PHOTO of the DAY...

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
11/07/22


Yesterday was not only hot and sunny, it was an interesting day at Blackbushe as a variety of 'business' movements provided an unusual traffic flow...



G-WKTL-BLACKBUSHE 10 JUL 2022 by Trevor Warne, on Flickr
Thanks to Slideman for this shot of G-WKTL, Beech 200 Super King Air.. Ex Japanese Coast Guard, ex Edwards Air Force Base, it's an aeroplane with a past. Diverted to Blackbushe as Biggin Hill closed.



Gulfstream 4, first visit of the type, and a welcome addition to the Blackbushe scene.. Photo from Rob Belcher.





This beautiful TBM900 arrived from the USA via Iceland. Another great photo from Rob, glad to see you're back in action after the Covid attack..




Very satisfying to see the airfield serving aeroplanes such as these. It's to be hoped that fist time visitors appreciate the benefits of Blackbushe and spread the word accordingly...It's easy to imagine the new hangars in place, expansive new aprons, aircraft engineering base and repair facilities, a new Terminal, etc etc. when we get a taste of the traffic that the airfield might handle given some foresight by our local authorities.

A day such as yesterday boils up the frustration as to the utter futility of sixty years of slaps in the face by local government bodies preventing this airfield so magnificently suited to General Aviation's needs, but it does make you appreciate the achievements of all involved who have preserved the airport's potential and made days like yesterday possible...


So much for today, and the future, now's the time to step back into the past with Stuart Marshall's words from, "The Wartime Years"...


...1944, 14th February, RAF Hartford Bridge. "...342 Squadron was again in action on 14th February when they bombed a construction works using 500lb bombs dropped from 7500ft.

The Mess was a popular meeting point as soon as possible after landing, where crews could relax and unwind. In the Officers' Mess the 'Boston Bar' was the meeting place where the 20-foot-long bar was always busy. The crews made the most of the comfortable surroundings and would discuss the day's flying or sit playing cards around the large fireplace which had been built in the ante-room. Visitors to the bar tended to be very impressed and admired the excellent construction and painting of the bar area. F/O Mike Henry of 107 Squadron was responsible for painting the squadron badges on a panel over the portcullis above the bar.

Noball raids were continuing at a brisk pace and the 15th was to see both Boston squadrons active against a common target, this time Cherbourg. As their bombs were dropped from 12,000ft, F/O Byrons received a direct hit and his Boston was seen to disintegrate in mid-air. Meanwhile, 342 Squadron aircraft, BZ333, was similarly hit but was able to limp back to the UK where it made a crash landing near Swanage in Dorset..

A Spitfire XI of 16 Squadron crashed into the Channel off Beachy Head on the 22nd with the loss of W/O R Lidgate.

Exercise 'Eagle' was held in the North Riding of Yorkshire over 22nd/23rd of the month. 34 Wing were carrying out night photography using a new and experimental illumination method in Wellington, Vetura and Mosquito aircraft. On the 24th the Wing flew 31 sorties, of which 29 were successful with 7451 negatives being processed and 73,466 prints made. An epic effort".


A few more lines added to the history of our illustrious airfield. Again, the thoughtlessness of our local authorities comes to the fore. Not only did they destroy what they could of this historic airfield, no thought, consideration or effort went into any form of remembering those who flew from here, their successes and their sacrifices.

We owe them something better.

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
12/07/22

Aviation is a curious business, it can do a great deal of good, it can do a great deal of damage...but throughout its hundred plus years of heavier than air ascents it has fostered strong human bonds combined with the strongest of emotional and sentimental rafts that can sometimes take you by surprise.

Take yesterday, for example, enjoying the benefits of nature's rare days when England gets taken by some hot weather when out of the sky comes the Korean Air Force in the shape of their Black Eagles aerobatic team. The sentiment kicked in as they used the airspace above my property several times, the sound and spectacle capturing memories of years ago when "Farnborough" meant a week of rehearsals and validation flights before the Air Show week, and thence a further week of every afternoon punctuated by varying aviation sounds from pistons to full blown after burners.. Post Shoreham the spark has been taken from us as the risk averse society have seen to putting a blanket over air displays; But, yesterday suddenly brought back the sound of jets enjoying an aerobatic routine, when eyes over the entire area are once again cast upwards in awe (most of them), and memories come flooding back of days gone by.

