PHOTO of the DAY...

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
11/06/22

No more days to the 80th, today's the day!!!

05.00 and it's a beautiful day - our collective prayers have been answered - Thank you!!

For those of our members who are unable to be with us today, we'll miss you, to those who are amid the ticket holders please do spin round to the History Hub where team Belcher and Brown will be presiding over a tour of Blackbushe through the ages. Right next door to us awaits the Blackbushe Heritage Trust, our shiny new operation intent on bringing a Vickers Viking airliner back to Blackbushe, the ancestral home of this delightful aeroplane. Sign up and become a volunteer perhaps? The team will be delighted to talk to you about the project where all donations will be welcome!




Totally significant, our first arrival for the 80th was the immaculate yellow Miles Magister yesterday afternoon. Significant because this was the first aeroplane type to land at the all new Royal Air Force Hartford Bridge in 1942... Much has happened since then, and Blackbushe Airport is thrilled to have a Magister christen our 80th Anniversary! Thanks to Rob for the photo including another of today's expected Miles aeroplane line-up, the Gemini.




From the late afternoon sun came another of our precious 80th guests, the de Havilland Leopard Moth. Magic!



Hope to see you later at the airfield.....


PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
12/06/22

The morning after the day before, 05.00, just back from Heathrow with the grey cell still buzzing from yesterday at the other London airport...Blackbushe! Not much sleep shall we say..

If there's one thing that provides real pleasure from my point of view it's seeing Blackbushe come alive, and yesterday showed an airfield that was very much alive. Such a contrast to the bleak years she has survived. 'Blackbushe 80' also brought many faces to names, faces belonging to the good people who follow our daily "POTD".. Wonderful meeting you all, in fact after the winter months of hacking out emails trying to hook a few aeroplanes for the 80th, seeing the results of what the "80" team had produced in total I found profoundly emotional. Part due to my incurable passion for Blackbushe, a weakness that has been lifelong, part meeting so many friends who flew in to support our day, meeting so many who brought with them tales of working for various airlines at Blackbushe, and meeting many of our precious Forum members. Even managed a couple of hours sleep before departing for LHR at 03.30 to see Number One son on his way back home to Sweden..




The fruits of winter, just a random glance amid the lines of visiting aeroplanes yesterday..



Sadly, my phone managed to discharge itself in my pocket reducing photo opportunities to a minimum. Hopefully you guys will be able to put some of yours on the Forum's movement pages?

Feedback from so many has been positive regarding yesterday's event, negativity toward Blackbushe was zero from my experience..pilots agreed that it was an enjoyable event and something different to the usual fly-ins. Perhaps something we could dare to do again? There is very little in the way of aviation activity amid the vast population within striking distance of Blackbushe, Dunsfold has gone, Farnborough an expensive shadow of its former air-shows, while other airfields are all too often living under the shadow of becoming leafy green suburbs. Not Blackbushe..

Wouldn't it be rather fun if Blackbushe became an established event on the aviation calendar? Akin to the garden party events made famous by aerodromes such as Hendon long ago... A fun day out with an aviation theme.. Anyway, before I ramble on too far, think it's time for breakfast! A whizz up to Wimbledon a bit later for my Grandson's third birthday bash! Maybe sleep tonight?

Great seeing so many of you yesterday, I'm sure "we'll meet again"......

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
13/06/22

The dust begins to settle as Blackbushe 80 finds its rightful place in the Airport's history books, life returns to earlier times when the anticipation of a 'big day at Blackbushe' was no longer tapping at the window and the quest for aeroplanes took precedence over most else! Things like eye surgery that I'd deliberately put off until after the event now come into focus, this Wednesday being the day of the knife or whatever they use!

Sadly, my phone for which I depended on photos at the weekend discharged from full to zero, must have been busy in my pocket after various phone calls, result being I recorded very few photos on Saturday...There are plenty of our Forum members who do not subscribe to Facebook where many many photos the 80th have been logged, these members are anxious to see some pictures. At the moment no photos of the day have been placed on our Forum, meaning we are sadly depleted for evidence of what happened at Blackbushe on Saturday, 11th June... It's a bit embarrassing to be in this position, but could somebody please assist by downloading some to the 'movements pages'

Herewith some general 'clickabout' images taken as the day started to get into action - before the battery went AWOL!




The gates are OPEN!! Cars stream in utilising the new efficient parking system, a system that included use of the main apron...




