PHOTO of the DAY...

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
15/11/22


If you're looking at "POTD" today, 15th November, you'll have noticed the Forum's latest header photo.... extracted from the one below.




I took it from the Terminal Building's First Floor as one of the UK's most famous test pilots arrived in command of the Dowty Dove. Neville Duke, DSO OBE DFC & 2Bars AFC and FRAeS famous for his work with the Hunter holding world air speed records, an outstanding wartime career in Fighter Command, and various lucky escapes Neville Duke in the 1960s was Sir George Dowty's personal pilot. From time to time the newly saved from destruction Blackbushe provided the perfect location aiding Sir George's movements.



The photo shows the Dove on short final for runway 01 whereby crossing the A30 provided interesting views of upturned faces as you completed your flight! In those days we used all six runway headings 08/26 as the main runway was, 01/19 as shown in the photo, and 14/32 that ran diagonally across the north eastern side of Blackbushe. The now disused cross runways are today slowly being eaten by the relentless forces of nature and time, tree roots, plants that seed themselves in the inevitable cracks that result from time's passage, while they provide thousands of square feet for local dogs to keep their claws trimmed. It's always saddening to see runways disappear taking their history with them. Having flown from all six headings all were pointed at open country until developers started building to the north of runway 01.




A moment from 1963 frozen for all time. The Dowty Dove, our very best Blackbushe chocks in situ! If you note in the background, the Terminal still has the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation signs in place, the building was at its full length and every part of it was open and accessed from the AVM's end of the building. Office doors along the First Floor all had frosted glass panels upon which was neatly painted the airline names, "Operation/Planning" or whatever was relevant to their now sadly missing occupants. The Terminal was in excellent condition back then, it was very sad to see Hampshire County Council use it to keep assorted machinery and totally neglect what had been a delightful building. The photo also shows, if you look under the Dove's tailplane, the main apron as it used to be stretching way out to the east until it met up with the holding point for runway 32. The apron and the Terminal's eastern ends have long been removed by local authority funding, perhaps the current £200 million 'black hole' reported in Hampshire CC's funds yesterday will subdue spending detrimental to the airfield?



Back then I was the AVM's Airport 'operations department'. 17 years of age I joined the AVM's Dart Aircraft, shunning another career opportunity, as at the time it was felt that Blackbushe had remarkable opportunities becoming the most advanced General Aviation site in the south. A very good time to climb aboard... The bones were all there, but flesh on the bones was to prove a far greater challenge than had ever been anticipated. Sixty years later - you see what I mean! I moved on after a couple or three years and winged my way into the airline business. I felt bad about leaving Blackbushe, but have I hope, remained loyal to her over the ensuing years?





One more from 1963. OUR FIRST DAKOTA!!! A Derby Airways charter flight. 59 years ago, oh my, but I still remember her overhead join and the gear coming down as she gently turned downwind for 26. It was 26 then!! A Dakota back on Blackbushe, had it been my birthday no present could have been more welcome! It was not until 1995 that another Dakota, Blackbushe, and I would establish a firm relationship. Another story.


See you tomorrow all being well..

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
16/11/22


What is it about aviation? A profound question at 06.30 in the morning, maybe it's because my days on planet Earth have been somewhat embroiled with 'aviation' as it courses through the blood stream most of the 24 hours of each day...but it seems to take a hold where you can never soak it up enough? Perhaps its the world of absolute beauty that awaits those who venture aloft, maybe the realisation of the potential if it goes wrong, is it the wonder locked up in an airframe where together with engine and human skill the impossible happens - and you fly? Or is the comradeship with others who are similarly affected by this aviation thing?