Four years have gone since the last Farnborough, and it may well have been the last "Farnborough" as we remember them. Nonetheless the excitement of catching a glimpse of something 'new' in the sky still clings on from those far off days in the fifties/sixties when new types were abundant and flying was more 'exciting'... Covid dealt its blow when the last Farnborough was cancelled, the sound of jets as per yesterday perhaps having an even more emotional twang than ever...rekindled memories!




In the fifties the 'other' Farnborough was, of course, the very many Farnborough visitors whose aircraft filled Blackbushe with the most extraordinary 'international' gathering.





Then in the early sixties, the Blackbushe saved by AVM Bennett, found itself host to a few Farnborough movements, the old apron found Doves and an Anson back on its tarmac..




Then came the magical Farnborough Weeks at Blackbushe in the seventies and eighties. Truly amazing times as we filled 14/32 with aircraft on both sides, also on 01/19, plus the grass, plus the apron.. The late Roger Russell and I spent the week looking after parking our visitors..A great opportunity to meet and greet aircrews, talk about Blackbushe, while a local black cab company provided passenger and crew transport to the Terminal. Roger, who was like a brother to me, shared much of my 'pro-Blackbushe' drive, and those days out on the old runway as our visitors produced a stream of inbounds for much of the morning found us in our element. His death that far off September afternoon at Biggin Hill still bites hard. Sadly, many empty spaces exist since those days, Stuart Marshall in particular whose words "POTD" shares, and was Airport Manager during those days before Farnborough visitors in numbers became a thing of the past. Life goes on, but there are times when old memories come forth..




A sight that twanged the old heart strings, passengers disembark on Blackbushe tarmac once again, Stuart leading the party to the Terminal....




Roger placing a Learjet in just the right place...



"POTD" will continue with more from 1944 according to the words of Stuart Marshall tomorrow. Thanks for dropping by and sharing something of old recall from 'Farnborough days'...

Here's to absent friends..

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
13/07/22

As some diligent POTD followers will have noted days at POTD Headquarters are now punctuated by visits from crops of highly verbose crows and ever growing squadrons of jackdaws, but for the last two days we've had Black Eagles in the sky too. A new species that originates in Korea, but very welcome in the northeast Hampshire skies. Fabulous watching the skill of these aviators who have made the grade, although apparently they're not universally appreciated. Yesterday, social media produced outbursts from ladies of the area stating, "two weeks of constant noise" or "such a nuisance" from addresses in the locality. It's easy to understand if aircraft were perhaps very low or ear splittingly loud but these guys aren't, but happily out of the vast population that now lives in earshot of Farnborough most seem tolerant and enjoy the unique spectacle that others write-off as a nuisance.

POTD's feeling on the question of Blackbushe and tolerance of her locality to aircraft operations suggests that nowadays the airfield is very much accepted as part of local life. Certainly, compared to sixty years ago when a clique of local citizens and a well known Hampshire industry conspired to eliminate any hope of flying from Blackbushe the mood in the 21st Century is seemingly very different. Today the airfield offers a pleasant venue in the shape of the Pathfinder Cafe and its excellent views for all to enjoy, local employment and support for the local economy, while the future has the potential for a super General Aviation centre offering far more employment and local revenue support. Local residents may be assured that the airfield operators take maximum care keeping residential airspace free of transgressing aeroplanes.

While Blackbushe enjoys good relations with the populace of its locality, Hampshire County Council, famous for their animosity toward Blackbushe and their investment in destruction of elements of the airfield's infrastructure plus their generosity funding highly expensive High Court legal endeavours designed to block any hope of future development and the provision of hangarage for aeroplanes, the County Council's cut backs on public services continues to bite. The local press today reports on Hampshire's close to £1,000,000 cutbacks blocking home to school transport for 12,000 children with special needs. Children will now have to be taken to pick-up points. This will entail the need to provide support for the development of road safety skills. The public consultation regarding these changes resulted in 71% of responders objecting to the County Council's proposed changes. The Council's ambitions to thwart the prospects of Blackbushe carry no mandate despite the huge legal costs they must have amassed as a consequence of fighting at the highest court levels in the land.