Ticket check... such a great feeling to see so many coming to visit Blackbushe, to mingle amid aeroplanes, to enjoy a relaxed day out at a minimal cost!






The first images I managed to get were general views. Here we see two of our old residents with very different appearances.. The Harvard in the foreground was once part of Doug Arnolds's collection in light blue and gold, it then became Gary Numan's property ending up being painted all white with Japanese markings to resemble a Zero or the such like.. Today's colour scheme is by far the most impressive! An indication of changing times came when somebody asked, "Who was Gary Numan?". The beautiful yellow Tiger Moth in the background is in fact Blackbushe based Jackaroo G-APAL from the early 1960s. Now returned to being a Tiger Moth as nature intended, she can hold her head up high once again. Quite odd looking back when four of us would fly in a converted Tiger Moth..No aerobatics but she could still pull some "G" in turns!!




The Miles Gemini, the first of our hoped for line-up of Miles aeroplanes had arrived on the Friday evening. Seen here waking up early on the big day she would be joined by a Messenger and a Miles Whitney Straight, the only one flying anywhere.. Sadly our other expected Messengers suffered technical problems and one had a pilot 'shortage' or we would have had four in a row. As it was, Blackbushe gathered a formidable collection of vintage aeroplanes, the day gathering much acclaim from happy aviators and a happy public.




Not just aeroplanes! Blackbushe 80 brought in the big guns, amid the wide variety of attractions on offer.. Not for use, yet, in the long battle to build hangars and a modern infrastructure to facilitate this most valuable of airfields.




Classic cars were an important part of Blackbushe 80. Morgan owners displayed their fabulous cars in large numbers!




A slice of the action...exciting and interesting exhibits were everywhere, just one small part of the exhibition area..




A huge order of debt is owed so many who flew their aircraft to Blackbushe in support of Blackbushe. Shipping and Airlines at Biggin Hill brought a variety of classic aircraft including the immaculate red DH Dragonfly, Hornet Moth, and Piper Cub.


I did my best to welcome aircrews to Blackbushe as fast as my feet would carry me, spend time at the History Hub meeting so many great people many of whom had memories of pre 1960 Blackbushe and airline days. Have to say, at times I found the whole thing quite an emotional experience! My head buzzed with Blackbushe that night, leaving home at 03.30 Sunday morning for Heathrow to see Number One Son back home to Sweden, third birthday bash for Grandson Sunday afternoon, and now time to contemplate at leisure!!

If you can offer some aircraft photos from 11 June to share amid our devoted members there'll be may grateful recipients...

Thank God for Chris and Becky who put the 80th together and Rob for producing the material for the History Hub. So much gratitude to all the volunteers who did an amazing job at their various stations, to the North Weald Marshallers who kept aircraft movements on the ground under perfect control, the folk in the Tower for smooth control over movements in the air, to the Airport Fire and Ground Crew who had fun with fencing and kept aeroplanes fed with fuel, to the crew in the Pathfinder Cafe who did an utterly amazing job, and much gratitude from me for being let loose and able to go out and harness some flying machines and bring 'em back for all to see at the "80th"... It's happened before, but NOTHING gives me greater joy than working on an event at Blackbushe that will bring a crop of flying machines for the enjoyment of many - to show that Blackbushe is very much alive and has so much more to offer..

..and, now time for whatever comes next....

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
14/06/22


For our members/followers who do use Facebook I have had very welcome agreements from a number of the good folk who've placed their Blackbushe 80th photos on Facebook to use them on the Forum so all will be able to get a solid idea of our day on the airfield when her 80th birthday was well and truly celebrated.... These I'll place on POTD and I'll also create an 80th Anniversary folder where will be available at a glance in due course..

Meeanwhile, many of you will recall the ongoing project to return a Vickers Viking to Blackbushe and place her on permanent display under the auspices of the Blackbushe Heritage Trust. Well, much has been going on over the past weeks, BHT is now a fully fledged charity and the process of fund raising is well under way. Art work, mugs, clothing, logos/stickers, all are available. For details of our merchandise check out logothatpolo.co.uk/store/bbushe/ Hopefully those of you who visited the Trust's new mobile unit at Blackbushe on Saturday will have availed themselves of some goodies..




This is it!! The Blackbushe Heritage Trust's new home, located at Blackbushe but ready and willing to travel to events around the country to raise funds toward the goal of Viking G-AGRW returning to the UK and a loving home at Blackbushe, the home of many Vikings during the golden days of the 1950s..