We view airframes as living things, as if they have a soul, on the ground you admire them - in the air you become a part of them - in history you mourn their loss as in time each aeroplane reaches its final flight. Some live on in glorious preservation, others die a terrible death under the blow torch. Mid Atlantic I used to look at the aeroplane, and could not imagine that one day this beautiful machine that was carrying me and so many other souls eight miles above the ocean at such speed could ever be scrapped, but sadly most of the aeroplanes that helped me earn a living are no more. Silver trails that sweep silently across the blue beyond that look so majestic and untouchable, they too will end their days. Sad, but can't imagine life without aviation holding it together!! Who knows what aviation 'tomorrow' will look like??

So it with airfields. For some of us Blackbushe has been a focal point around which much time has revolved. For those of a certain vintage who knew Blackbushe in her glorious 1950s era it's impossible to not be haunted by the memories of those days! Although like youth they can never be recaptured, the awareness of the airfield's potential and how it was used to the great benefit of the civil and military sectors is always present- the locked up value of Blackbushe to General Aviation is so obvious - to see the old Airport at last able to build an infrastructure enabling her to fully serve the needs of GA today and tomorrow will be totally worth the sixty plus years of waiting....so far!!




Here's an example of the spirit of aviation! DC6 G-APSA and friends. Central is the greatly missed Harold Bamberg, Chairman and Founder of Eagle Airways, either side members of his devoted Eagle family.




G-APSA's return. Farnborough Air Show week, 2008, she flew home to collect the waiting Mr Harold Bamberg. Just one last visit to her old Blackbushe base, they then flew together to the Farnborough Air Show.




Welcome home!!




The last take-off from her old home. G-APSA once again makes the ground tremble as her four engines sang a familiar song..




The last salute. G-APSA, and the man who made Eagle, fly past together for one last time.



What is it about aviation? That's the question of the morning, I think G-APSA carried with her quite a few answers!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
17/11/22

A soggy November day emerges on the other side of the study window, will it be a day to remember - who knows? If you travel back to 1954 it was a memorable day for some. For example, the B-47 crew who could not land due to bad weather and were forced to remain airborne for over 47 hours requiring no less than nine mid-air refuels in the process. Why the B-47 could not land while tankers were bobbing up and down to service it is interesting? Closer to home on this day in 1954 Peter Twiss, a name often in the press for his test flying exploits and work with the needle nosed delta the Fairey Delta 2, or FD.2, where together they climbed ever higher up the high-speed ladder, things went a little wrong. Flying from Boscombe Down and some 30 miles distant the FD.2 suffered a total engine failure. Highly swept deltas are probably not the best gliders, but Twiss nursed this one from 30,000ft gliding 30 miles back to Boscombe Down. He lowered the undercarriage at the last possible minute. Only the nose wheel extended resulting in a long slither and some degree of damage. However, this very valuable aeroplane was saved although it took eight months before she was ready for more ventures aloft. Peter Twiss was awarded The Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air. Peter left us in 2011 at the grand age of 90.

Had you have happened to visit Blackbushe Airport on this day in November, 1954, one aeroplane you would have seen was Britavia Hermes G-ALDP returning from Nicosia on one of the many trooping flights Blackbushe was famed for...




One of the Britavia Hermes fleet at rest on a wet looking Blackbushe 'south'. If you look under the aircraft's nose in the distance the Blackbushe Control Tower stands. At this point the all glass visual control room had not been fitted, the Tower looks much as it had done during the war. Move your view to the rear of the aircraft and the vertical stripes of the orange and white fencing erected in line with the approach to runway 32 is hard to miss as it lines the A30. The fencing was a 'feature' of Blackbushe, its bright colours attracting the eye of all who passed by. I remember it so well as a passenger in my Dad's car, it added to the excitement of this massive airport with aircraft, hangars, buildings, lighting gantry over the A30 and approach lights that shone way out across Yateley Common. The scene was amazing from the A30 as you travelled by, such activity on both sides of the road. When you stopped to survey the scene the deep sound of big radials greeted the ears, the eyes feasted on such a variety of treats - for example when looking to the west the head-on view of Yorks, Vikings, DC-4 and DC-6, Neptunes, etc etc as they established on final approach, one felt that this airport would be here for ever..