Serene and beautiful, the wide open space known as Blackbushe Airport at the end of the day. You can share the same views at sundown every Friday and Saturday evening through this month and August as the Pathfinder stays open until 20.00 for drinks and refreshments.



Heading back to 1944 for a minute, and we're back to February, 1944. "....24th February, 1944. 88 Squadron mounted a circus on Bois de la Justice meeting heavy flak over the target. This was yet another of the V1 construction sites which the Germans by now were heavily defending with anti-aircraft guns. On return from this operation FIDO was used to help the crews land back on the airfield. Thick haze as causing difficulty and although the locally-based crews were grateful for the assistance in locating and landing on the airfield so were many crews from other airfields who had been having similar problems landing at their home stations. The mist was making things very difficult all over the country and in fact over seventy aircraft of various types including Spitfires were able to make use of FIDO facility at Hartford Bridge which was now really proving its worth as a landing aid in poor weather.

On 25th February disaster hit 226 Squadron when they lost three Mitchell aircraft on a raid on Moyenneville not far from Abbeville, France. Lt Hendry was shot down and crashed near the French coast with the loss of all the crew. FV910 flown by P/O Burrows also crashed in the Channel, where he lost his life along with another crew member but two others were rescued by the Air-Sea Rescue Service. The third aircraft was hit by flak but was able to crash land at RAF Friston, Sussex without injury to those on board".


If we look back further to 1940, some time before Blackbushe airfield resulted from the re-purposing of the Hartford Bridge Flats, RAF Fighter Command were in the third day of the historic period we know as the Battle of Britain. Our national security was at high risk of being overrun, just 76 years ago... Thank God for boys in Fighter Command - and their aeroplanes..

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
14/07/22

Just another day. At 05.30 it's just 12C, cool compared to what the Met Office are preparing next week?

Rob Belcher, author of the very popular books on Blackbushe's glorious history is currently in Frimley Park Hospital awaiting an investigation today, we all wish him well. Good luck Rob!

Remembering how active the sky used to be during the rehearsal/validation week preceding the Farnborough Air Show used to be, the skies of north east Hampshire are very quiet this time around. A reflection on the 'new' Farnborough where flying spectacle and public days are no longer considered part of the 'show'.. One dreams of days gone by when it was possible to put on a big show, but many things have changed since then. Blackbushe is becoming busier, its also become smaller, and events such as we've conducted in the far off past whereby the whole airfield was used are no longer possible. Didn't realise how lucky we were back in '77 or that we'd lose so much more of the airfield in the future. If you've been around Blackbushe of late you may have seen the apron filled with business aeroplanes, and two Gulfstreams on the ground together very recently. Very encouraging, awareness of affordable Blackbushe for business is spreading.

14th July. Today is an interesting one from an aviation history point of view. On this day 1936 the RAF was reorganised. Fighter Command, Bomber Command, Coastal Command, and Training Command were established. In 1948 Silver City made the first car-carrying flight between England and France Lympne to Le Touquet by Bristol Freighter. Also on this day in 1948 Vampires of 54 Squadron became the first jet aircraft to cross the Atlantic, routing Stornoway, Iceland, and Labrador to Montreal for a goodwill tour of Canada and the USA. In 1951 the Lockheed Super Constellation first flew on this day.




Super Connie, first flew on this day back in '51, last seen at Blackbushe a few years ago (2014) en route from Duxford to Farnborough for their air show. Courtesy of Breitling, she gave Blackbushe a special fly-past on the way into Farnborough, the last time those Wright Cyclones would beat through Blackbushe air?



Back into pages from history in February, 1944 as we conclude that month's recollections from Stuart. "...The Photo Reconnaissance Unit was working flat out as the month ended as there was a great deal of photographic work being undertaken. The French coast was being scrutinised as the build-up to D-Day continued. Ground personnel were in particular being hard pressed with very long hours being put in to keep up with the processing of film being brought back, not only by the PR aircraft but by the bomber squadron aircraft too.

The A30 was by this time closed to all non-airfield traffic, which meant diversions for vehicles via the Fleet Road. This was no appreciated by drivers who were familiar with the direct route via the main road. The diversion was a fair distance to travel and took a considerably longer time to cover".


Just a snippet from the past, next time we'll journey into March, 1944.