Don't forget, the Blackbushe Heritage Trust is always happy to receive new volunteers to assist with the objective of returning a Viking to Blackbushe. Very varied activities await, from fund raising to working on the aeroplane when it arrives at Blackbushe, combined with the fun of being part of a team dedicated to saving a piece of our aviation heritage...

"POTD" running well behind schedule today, the 'staff' have been downloading and installing many photos taken at Saturday's Blackbushe 80th ready to be placed here on the Forum for the benefit of those who do not subscribe to Facebook, and also as happy reminders of Blackbushe's 80th on June 11th. Sadly, it was all over too soon...



Pleasure flying did good business, you had the choice of the graceful DH Rapide or the jet powered Jet Ranger helicopter, photographed by Margaret Flo McEwan











The beautiful NHS Spitfire graced our static park for the entire day. These photos all from Margaret with our thanks!



Back tomorrow nice and early, I'm going in for eye surgery at midday, something I've put off until after the Blackbushe 80th...

Beautiful day, 22.5C and climbing...

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
15/06/22

It's kinda funny, no carrot dangling ahead, the carrot that would cover large tracts of Blackbushe with a variety of aeronautical hardware...Hard to think of many other pursuits that could be such fun, but the deed is done and time to look for other pursuits. The Blackbushe Heritage Trust holds much in store as each day brings us closer to seeing a precious Vickers Viking aeroplane returned to Blackbushe to be lovingly cared for as a salute to the endeavours of the UK's post war airlines and in particular those who were Blackbushe based and equipped with Viking airliners. You will be hearing much more of the Trust's activities including your chance to become involved in what looks to become an historic operation as a piece of our heritage is lovingly returned and restored.

Of course, we must not forget the most fundamental situation that effects all who cherish Blackbushe, her future and her value as a General Aviation centre. The ongoing process to overcome the slings and arrows of local bureaucracy has a way to go yet, but what could have been a better advert for the support and care that exists for Blackbushe than last Saturday's sell-out 80th Anniversary event and the fabulous support from the General Aviation community who arrived in large numbers in such a variety of flying machines?

Refreshing reading this morning regarding Solent Airport via Councillor Sean Woodword...

"I am pleased to announce that Fareham Borough Council is moving forward with planned improvements to the infrastructure at Solent Airport, Daedalus by introducing aeronautical ground lighting (AGL) and a performance-based navigation system.

Once in place, AGL will provide visiting aircraft with the confidence that they will be able to land safely and take off in hours of darkness or when there is low visibility, within existing regulatory constraints such as opening hours of the airport.
An AGL system is a collection of lights installed on the ground to provide visual aids to aircraft pilots. The lights provide assistance to pilots and will enable the airport to be fully used during its opening hours, regardless of inclement weather and low light. This is not a prelude to opening the airport for night flights.
The performance-based navigation (PBN) concept, when used in conjunction with AGL, will enable pilots to follow prescribed flight paths which can be designed so that aircraft can follow a non-precision approach into an airport which is necessary for instance in periods of low cloud or poor visibility. The prescribed paths also help to define routes to avoid particular areas, for instance to reduce the impact of noise disturbance.
This is an important step towards realising the Council’s vision for Solent Airport @ Daedalus as it enables us to give our airport users certainty when using our facilities. Once Solent Airport is equipped with AGL and PBN, operators will benefit from more flexibility to plan operations at the airport knowing that, if they run late for example, they will still be able to land.
From 18th July the Council will commence a two-week pre-planning consultation when additional information about the scheme will be set out, both in a static display at the airport and at www.fareham.gov.uk/daedalus/solentairport.aspx".

How wonderful it would have been to witness this forward thinking in relation to the great aviation asset - Blackbushe Airport - instead of the aggressive and destructive forces piled against our airfield for near on sixty years!!!!!! The miracle is that Blackbushe has survived and we now can look back with a satisfied smile at photos from last Saturday. Anyway, I've got to go as eye surgery awaits late this morning and my 'focus' needs to look away from matters Blackbushe for a while...

I'll continue Stuart's accounts from Blackbushe's wartime days in the near future, and I will place all the 80th Anniversary photos that I have gathered in a new section of the Forum in the next day or two..




Hard to know where to begin as to the very many photos I've been offered from last Saturday.... Where to begin is difficult to say, but this study from Margaret Flo McEwan of the Avro 19 departing surely encapsulates the Blackbushe story. Wartime markings and colours, D-Day stripes worn by so many of the airfield's home based bombers, the sound of a couple of radial engines, it simply resonated history and thoughts of bygone days. To Glenn James I cannot find enough words of thanks for flying the aeroplane so far to support our special day...