She's still here, for some of us the memories bygone days are so powerful, they tell the story of an airfield that must not die!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
18/11/22




Blackbushe's main apron of 2022 now sports an excellent fence marking the divide between operational Airport territory of today and disused and defunct non-operational Airport territory of yesterday. The new fence would, were it plotted on this photo, be some distance in front of the DC-6. This judgement is based upon where the foreground grass grew in relation to the Terminal.




I took this photo of the Terminal on 16th June, 1963 to remember the building from a 'different' angle.. You'll notice the grass area terminated abeam the building's eastern end suggesting that the Eagle DC-6 was captured somewhere further behind where this photo was snapped. Of no significance today perhaps, but it does indicate how large the Blackbushe apron was in those long gone days when Blackbushe was at her full size. The DC-6 photo also refreshes the memory as to the view that once was to be had looking east from the Terminal before the east was lost to today's takeover by nature's relentless forces and council care.. A passing DC-6 always added a little something else!


The above probably of little interest to most, but to those of a certain vintage who remember the way we were it will possibly twang the odd heart string?



PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
19/11/22

Do you have lots of aviation magazines and books taking up space? Books that you treasure, magazines you just cannot throw out but they're taking up space or they're simply a blot on the domestic landscape and you feel perhaps they might like a new home???

Perhaps you could consider the Blackbushe Heritage Trust and our ambition to bring back a Viking to Blackbushe?? Over the past week I've gauged the value of many books by comparing the today price on Amazon and e-bay. Surprised by the latent value of many old but treasured books, I'll never read them again, so what to do? Donate them to the Blackbushe Heritage Trust and every page of them will go towards the campaign chest that will bring Viking G-AGRW back to Blackbushe 'for ever'.... Finance is the prime weapon we need to see the Viking project truly take-off, this is how you can help....

Just a thought, if you think you can help with some old but treasured manuscripts leave a note on the POTD comments section, or even better head over to the Blackbushe Heritage Trust's website, find the 'sign-up' page and leave your details and if you have any books that would be of value as described above make a note in the space provided!! Here's what you need >> www.blackbusheheritagetrust.com/volunteer-signup

Talking of old books etc., last night I picked up an old Air Pictorial dated October 1960. Blackbushe Airport was well advanced with the total destruction plan implemented by the government and assistance by various local authorities. This edition carried a report on the year's Farnborough Air Show and 'the other Farnborough' which up until 1959 had been the extraordinary influx of aeroplanes bringing Farnborough visitors to Blackbushe.

Air Pictorial's October 1960 edition carried it's page on Farnborough movements and in so doing gave mention to the year's first much missed gathering of aircraft at Blackbushe. I've scanned the page for your interest...




Memories come flooding back!! Especially at Blackbushe during Farnborough Week during the next few years when RAF Odiham swelled with visitors and we could see the odd shape heading Odiham bound while at BB the cupboard was bare in comparison to bygone times.



Farnborough Air Show continued as an annual September event for quite a few years, and by 1963 the miracles were happening. Blackbushe was still alive, just, and during Farnborough Week she started to muster Herons, Doves, an Anson, and increasing numbers of light twins and singles. Blackbushe had no intention of playing dead.



A sad not is found at the bottom of the above page. The last Beaufighter. It flew its last op on a routine flight in Singapore and within hours of the flight was thus broken up, scrapped. Imagine how many others must have gone the same way. The sight and sound of a Beaufighter in the air would be priceless..




Farnborough Week at Blackbushe - once upon a time.




All types from everywhere!!




Large and small...




Views from the A30 were simply priceless.





BUT..despite the storm clouds that gathered over Blackbushe, she would not lie down. She played host to Farnborough visitors once again from 1963 onwards having been rescued by AVM Bennett. Never again would Blackbushe host such numbers or variety as in the Ministry owned days, but nonetheless we showed that Blackbushe Airport was far from dead!!