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
15/07/22

In life we have to get our priorities right, and this morning's priority is to send Rob Belcher our very best wishes while locked-up at Frimley Park Hospital. Investigations will continue to today to make sure he is serviceable before being set amid us again. I'm sure ALL our members and guests who know Rob will want to send their best wishes for a speedy return to being fully operational..

Meanwhile, the health of our nation's aerodromes continues to show cause for concern. The General Aviation Awareness Council has just published its latest "Aerodrome Update" . Take a spin through here for the latest.. www.gaac.org.uk/aerodromes-are-disappearing/

The following airfields have a shadow hanging over them as housing or industrial development threatens their future hopes of supporting aviation..Bourn, Cambridge, Chalgrove, Coventry, Deenethorpe, Dunsfold, Elvington, Fairoaks, Fenland, Halfpenny Green, Long Marston, Tollerton, Panshanger, Sibson, Popham, Redhill, Thurrock, Wycombe Air Park.

Not a lot left really, but despite the false claims made by parties opposed to Blackbushe (I know, hard to believe, but there are some...)that the airfield will be used for housing or a business park, Blackbushe is one of those rare sites NOT in the sights of property developers. It's conceivable that were the owners of Blackbushe to be eternally blocked from building some hangars they might have to look elsewhere for a return on investment.

What better form of open space preservation can you get than as an airfield? Let Blackbushe thrive as an airfield with an infrastructure and it's a win win surely?




The wide open spaces provided by Blackbushe as an airfield..




South of Blackbushe, what would happen if the gravel diggers got their hands on the airfield?




Changing scene. Once north-west Blackbushe Airport, once Sunday Market, now sold and no longer Airport property, but still Common Land.




As an airfield, employment, support for the local economy, local asset...a wide open space.




Spot where the County Council care begins?


Meanwhile, back to the past, and picking up the airfield's wartime story...

" March, 1944. The beginning of the month saw G/Capt MacDonald DFC resume command of 137 Wing, and RAF Hartford Bridge. S/Ldr Gorri assumed command of 342 (Lorraine) Squadron.

On a return operation to Bois de la Justice on the 2nd, 342 Squadron felt the full force of the defending guns when they lost Boston BZ308 (V) which was shot down with the loss of three crew members, the other being taken prisoner.

On the 3rd of the month 88 Squadron was in action again, this time attacking Longueville.

The following day there was a serious incident in the airfield bomb dump. While bombs were being made ready for a future operation it is believed one of the armourers cross-threaded a fuse while fitting it into one of the bombs. He the made the fatal mistake of trying to remove it again. Fuses being used at this time were being fitted with tamper-proof devices designed to make it difficult, once set, for the enemy to remove them before the delayed action fuse would detonate the bomb. With a mighty explosion that rocked houses throughout Yateley the bomb exploded, killing Sgt Simmonds, AC Brown and AC Ward. As rescuers reached the scene it soon became evident that there had been no chance for their survival and considerable concern was voiced over the stability of the remaining delayed-action bombs. It was not known at what time they had been set to explode. Some very brave armourers were soon in action rolling the bombs into hastily dug trenches to lessen the potential effect of the bombs if they were to explode. For a few days afterwards an occasional detonation would serve to remind everyone of the price paid by three personnel following a tragic misjudgement".


The price of war continues to this day with the senseless attacks on Ukraine. It's desperately sad to see how humanity can sink to the lowest levels by randomly bombing innocents. Such a contrast to the awe inspiring success of the teams behind the incredible James Webb space telescope. What are we to learn of our beginning as we look back nearer to the birth of the universe, if it had a birth that is...we know so much, we know so little!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
16/07/22

Saturday, approaching 07.00 OAT +16C. The weather forecasters claiming our minimum overnight temp around Monday will be 33C with 40 or thereabouts hitting the max. It'll be interesting to see how it pans out, the media have lost no time in spelling out how bad it will be with their useful tips on how to stay cool...

Positive news comes from the direction of Rob Belcher who has now been released from the clutches of Frimley Park Hospital. Despite their valiant efforts they could not find anything wrong beyond needing his course of anti-biotics to fix the infection that took him there recently. Well done Rob!