Paul Gilbert's study of "Shipping and Airlines" beautiful DH Dragonfly speaks volumes for the artistry that came from the de Havilland drawing boards. Huge thanks go to Shipping and Airlines for their generous aeroplane support of the 80th - and the 75th!




Where would the world be without the Spitfire? We had to have at least one, the NHS Spit seemed highly appropriate for our post Covid freedom...Compare Saturday with the long days of lockdown not so long ago! This photo from Neil Randell speaks volumes...A joy to have a Duxford warbird in our midst, and huge thanks go to the Blackbushe Airport management for adding their generous support to make it happen..




A fine study from Kristina Harmsworth of an ex Blackbushe Harvard. Once blue and gold in Doug Arnold's ownership, it turned white when owned by Gary Numan and painted to resemble a Japanese Zero. It now wears American military insignia bringing back memories of the fifties when Blackbushe Airport was home to the United States Navy's only UK land base.



I think it's time for me to go and enjoy having my left eye penetrated...simple procedure, the old lens is sucked out and a new one implanted. Nothing to it, see you soon!!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
16/06/22

Post op visual recovery in progress, just a quick one today to keep the POTD production record going.. Prob take a couple of weeks for eye surgery to settle down, won't bore with the details...




Simon Hamptons aptly registered Pitts S-1S, G-MAXG, one of three Pitts variants that supported the "80th".. Photo from Phil Stonard.

POTD service will continue soonest..



PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
17/06/22


Some like it hot, and in southern England today they won't be disappointed as the mercury rises to somewhere around the 31C area. Shame such conditions are so fleeting in the UK, too soon replaced with the less exciting 'normal' conditions.. Tomorrow and a week will have flown since "Blackbushe 80" and judging by the weather forecast it's a good job 11 June was chosen with some rough stuff predicted for tomorrow..

On this day in 1928 Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. She flew as a passenger with pilot Wilmer Stultz and co-pilot Louis Gordon, apparently to keep the flight log flying aboard a Fokker Tri-motor. It was in May, 1932, that she became the only person apart from Charles Lindbergh to fly non-stop and alone across the Atlantic. 15 hours in the air...




Talking of Charles Lindbergh, the only Miles Whitney Straight currently flying in the world joined us at Blackbushe for the 80th birthday Fly-In. The great man Lindbergh used to fly this very aeroplane..Thanks to Peter Bishop who flew the Whitney Straight in and was then shuttled up to White Waltham by Mike Biddulph in his immacculate 150 to then bring back Messenger G-AJWB. Such fabulous support to make the weekend go! Photo from Paul Gilbert.




A slice of Blackbushe history flew in last Saturday in the shape of Fairtravel Linnet, G-ASZR. Built by AVM Bennett's Fairtravel company, Robert Hodgson flew her into the 80th as a salute to the AVM as well as the airfield he saved in the early sixties..




Our trio of Pitts type aeroplanes, the Ultimate Pitts taking the foreground fitted with the wings of the Ultimate Biplane.. Thanks to Adrian Plant for supporting yet another Blackbushe event and Cloin Smith for the photo..




Lasham were very keen to support us once again providing a number of gliders for the static park and introducing many guests of all ages to the cockpit of their craft, also signing up a number of new students in the process. This photo also from Colin Smith, it captures the relaxed atmosphere of the 80th, hopefully indicative of days such as this on perhaps a more 'regular' basis? Time will tell.



Hard to believe a week has flown by since the airfield was reconfigured for the 80th, a week in which business jets continue to use Blackbushe for her excellent service and affordability...Just need that extra infrastructure so long denied by officialdom.....


PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
18/06/22


It can't be a week ago already? For so much effort to come to its peak for just one day, and then to be over in what is now a flurry of great memories, shapes, sounds, faces, and weather that was kind enough to blow straight up the runway with a significant breeze beneath blue skies and passing cumulus clouds who happily had no malintent of dripping precipitation on tanned heads beneath.. A week has flown, eye surgery completed successfully and relaxation, but nonetheless wondering when the 'next time' at Blackbushe might be.... This time last week it wouldn't be long before Blackbushe 80's aircraft would start arriving.Assorted Miles aeroplanes, Moths, gliders, Avro 19, Spitfire, Rapide, Dragonfly, Jet Ranger, and old friends based here long ago came home too. Already a week away.

