PHOTO of the DAY...

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
26/09/22

Escaping from the clutches of the MRI scanner at Frimley Park my journey home had to be via Blackbushe yesterday. Hadn't seen the old place for a couple of weeks, and what a spectacle!!!

Didn't take any photos, but what a glorious September day as the airfield was simply buzzing, not just buzzing - thriving - as business jets occupied the apron, club aircraft filled the circuit, a car show filled the 'show arena', the Pathfinder Cafe's clients enjoyed indoor eating as well as the great al fresco dining seating where unbeaten views of the airfield's aviation action await, oh and the car park was close to being full. Blackbushe Airport on a Sunday morning, unquestionably a thriving local asset enjoyed by hundreds, an expanding business flying centre, a great place to eat, and a super place to learn to fly.. Blackbushe showed without a shadow of doubt what a popular facility she's become, just think what she will be when common sense some day agrees that those long awaited new hangars and facilities are a MUST!


Some of the atmosphere yesterday as captured by Paul.... Paul has 'always' been one of the star photographers at Blackbushe, the Forum would certainly welcome some more input from the regular Blackbushe team with cameras! "POTD" enjoys between 200 and 300 visits daily, photos are always highly appreciated of day to day activity. Thank you in advance!!











This is Blackbushe Airport, a thriving vibrant centre for all to enjoy. It really is time to set her free of the six decades of life manacled by oppressive minorities. Imagine new buildings to replace the aged 'temporary' structures that flying schools etc have to operate from, hangars, aircraft engineering facilities, new aprons, new lighting, and to stretch the imagination further, perhaps the disused east end of the Airport owned by Hampshire County Council could at last be cultivated into the public recreation area promised so long ago by the then parish council as they ploughed up the runways...

Just a thought.

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
27/09/22

Today, "POTD" is going to be brief...

Tonight, as previously advertised, the Blackbushe Heritage Trust will be hosting their third public meeting at Blackbushe's Pathfinder Cafe..

The third time the doors have been open for all who profess to be "Blackbushe people" with interest in the Airport's history and her future to come together and discuss the project whereby we intend to return a Viking airliner to Blackbushe and place it on display as a symbol of the Airport's past, the airlines who collectively operated the Viking from here, and Vickers who produced the United Kingdom's first commercial airliner as peace returned to Europe and the skies again opened for commercial flying.

The Viking is an essential part of our British heritage, developed from the Wellington bomber, released as a commercial venture that became such a familiar sight in the skies of the United Kingdom, Europe, and North and South Africa...

THIS is YOUR chance to play a part in our wonderful aviation heritage and join the band of volunteers who already are playing vital roles in the Viking project, your chance to do more than stand and watch, your chance to make a difference that will count through generations to come.




Orion one of Blackbushe's numerous Viking operators, will we see a Viking at Blackbushe again? Yes - with your help!!


TONIGHT 7PM PATHFINDER CAFE, BLACKBUSHE AIRPORT, WILL WE SEE YOU THERE???

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
28/09/22

Sincere thanks to all who attended last night's Volunteers Meeting in support of the Blackbushe Heritage Trust, thanks also to Blackbushe Airport for making the Pathfinder Cafe available for our meeting!

It's heartening to know we have such enthusiastic supporters who are obviously as keen to see the Viking arrive at Blackbushe as are the Trustees! It's a mission that will require patience as we prepare for that day. Raising of the necessary finances to ensure we can transport this not small aeroplane across Europe, the Channel, and ultimately to her home at Blackbushe is no small challenge, but raise it we will!!

Sponsorship is going to be a significant source of our much needed funds, and on that context if you have links within aerospace bodies that might relish the opportunity to have their name attached to the restoration of Britain's first post war commercial airliner when it finally rests on Blackbushe soil - perhaps you could send a PM to me via the Forum's 'messages' facility? The Viking will be a treasure to the benefit of Blackbushe, to aviation history, and all ages for generations to come. It's our responsibility - with your help - to see that G-AGRW returns home for a long and peaceful retirement...




Thanks to Gary Browne, this superb poster will soon be on display in the Blackbushe Heritage Trust trailer...G-AGRW in her former days with British European Airways. Priceless, we must save her!!