Farnborough Week flight validations have gone on now and again during the past week. The new 777 seemingly putting on the most impressive displays as size and weight defy gravity, great when you're at minimal weights, perhaps not so spritely if you have about to launch say a non-stop LAX flight, but an amazing spectacle. It's a human thing to 'look back' I guess, I well recall parents/grandparents long ago referring to the 'good old days' which I think must be a human thing whereby the past is stored in rose tinted specs? But, the 'good old days' of Farnborough in the fifties when flying with new types and large formations of RAF aircraft and varied formation aerobatic displays really made life worth living from a spectator point of view. The Black Arrows' Hunters, Yellow Jacks' Gnats, Navy aerobatic displays with Sea Hawks and Scimitars, Vampires, Meteors, Canberra and Javelin formations, and the V Bombers. One year the sky filled with a V Bomber fly-past, different in so much as the flight was at 35,000 or thereabouts, the sky filled with vapour trails much as WW2 operations would have produced..The most amazing feature was, of course, that every aircraft was British in design and construction... Aerospace today is a very different multi-national affair achieving incredible things, but the 'good old days' for those of us old enough, or able, to remember them will always have a tug toward what "Farnborough" meant long ago. In the 'good old days'........




..and then there was Blackbushe in the 'good old days'...covered in every type you could wish for, civil and military, when Blackbushe was the official arrival point for Farnborough visitors, nobody was permitted to land at Farnborough.



OK, back to 1944, and our continued view of Blackbushe at war. "...Smoke was laid by 342 Squadron at very low level in the Whitchurch area just west of Basingstoke, Hampshire, on 8th March, 1944, giving local residents a very close view of an alternative use for the Boston bombers - probably a lot closer than they would have wished! Aircraft laying smoke would usually have been flying at not above 30 feet and the chemical smoke was not known for its pleasant fragrance

There was a visit on the 12th from Sir Archibald Sinclair, HM Secretary of State, who was accompanied by Lady Sinclair. They were met on arrival by Air Marshal Coningham KCB, DSO, MC, DFC, AFC, Commander in Chief 2nd TAF, Air Vice Marshal BE Embry, DSO, AFC, ADC, AOC 2 Group and G/Capt MacDonald DFC, Commanding Officer RAF Hartford Bridge. The main purpose of the visit was to present decorations to 342 Squadron personnel. Sir Archibald inspected the parade and then presented the DFC to W/Cdr H de Rancourt, F/O J Patureau, F/O F Rozoy and P/O M Rousselot. While on the airfield the Secretary of State took the opportunity of visiting the other based squadrons, meeting the crews and ground personnel and inspecting servicing and other organisations operating at the airfield. More good news followed on the 15th when it was announced that the King had been graciously pleased to approve the award of the DFC to F/O M Henry of 107 Squadron and to F/O V Wall of 226 Squadron in recognition of gallantry and their devotion to duty in the execution of air operations.

On the same day No 4835 Airfield Construction Flight arrived from Air Landing Ground Chailey to commence the update of the FIDO Installation...".



I'll leave you with a sunny image from Blackbushe's very recent 80th Anniversary show, a Spitfire reflecting the PR operations that our airfield's PR Spitfire squadrons flew with magnificent success in the weeks prior to D-Day and seeking out Germany's new rocket launching sites.


Have a cool weekend...

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
17/07/22

Heat hysteria continues to generate some kind of national scare crisis, media headlines and TV news dominated by the, "never before known use of 40C" in a forecast for the UK. It feels rather akin to those science fiction movies where an asteroid is inbound and the nation helpless awaits the end. Or was it the Martians about to land on Horsell Common, anyway the media certainly know how to make a drama out of a forecast. As a grown-up nation do we need Auntie Beeb grabbing the reins and telling us to wear a hat and stay out of the sun? I recall a working visit to an RAF outpost not far from Silverstone a few years back when the Mercury twanged onto the 38/39C level, it felt hot OK, very hot, but life carried on. 1976 was the summer that sticks out in memories of hot summers... Putting the first Blackbushe Air Festival together, the hot spell triggered forest fires in all directions, from the airfield the scene was somewhat war like as smoke rose seemingly in all directions. As a child I well recall the summer newspaper headlines claiming 100F, not that unusual so far as I remember, or in modern day terms 37.778C...

Whatever temperatures are reached this week, the climate situation for forthcoming generations is obviously one of concern. As we rob Earth's resources to make our electric cars of the future it'll be sorted, won't it?




