer, dark evenings, launched by another morning of leaden skies courtesy of the prevailing easterlies..When much younger this would have been the period leading to the annual Farnborough Air Show, the memory serving up recall of blue skies, bright red Avro 707, Bill Bedford in his bright red Hunter, the new Viscount, exploring the Blackburn Universal freighter, Princess flying boat overhead, the Brabazon, squadrons of Javelins and Canberras flying over home, Shackleton, V Bombers, the Comet, the white marquees full of exhibits where so many fabulous model aircraft represented the full sized versions outside, the Comet, and the sad DH110 day where I witnessed too much for a seven year old. And there was Blackbushe at Farnborough Week. The garden at home always had dahlias blooming at this time, the flower ever since being symbolic of crisp autumn days and the magic of Farnborough Week. I've still got dahlias.

Thanks at this time are due for the 10,500 visits to POTD during August, we'll soldier on together if the fingers can fuel the keyboard for a while longer..or the brain can supply the fingers with something to write about!





The Forum carried an article from "Flight Global" yesterday regarding a new shape coming from the Textron Beechcraft stables, the Denali. Originally a Cessna project this extract from Flight Global on the Forum yesterday explains more about a new aeroplane very much like the PC-12 a design already using Blackbushe. The Denali will surely be another very 'Blackbushe suitable' aeroplane? blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/16256



Yesterday also gave John Varndell a chance to flex his telephoto. The following photos from John further reflect how Blackbushe is growing in value to the business aeroplane user, it IS the affordable business alternative for small to medium business aircraft.




Evidence that Blackbushe handles some very sophisticated aeroplanes and proof that the Pathfinder Cafe provides a perfect viewing opportunity complete with great food and the friendliest staff you could wish for..If you haven't tried it yet, do it soon!!




The Falcon may be big but her runway hunger is minimal!




The ageless Cessna 310. She looked fabulous at Blackbushe in 1959, she looked fabulous at Blackbushe yesterday..




More long term magnificence at these two King Airs shared the apron yesterday.



Thanks to John for the above and to Paul Phillips whose photos from yesterday are found on the Forums's movement pages.. here's a link to Paul's pictures blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/16257

Finally, had you been at Blackbushe Airport on this day in 1959 amid all the regular air traffic a couple of RAF Twin Pioneers dropped in..no photos! But, we do have evidence of the Cessna 310 at Blackbushe before the mighty axe fell and closed London's friendly airport..




Arrived in August 1959, seen here in December '59, G-APUF, Airwork's 310 demonstrator, and one of the few Blackbushe residents who would return here when the airfield arose from the ashes of destruction courtesy of the government's Blackbushe blitz.


PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
02/09/21


Our man on the spot, John Varndell, once again captured the essence of Blackbushe in action with angles on a visiting Piper PA-22 Caribbean yesterday. One of John's photos below..as always a massive THANK YOU to John for his photo artistry!




I happened to be at Blackbushe yesterday afternoon when this memory jogging shape taxied onto the apron.. Back in the very early 1960s this shape be it the two seat Colt or the Tri-Pacer/Caribbean variants looked very modern compared with the Austers etc that were the major players in private aviation at the time. Today the shape looks classic but belonging to another age, I was truly surprised how it now looks aged in appearance compared to the sleek shapes of the 21st Century. Lots of airborne hours in Tri-Pacers and Colts, the type was so much a part of Blackbushe's resident Three Counties Aero Club, Aeromart, ICL Flying Club and the regular visitors. Those days suddenly felt very much belonging to yesterday when G-AREL taxied in.




The spirit of Three Counties, Tri-Pacer days of the sixties... Left to right, Reg Venning (then owner of Taylorcraft G-AHUG), Mike Tunnicliffe, PB your scribe, Terry Jones, and Jack Smith. A Three Counties Tri-Pacer provides the backdrop. Sadly Reg and Jack are no longer 'in the circuit', but why ever the photo was taken it embodies the spirit of legendary days at Blackbushe. Happy days.




G-ARNL, lonesome at Blackbushe. The Blackbushe Aero Club's rented Piper Colt as seen in 1962 on a bleak Blackbushe where only the Terminal remained standing on what was then 'airport land'. The US Navy hangar was deemed to be on Common owned by Yateley Parish Council. The aeroplane was kept in a hangar at Southampton Airport during the week and flown up to BB for the weekends. My earthly bonds were severed for the first time in March 1962 when in "RNL" I climbed into a rather grey sky and found out what this flying thing was all about. I must have been the school bore next day when able to say that I had flown, but it was a moment never ever forgotten.




Where am I? No idea, except that above it all a Three Counties Aero Club Colt was sharing the moment above 8/8 cloud.




Tri-Pacer visitors were not unusual back in the 'old days'. G-ARAG often popped in at the weekend from Fairoaks for a cup of Blackbushe Aero Club tea flown by Mr Cooper. You've probably heard of him? John Cooper after whom a well known version of the Mini, the Mini-Cooper, is named.... Ahh, the Mini Cooper "S". Those were great days in so many ways.


Finally, for those who are interested in Blackbushe movements from the golden fifties, on THIS day in 1959, Blackbushe's last full year of commercial life, a US Army Sikorsky H-34A, 54-2909, visited our splendid airfield. No photo, apparently it looked similar to a Westland product known as the Wessex.


PB