It was great to see last night's attendees who also hold dear the need for the BHT to succeed in their venture to bring G-AGRW home.

Blackbushe Airport is without doubt the airport with the most prolific history associated with Viking operations as numerous British independent airlines acquired the type and forged pathways across the skies of Europe with the aeroplane accompanied by the wonderful sound of her two Bristol Hercules engines.

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
29/09/22


Referring back to this week's Blackbushe Heritage Trust meeting, the dedicated team whose enthusiasm brought them out a dark September night to join the Heritage Trust for an evening's talk of Vikings and returning one of them to Blackbushe. Huge thanks to all who joined us for the evening, shared ideas, and their willingness to play a role in ensuring a piece of British aviation heritage comes to live at our airport where aviation heritage has the firmest of roots..

With a background of runway lights beaming through the dark, sitting in the Pathfinder one could almost hear that sound of Bristol Hercules engines powering yet another Viking into the night sky..




Blackbushe Heritage Trust Volunteers meet to hear and discuss all the latest on the return of G-AGRW..


Be a part of history, join us next time!!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
30/09/22

Farewell September, the month when Keats penned his "..season of mists and mellow fruitfulness", it takes a bow on a particularly apt and misty morning. An historic month in which we said , "farewell" to our gracious Queen while at the other end of the 'grace' scale Putin takes steps that potentially could lead to a nasty outcome. Closer to home, POTD's editorial grey cell awaits the outcome of new medications and one of those MRI things that looks into cerebral places previously unvisited.. The NHS has shone for me this month, could not have asked for more prompt reactions. I have every hope of being around for the next season of mists etc etc..

30 September. A day steeped in history. Go way back to 1907 and you'd find A.V. Roe over at Brooklands testing his Biplane powered by a 6hp Jap engine. He didn't get airborne on this occasion. A year earlier the Gordon Bennett trophy was won by a Lt Frank Lahm of the US Army having flown 402 miles in his balloon. More for this day in 1919, the day when the British Aerial Transport Company began domestic flights from London to Birmingham using a BAT FK.26 aeroplane, a four seat passenger biplane.

On this day in 1940 the Royal Air Force had turned the tide of war as Hitler indefinitely postponed the invasion of Great Britain, Operation Sealion. Thanks Fighter Command, had the invasion gone ahead our history would have been very different.

Tragedy came close to Blackbushe on this day in 1949 shortly after the year's Farnborough Air Show. The very new Avro 707 small delta experimental aircraft crashed near Eversley, test pilot Flt Lt Esler losing his life. The little 707 was much like a mini Vulcan with its triangular plan form, I well remember later Farnboroughs when the white Vulcan B1 flew with two 707s, one red one blue... Exciting times.


Farnborough 1949


Looking back at Blackbushe on this day, some examples of 30 September...


1953, BOAC crew training with DH Comet, and Fairey Surveys Dakota popped in.
1956, Portuguese Air Force C-54 arrived and Britavia Hermes departed on one of the many trooping flights Blackbushe was famous for.
1958, Spartan Air Services Anson arrived CF-IGT
1959, Skyways Constellation landed and diversions from Heathrow included an Alitalia DC-6 and a BEA Viscount.

The above are just random snapshots, the US Navy, home based airlines and private and business movements would all have added to the scene!




Happy days.. Foggy elsewhere, BEA Viscount enjoying the feel of Blackbushe beneath her tyres...



Have a nice day, see you in October...

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
01/10/22

Look at that, it's October!! The annual harvest of events and then its the new year, and off we go again on another solar circuit.. While our hopes for the future of Blackbushe Airport remain positive, one wonders how the coming months will pan out as 'they' forecast a Covid comeback, a flu epidemic, financial discontent (disaster), and climatic convulsions while that cheery little man in Moscow with his bogus census and claims to Ukrainian soil waves his nuclear flag out the window... He wouldn't, would he?

"POTD" will forge ahead providing the editorial health situation remains serviceable. At the moment there's a degree of concern as we still await the MRI scanner's journey through the editorial cranium..

However, we forge ahead into October. Did you see the fabulous PC-7 that arrived at Blackbushe yesterday? Photo from Paul below of a very military looking colour scheme as the aeroplane prepares for its trip to the USA.



T7-GL7 by wokinghampaul
Thanks Paul, once again, you are a star!!