Your scribe enjoying a summer's day on the airfield back in Three Counties days...




Yateley Common made TV news last week by catching fire. Some distance from the Airport, the above shows what fire on the Common, or what used to be Blackbushe's eastern end can look like. This was a few years ago, the scrub and uncontrolled growth on the land today under the responsible control of Hampshire County Council is an ever greater fire risk. The consequences of an inferno breaking out close to the apron are easy to appreciate. A suitable fire-break must surely be required of a responsible authority?




It's the real thing! Fire consumes Blackbushe 'east', happily it did not consume anything on surviving Blackbushe, but it paints the picture of necessary responsibility on behalf of the County Council should a modern day inferno lick the Airport's current boundary.. The aircraft equipment that benefits from Blackbushe today is worth millions, surely the County cannot risk leaving their fire hazard that borders the main apron as it is? Liability costs must concern the County who already are striving to cut £80 million from their expenditure?



Some more memories from when life at Blackbushe was concerned with fire. The Bostons were smoke laying, FIDO being upgraded, bombs exploding... A few more lines from "The Wartime Years" written by Stuart Marshall. Dear Stuart, whenever I use his words I feel we are still working together.. Yesterday's exttact concluded on 15th March, 1944. ".... Two days later it was announced that the King has awarded the George Medal to Sgt AW McGinnis and F/Sgt H Webster, both from 88 Squadron, for conspicuous gallantry when rescuing personnel from a burning aircraft as bombs were exploding. Despite all the feverish activity taking place on the airfield, time was made to fly more cadets from Wellington College, Crowthorne, when they were taken for 15-minute flights in a Percival Proctor communications aircraft. This was followed by 20 minute flights on 18th March in an Avro Anson transport aircraft. [Both types attending this year's 80th Anniversary celebrations at Blackbushe].

As the month progressed the emphasis of 16 Squadron's photography was changing as they undertook flights specifically to record damage that had been done to railways, bridges, and airfields etc., to establish if the isolation of the beachheads was being achieved and maintained".


Wishing you a pleasant Sunday, we'll meet again tomorrow. All being well.

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
18/07/22


Late start today, the media are dedicating much air time to today's weather forecast! At 09.45 it's certainly very pleasant. Meanwhile at Farnborough the Air Show returns, but will it ever be like that great institution we knew as "Farnborough" previously a landmark on the air show scene whereby the public had their chance to experience the "industry" first hand too? It was way back in 2010 that the Boeing 787 first made her lines public for the first time at an international air show, that air show was Farnborough, twelve years ago today!




Looking back on Farnborough Weeks at Blackbushe in the seventies and eighties, this Aeritalia G.222 was a very welcome visitor. We popped it on the 14/32 01/19 intersection allowing photographers an unusual opportunity. A military transport such as this gave slight reflection on Blackbushe's magnificent levels of Farnborough visitors, civil and military, during the golden 1950s...



Meanwhile, at Blackbushe in 2022 the apron takes on the look of a business jet centre with three Falcons, a couple of King Airs and a PC-12 on the ground together. The perfect advert for an affordable runway convenient for London, close to a London bound Motorway, and in the best of environmental locations..




Photo thanks to Blackbushe Airport. While Farnborough launches today, Blackbushe shows what she can do, and what she could do - given the chance!



As heat makes its way into every newscasters mouth today, our look back to 1944 goes straight to heat, heat generated either side of Blackbushe's runway! "The Wartime Years" continues with the upgrade to FIDO in full swing.... "...the updating of the FIDO was progessing well with a completely new system being built but leaving the existing system still in place. The new Haigill MkIV proved not to be very efficient and was itself subsequently to be replaced after only three months of operation. Fuel burned in all systems was petrol, which was a scarce product and was stored in three huge metal tanks which were reinforced with brickwork. Holding 690,000 gallons of fuel, the fire risks were obvious and for safety their were four inlets per tank into which foam could be pumped should a fire occur. The fuel was pumped from these tanks via 6-inch pipes down each side of the runway by six Ford V8 pumps.