Imagine the difference without the effort put into Blackbushe "80".... 'Just another day', which is not to be sneezed at, but with BB80 thousands of happy visitors so many of whom reported having a 'great day at Blackbushe'. The airfield liberally covered in aeroplanes and the opportunity of pleasure flying for those who wished to take a higher view of the proceedings, exhibitors who relished the chance to appear at the 'eightieth', and all the staff and volunteers who made the day go like clockwork.

There is always the argument as to whether the endeavours and expense of putting on a show for one day is like cramming too much into a small block of time, whereas two days spreads the load, doubles the opportunities and from a weather perspective increases your chances of a good day... From experience, the 50th had one pouring wet day followed by a very nice day, the 75th was on two super days (thank God!!), the Aviators' Weekends were all under fair skies, the 2016 Air Day was under fair skies albeit a one day affair, but whatever you decide upon, it'll be a gamble with Britain's island met perched on the side of quite large ocean.




Looking back in time by a week, varied forms of pleasure flights with Rapide and Jet Ranger kept busy..A study from Margaret Flo McEwan




Margaret captures the moment when thrust overcomes drag, lift defeats weight, and the magic of flight takes over.. The magic added to as the precious Avro 19 departs as she goes back to Sleap, but not before a final farewell fly-past...




The source of music as captivating as any, one half of the Spitfire's music machinery, the output of which is as captivating as any classical music and certainly as profoundly moving with the stirring of the spirit that comes with that staccato exhaust crackle following easing back on the Spit's throttle, or the Merlin passing by at speed when a lump in the throat or even a tear in the eye are indicative of the magic that stems from those pipes...another Margaret moment from a week ago.




Spitfire symmetry captured by Neil Randell. What more needs to be said?




There once was a time when Spitfires carried little crosses on their fuselages, indicative of their successes in combat, but this is 2022 it's the "NHS" Spitfire for travelling the nation saluting so many NHS hospitals who performed their own combat against Covid-19. Each of these indicates a county flown over by the Spitfire in her national salute to the NHS heroes. Thanks for the photo Neil!




Neil captured the Avro 19's farewell fly-by of Blackbushe before heading north. Once one of the most frequent of sights and sound at Blackbushe, now a priceless treasure. That's the third time I've been able to coax an Avro 19 out of bed to fly down to Blackbushe, will it be possible for a fourth time? Dunno, hope so...




Martin Jones captured the Proctor at rest during her visit to Blackbushe last Saturday. Once again, the symmetry is superb, the Proctor's lines you cannot argue with, they're perfect! We look forward to more Proctor activity at Blackbushe in the future, don't we Mike Biddulph??? Yes, Mike's Proctor is edging nearer to completion and taking to the skies one again..


Closing the office now, time to take a heading toward the cereal bowl...maybe see some of you guys at Blackbushe later this morning?

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
19/06/22




The Blackbushe apron, Saturday, 18 June, 2022. Just a week after this same piece of precious tarmac became a car park for a day to accommodate our guests visiting the "Blackbushe 80th".. What a difference a week can make, what a difference a day can make as the temperature plunged from +31C on 17 June to +16C, or thereabouts, when the photo was snapped.




Same airport, same apron...just seven days apart!



It's certainly encouraging to witness the increased use of Blackbushe by business operators using aircraft of significantly varying performance capabilities. It brings home the reality of a situation that has predominated at Blackbushe for decades too long. The potential is there for a first class business/General Aviation airport that would bring employment and support for the local economy, an airport in the most accessible environmentally friendly location in the south wherein also lies incredible catchment potential.. BUT, instead of that we are limited to a collection of temporary structures, some dating back to 1963, that common sense would have replaced with new attractive and permanent facilities. Sadly, this perfect location for aviation continues with its feet stuck in the mud of local politics, and intervention by bodies obsessed with the protection of some species while blind to the utter devastation of surrounding areas of beauty that have vanished under the might of gravel excavation. We have the basis for the most prestigious of General Aviation airfields spending decade after decade doing its absolute best under the blanket of blinkered opposition laid out for six decades, while lawyers have naturally done very nicely thank you from the senseless battle against Blackbushe.

It's fascinating that in the last week Hampshire County Council have announced massive spending cuts. This is the Council, remember, who opposed the Planning Inspector's approval to deregister a portion of Blackbushe that would have enabled the developments I mention the in the previous paragraph..

Just for 'fun', here's a quote from the BBC one day ago... "A council has agreed to make cuts of almost £700,000 in charitable grants to social care groups.
To balance its budget, Hampshire County Council needs to make savings of £80m by April 2023.