OH-FAY by wokinghampaul
Another photo from Paul yesterday was this Finnish PC-12. The variety of nationalities flying PC-12s into Blackbushe seemingly grows everyday. Understandable as Blackbushe affords a professionally run business airport that is highly affordable, environmentally friendly, easy to use, has a very comfortable passenger lounge, and easy access to motorways and London. Eyes in the sky courtesy of Farnborough Radar adding to the usability of Blackbushe.


While pondering the immediate future of all of us, the link below to an article in the latest Smithsonian Magazine gives food for thought as to future electric aviation. Designs perfectly suited to runways of lengths similar to Blackbushe will be appearing in the skies in due course as airlines place orders in advance...One imagines whisper quiet flights on short haul services of the future, but no doubt there's a way to go yet? Perhaps our Forum members and guests would care to add some interest by placing their thoughts on future air transport and its modes of propulsion in the comments section?


www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/electric-planes-are-taking-flight-180980821/?utm_source=pocket-newtab-global-en-GB


07.00, time to find the Weetabix and swill the pills...

Meet up again tomorrow? Looking forward to your thoughts on the above article!!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
02/10/22

Surfacing at 06.00 on what seems a very dark morning the realisation dawned that 2022 is getting tired. Happily, as another year works toward its end Blackbushe Airport continues to serve business and flying training needs with its professionalism and firm intent to remain as an airfield far into the future.. This year without doubt has shown a significant increase in business flying and flights to and from points across the UK and Europe.



!
The business of business flying at Blackbushe



Months of preparation lead to the Airport's 80th Anniversary back in June. The day came and went in a flash, but there's something very special about seeing Blackbushe so well attended and the airfield hosting such a variety of aircraft types.




The Blackbushe Heritage Trust was formed earlier in the year, in due course a Viking airliner will return to Blackbushe for permanent display as a salute to bygone days. The magnificent BHT trailer that will be flying the flag at fund raising events. Photo taken during our attendance at RAF Odiham's Families Day.




Sadly, the list of missing men continues to grow. This year we lost Stuart Marshall, once Airport Manager and very long term friend. Stuart standing to the right with Richard Noble to the left presenting prizes at one of our 'Great Blackbushe Aviators' Weekends' back in the eighties. Sadly missed, I know he would be delighted to have seen the 80th Anniversary, the efforts to bring a Viking home, and the increased level of business flights Blackbushe attracts nowadays.



Here's to the future - and absent friends.

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
03/10/22


"POTD" staff granted some extra sleep this morning but woke up to a strange red/orange glow that lit up the bedroom with a red/orange panorama! Had Putin done something stupid, blurry eyes pointed east toward the morning sky to find this display that was doomed to vanish any moment, but for the moment nature's wonder came home. A humbling moment, an amazing way to start the day!



Must have been a great sunrise at Blackbushe this morning...




Sometimes local flights from Blackbushe find unusual colours in the sky, this time long ago . Flying with Arthur Gibson as he took more official photos of the Reds in action, my snapshot from the front seat the last day of Farnborough '86. Arthur had a camera port cut into the Aztec's side accessed from the rear seats from which he took his magnificent studies of the Reds in action.


PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
04/10/22


A date in aviation history...4th October, 1958.




From the outset, BOAC pilots of all the Corporation's aircraft types crew trained at Blackbushe prior to the 1960 closure. All the Comet types flown by BOAC were regular sights from the Comet 1 above to the Mk4 that was the last of the Comet stretches.


On 4th October, 1958, BOAC launched the first transatlantic commercial jet service from London Airport to New York using the Comet 4, simultaneously another BOAC Comet departed New York, the aircraft passing some 300 miles apart. The westbound flight left London at 08.53 arriving in New York 10 hours and 53 minutes later. A refuel stop in Gander was necessary for westbound flights. The eastbound flight made a record breaking crossing in 6 hours 11 minutes. PanAm were beaten by just three weeks into jet services over the Atlantic. However, PanAm operated the Boeing 707, an aircraft with sufficient range able to fly both east and west routes without a fuelling stop.