When the petrol reached the burners it was initially ignited by hand. Petrol was consumed at the rate of 80,000 gallons an hour when the whole system was in use. [One heck of a lot more fuel than Concorde burned in an hour at neary 7000 gallons an hour.!!] At a cost of around 7 old pence per gallon, this equated to around £6,000 per hour, a huge cost in those days. The crew that were responsible for the upkeep and working of the systems were billeted close to the Control Tower so that they could be kept on hand immediately to ignite the system should it be required. At first, when the earlier system had been installed few of the station personnel had any idea that it was there and there were some understandably strange reactions when it was first used. Many thought that the airfield had come under attack when they saw the glow of the vast area of flame and others were so concerned that things would get out of control that they feared for their own safety. One report indicates that someone was so concerned that they called out the local fire brigade to fight the fire...


The prospect of landing at night in bad visibility must have focused the attention when using FIDO, with rivers of flame either side of you the pleasures of a ground loop would have been most unwelcome?

Have a great day, the forecast suggests it will be warm again.

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
19/07/22

Kind'a cool, 06.00 this morning and steaming along through +20C OAT. The excitement goes on....

Spikes in the weather, such as we are having at the moment, generate volumes on climate change and heat of the moment statements as to how we have to change. I noted on AvWeb this week an article reflecting a positive move toward 'electric flight' by American Airlines. Whether this is a harbinger of future changes on a more global basis only time will tell. Here's the AvWeb report for your information..

AvWeb, July 18th..."Plenty of airlines have made announcements about getting involved in the urban mobility market, but industry newsletter TransportUp says American is the first to actually put some skin in the game. Last year, American said it would buy up to 250 Vertical Aerospace VX4 eVTOLs but like all of those other deals it was PR. American announced on Friday it has reserved 50 delivery slots and will write a check to hold them. “The commitment to pay pre-delivery payments and confirmation of slot reservations for the first 50 aircraft is believed to be the first for a major airline in the eVTOL industry, marking a significant milestone in the partnership between American and Vertical and a historical event for aerial mobility,” TransportUp said in its story on the deal.

Vertical has other customers and they’ve put up money, too, but the American deal is, well, a big deal. “Together, we are making zero-emissions flight a reality for passengers traveling all over the world,” said Vertical CEO Stephen Fitzpatrick. American CFO Derek Kerr said the airline is working on all aspects of its business to lessen its environmental impact and is “proud to take part in another step toward the development of advanced air mobility.” The VX4 carries four passengers and a pilot and the company says it will fly 100 miles at 175 knots. The motor pylons rotate for vertical flight and the wing provides lift for cruise".



Will craft such as this add a new dimension to airfields such as Blackbushe where the capital would only be a relatively few minutes electric flight time away? At minimum, an interesting prospect.



Another extract from Stuart's "The Wartime Years" on this lovely summer's day. It's 18th March, 1944...... "...At 2017 hours on 18th a Boston of 88 Squadron crashed at Borough Court mansion near Hook while on night-flying practice and the three crew members were killed. The rest of he squadron was left to mourn the loss of their three colleagues, F/O Moore, F/Sgt Fuller, and F/Sgt Johnson, all of whom died instantly when the aircraft came down. Unfortunately, things did not improve for them when on 23rd the squadron mounted an attack on the Creil railway yards. Although the overall results were good, tragedy struck when one of the crews was forced to return on one engine. Having made it all the way back, the aircraft, BZ204 (K), hit the ground at Minley while on final approach to land and the four crew comprising F/O Evans, F/Sgt Bagot, F/Sgt Harvie and W/O MacFarlane all died at the crash scene.

As large numbers of aircraft were flying at the airfield each day there was a lot of dust created which was blown about as the aircraft taxied to and from their dispersals and the runway. This caused the PR Unit great problems as the dust particles entered their printing chemicals and duly stuck to the still-wet prints.

On 24th March a 140 Squadron Mosquito took photographs of Point de Barfleur using a 12-inch camera. It was one of their last sorties from the airfield as the squadron was scheduled to move out to their new base at RAF Northolt, Middlesex, early the next month".



A reminder that in 10 days time, 29th July, at 7pm the Blackbushe Heritage Trust will be holding another volunteers meeting at the Pathfinder Cafe..the discussion will revolve around progress on our acquisition of Viking G-AGRW, the opportunities for our volunteers to take part in a variety of exciting fund raising activities and, of course, working on the aeroplane when she arrives back at Blackbushe..



Hopefully see you there?


PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
20/07/22


Funny world, the warmest day recorded in some parts of the UK so you pop some bits and pieces on the barbie, and it rains... Probably not the best of days for attending events such as the Farnborough Air Show that is on this week, well not for standing under the Sun for too long at least..




Another heat wave, this one back in the sixties - they're not altogether new, as Yateley Common went up in flames. A particular worry had this been adjacent to where the Blackbushe apron meets Hampshire's uncontrolled scrub.




Farnborough Week at Blackbushe in the sixties. "Farnborough" was held in September, every September, and the weather could go 'either way'. Rain and sun captured here, along with some of our early resident aeroplanes, Condors and the 150, otherwise our 'Farnborough visitors' occupy the apron. Might not look much, but take it from me, welcoming those aircraft to Blackbushe after the battle that raged to keep Blackbushe operational and seeing the old Airport destroyed, was a priceless feeling. Some may recall how expansive Blackbushe looked before the north side was allowed to go wild, the grass neatly cut across the almost 400 acre site plus the formidable array of Airport vehicles gathered in the foreground...




An example of the views afforded by Blackbushe of Farnborough Air Show action in the sixties...




In the seventies during Farnborough Week, Blackbushe became quite the regional airport!



Our recall of wartime years at Blackbushe continues as March, 1944, drew to a close. "...The 25th saw a farewell dance organised in the honour of 140 Mosquito squadron who would be moved to RAF Northolt in April.

An unfortunate incident is recorded as having taken place when a Spitfire accidentally dropped a fuel tank overhead the airfield and it subsequently scored a direct hit on the cockpit of a parked Mitchell bomber.

As the month drew to a close 88 Squadron carried out an attack on 'E' boat pens at Ijmuiden on the 26th and good results were recorded although there had been intense accurate flak to contend with.

Recalling the time he spent on he airfield, W/O Jimmy Armstrong of 226 Squadron remembered that ladies from Yateley, probably the WVS, brought very welcome food items up to the airfield for them. These included chocolate, Horlicks tablets, Chewing gum, tea and coffee and on one occasion a bag of sugar which was in very short supply. There was the occasional home-made cake or fruit pie and Jimmy recalls to this day how well a piece of apple pie and a cup of tea went down in those difficult days. All items had to be left at the operations room, from where they would be collected and quickly transferred to their own storeroom in their nissen hut - although usually not for long! Even the endless games of quoits or shooting craps halted when the news came through that he ladies were at the Ops Room...

All personal items had to be left at this office when crews went on an operation. Jimmy's pay of £10 per fortnight, or what was left of it, and all his other possessions went into his personal bag, which in turn was placed in a locked ammunition box for security until collected on his return. Crews were not permitted to take cigarettes with them when they flew but he used to take two, one in each boot, for emergencies!

Also in these soft leather flying boots, hidden in the lining, was a small knife which was designed to cut the tops of the boots to make a pair of less obvious walking shoes. He told me that he used to wear three or four pairs of gloves when flying and an electrically-heated flying suit in very cold weather. The flying suit could be plugged into a convenient socket near his flying position and helped to keep him warm in what could be bitterly cold conditions.

He used to jump onto his racing bicycle when he had any spare time and head down to the tea shop in Yateley to get refreshment: tea, cocoa and tarts or cakes etc, as it made a change from staying on the camp. He told me that they were lovely ladies who tried very hard to help him relax with a friendly chat and a smile.

(We visited the Anchor pub in Vigo Lane when he came to the airfield on the 60th Annversary of D-Day in 2004, where he told me he used to buy a pint of beer for 6 old pence or if there were a few of them they would buy a bucketful for under £1 as it was much cheaper that way. With whisky at only 9 old pence, he told me they had some good evenings there. On going outside he sat down on a bench near the front door and assured me that it was definitely the same one he had sat on all those years ago- Ed)".




My recall of flying in WW2 equipment, a B-25 flown by Jeff Hawke, brings back intense noise, discomfort, and a demonstration of just how aerobatic the old girl could be. The thought of repeatedly facing flak and fighters through that bit of perspex, mingled with intense cold and overall discomfort, created the strongest and life long admiration for the young crews who departed RAF Hartford Bridge willing to give their all in the name of freedom.

Many did.


Enjoy your day....

PB