At a meeting on Thursday, the authority agreed to cut £320,000 from social care organisations and £360,000 from non-statutory homeless services. The authority has already cut £22.6m from children's services and £10.2m off its transport and environment budget".

Hampshire County Council. This is the "responsible" body that having opposed Blackbushe's golden opportunity to update itself with modern facilities, and subsequently spend untold thousands of OUR money in the High Court and Court of Appeal defending their opposition, depriving the area of a valuable resource, employment, and what would soon be an airfield whereupon the visual amenities would be dramatically improved. I have spent sixty years clinging on to the strongest of beliefs in what Blackbushe is capable of, and what common sense would see as the logical use of this natural airfield. I know I do not have another sixty years, or anything near it sadly, I just pray for common sense and the dream of Blackbushe to be realised sooner - rather than later.

It's been an uphill struggle for Blackbushe. Quite literally. One of the airfield's unique attributes is that it's built on a natural plateau. Naturally flat as a billiard table, naturally above mists that sink to lower levels, naturally easy to see from the air, naturally perfect as an airfield with a well proven good weather record. However you approach Blackbushe its an uphill mission. From Camberley and the east its uphill along the A30 until you reach the Hartford Bridge plateau, approach on the A30 from the west - exactly the same. Approach via roads from the north take Cricket Hill from Yateley, for example, and it's all uphill as it is if you approach on the roads from Fleet and the south. Blackbushe Airport enjoys a commanding position, she simply commands some common sense to spread amid those who fail to comprehend what an asset lies in the misunderstood benefits that Blackbushe is aching to bring..

Well?

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
20/06/22


"POTD" has received best part of 300 visits since yesterday's edition was posted for your edification, an edition wherein we visited the hot topic of Hampshire County Council's current desperate bid to cut back on services and save some £80 million pounds in the process. Prompting thoughts as to the huge sums of public money HCC has chosen to squander in their legal endeavours to prevent Blackbushe from providing hangars for its aeroplanes, or any other necessary facility, "POTD" once again questioned where the sense or morality of the County's long lived attacks on the Airport lies... Considering our Forum is the place where any person who values, appreciates, uses, or simply enjoys watching or photographing aeroplanes at Blackbushe Airport is welcome to join and express their feelings it was surprising that only one of our members responded to this latest news concerning County politics and administration. "Rocky14" will go down in the annals of "POTD" history for his regular contributions lodged in the "POTD Comments" department, especially for his thoughts yesterday regarding the County Council and how life could be very different for the Airport if their focus on Blackbushe moved to the advantages that a properly equipped General Aviation centre would bring. No more costly legal battles using our money to line the lawyers' pockets, more employment, more cash directed into the local economy. It's a matter of national significance as our GA airfields dwindle in numbers, it's a matter of extreme local importance considering the legal cash outlay already met by the County in their hard to fathom adversity toward an asset just waiting to show what it can do for the prestige of north-east Hampshire.

Thanks again to "Rocky14" for his support of the Blackbushe Airport cause, the door is open for all who take a positive viewpoint toward Blackbushe's quest for a certain future to add their thoughts to our "comments" section.


Stepping back in time, as we have complete freedom for time travel, and Blackbushe offer the most generous helpings for travelling back through her glorious eighty years of operation. 72 years ago today a new British heavyweight took to the skies for the first time... The mighty Blackburn Beverley first took to the skies on 20 June, 1950. Built in Feltham by General Aircraft Ltd., the aircraft was dismantled and transported to Brough in Yorkshire for its first flight. General Aircraft had merged with Yorkshire based Blackburn Aircraft hence the move. Reports suggest that concern existed as to whether this mighty new aeroplane would be able to leave the ground. Just 47 Beverleys were built, during her life the Beverley was not an infrequent visitor to Blackbushe..




Big for her time, this photo from 'aviologist' captures the size of the Beverley during one of the many troop carrying sorties that originated from Blackbushe. Often these were para training exercises where the passengers would be shown the door above the Hankley Common DZ, the empty Beverley returning to Blackbushe for the next load..




It was not unusual for those motoring the length of the A30 as it crossed Blackbushe to find themselves passing a Beverley on its way to/from a runway..or simply passing time parked on the loop adjacent to the road and still very much frequented by today's smaller aerial transports.


For the person/s waiting for our details of the airfield's first year of operation to resume hopefully tomorrow will see a few more words from 1942/3.

PB