Boston and Toronto were added to BOAC's Atlantic Comet product, but the 707 with its superior range replaced the type on the Atlantic in 1960. It's good to think that Blackbushe played a part in the Comet story, it may well have been one of the first airports in the UK to receive complaints about 'jet noise'... The Comet's Blackbushe routine included flying circuits at night which understandably provided new sounds to the night skies in the area. In deference to the complaints BOAC's night training was curtailed during the wee small hours.



Happily Blackbushe remains an excellent centre for jet operations, very different to the Comet's sound footprint, these quiet modern business jets serve destinations across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East.


PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
05/10/22

Back in June of this year Blackbushe Airport celebrated the passage of 80 years since this uniquely historic aviation site opened its doors to the possibilities that growing tension under war required.. A blasted heath on the Hartford Bridge Flats provided the perfect base for an aerodrome. It was naturally flat, very flat, situated on a natural solid gravel base ideal for drainage, tough enough for what was to come, it enjoyed generally good weather for aeroplanes - being less fog bound than other airfields in north-east Hampshire due to its elevation - and being a natural plateau it also offered the benefit of being easy to see from a distance.

June of this year provided the perfect time for an anniversary celebration at an airfield, Blackbushe for example!! Long hours of daylight, great weather, a day just right for flying. But, it was not until the month of November back in 1942 that the airfield would be officially declared 'open'. Well, November is historically a month short on daylight, cold, damp, and generally not the best time of year to hold outdoor parties - or even anniversary fly-ins! So we celebrated at the most opportune time, but does not stop us taking a step back to '42 and recalling what was going on as the autumn headed for winter..

Perhaps now is an opportune moment to return to Stuart Marshall's "The Wartime Years", and recall something of the period that lead to the airfield's official November opening?

As "POTD" has related in the past, the Hartford Bridge site had seen military activity when in the 1930s exercises took place as 2,000 troops participated in military manoeuvres on the rough common land which was covered in scrub, gorse, and birch trees much as large amounts of it are today. It was an ideal training site. Awareness of the 'flats' and the potential they offered as a landing ground lead to the digging of 12 foot long 3 foot deep trenches as anti-landing devices to prevent the Germans arriving by air...At the same time stakes were placed along either side of the A30 to deter enemy aviators from using it as a makeshift runway.



The Blackbushe scene in 1963. It's easy to see why the A30 was considered a possible landing site well before the airfield was constructed.. These were some of my earliest moments seeing Blackbushe from above.



Referring to Stuart's account of the time...

"The obstructions dug on the common had indicated that the authorities were worried that the area could be used for enemy aircraft landings and thus indicated that the site was probably suitable for conversion to an airfield. This was to be confirmed in late 1939 when the site was offered to the Fleet Air Arm, who promptly turned it down! It did however prove that the proposed site was now a reality.

It was in 1940 that the war came a little too close for comfort for Yateley residents when a German Heinkel 1-11 bomber attacked troops at Arborfield Camp only a couple of minutes flying time from the village. The aircraft dropped a string of small bombs which fell behind the Ely public house which is still today on the A30 to the east of the airfield. Two days before this incident a local resident living in one of the houses opposite the Anchor pub in Vigo Lane [to the immediate north of the airfield] had been working in his garden when he heard a swishing noise. The air raid warning the sounded and he immediately returned indoors and thought no more about it. A couple of days after the raid in which the bombs fell behind the Ely, Air Raid Wardens were despatched to plot the exact position where teh bombs had exploded. They had no idea that while undertaking this task they had in fact walked over the place where a few days earlier a very large delayed action bomb had fallen, making the swishing noise heard by the gardener in Vigo Lane. On the following day with a mighty explosion that rocked the village the buried bomb exploded, leaving a crater 60 feet wide by 20 feet deep. The wardens had been lucky. It was not very long after that the Army found the crater made an ideal training aid for troops driving Bren0gun carriers; they drove in one side and out the other".




The sinister shape returns. Warbirds of Great Britain acquired Spanish CASA built versions of the Heinkel 1-11 that harmlessly delivered its venom behind the Ely in 1942. Based at Blackbushe for some time these would have been valuable additions to the proposed 'warbird museum' that would have been built where BCA today have built their car sales business.. Sadly, planning authorities rejected such plans for a museum, the museum never got built and the aircraft sold for lives elsewhere.


POTD will continue the saga of Blackbushe's birth over the coming days..


PB