The apron crammed with business flights from around Europe, the old 14/32 runway filled with light visitors from end to end and on some days both sides of the runway too.




For a few years the magic kept on coming, "Farnborough Week" was like stepping into a dream where once again Blackbushe was fully alive and the 'airport' feeling came home for a few days. Some of us always took the week off so as to assist with the Farnborough influx. Farnborough Week today is a different animal, visitors by air have all but vanished, our 'latter day Farnboroughs' of the sixties and seventies filed under 'golden memories'.




Today, no matter which side of the fence you view her from, Blackbushe Airport shows her all round "GA" capability. Hopefully the sixty years just passed in hopes of enhancing that capability with hangars, and some permanent offices for the many airport users will give way to progressive thinking from the authorities who hold sway over planning matters!!




Yesterday at Blackbushe, she's ready to do business!!!



PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
20/11/22

Time is a funny commodity, sometimes too much, but never enough....

Looking back in time to 1958 and a back copy of Air Pictorial for a moment. My Dad purchased Air Pictorial for me, it was delivered with the papers every month, and eagerly devoured from cover to cover. Back in those days, of course, Blackbushe was the ever busy London airport with its numerous resident airlines, the United States Navy in residence, fog diversions from the aerodrome over at Hounslow, and the legendary 'Farnborough Week' when Blackbushe would be swamped with a multitude of visitors from far and wide.

Last evening's glance through the October 1958 edition of Air Pictorial brought back a moment's nostalgia. The 'Register Review' was always keenly visited to glean the latest new registrations and also recent cancellations. Back then Vikings were still showing up as POO POP and POR entered the civil world having left the Queen's Flight. Cancellations included the three Princess flying boats and a couple of Stratocruisers. Back then one could well expect to see the heavier aircraft route through Blackbushe at some time or other although the Princess flying boats got no closer than a low flypast during Farnborough Week..

Time is strange, looking back seems like only yesterday that I looked forward eagerly to Air Pictorial's monthly arrival.




Register Review October '58. The Multiplan photographed being one of Blackbushe's somewhat unusual arrivals..




..and the next page. Airport visitors, Blackbushe always got a share of the movement reports, with Eagle's DC-6 G-APON getting its photo sitting on the busy Blackbushe apron wearing the Eagle red top scheme.




Back in 2008 when G-APSA made her last visit to Blackbushe she wore colours pertaining to Eagle some years after Blackbushe was closed by the government. But, actually standing under an Eagle DC-6 on Blackbushe tarmac was as near to walking into a dream that anyone could get!! The last time I'd seen an Eagle 'six' was standing behind the main car park fence east of the Terminal, 13 years old and truly 'high' on the magic of Blackbushe as the old Airport exuded its magic in generous quantities. Big radial engines exuded clouds of oily grey smoke as they fired up, all part of the Blackbushe mix!!




Who says there no such thing as magic?




Circuit bashing produced its own form of magic. You just had to listen... Here's "ON" with everything down and Blackbushe on the nose.



That's all from me today, hopefully back tomorrow...

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
21/11/22

Judging by the law of averages by this time tomorrow some 200-250 visits will have been made to "Photo of the Day".

Leaning on a degree of assumption most of the 200+ visitors/guests/members included will have been here before, perhaps even daily visitors to "POTD"? The assumption goes further, further in that most who arrive here are driven by at least a small interest in Blackbushe Airport, her past, and her future...

As they will know the Blackbushe Heritage Trust was formed earlier this year, a Trust driven by the motivation that comes from a rescue bid for an aeroplane whose history is very much wired to that of Blackbushe. A Vickers Viking will in due course return to the home pastures of Blackbushe and in so doing tell many tales of the types association with the airfield.

This objective will cost money, the aeroplane is out there in Austria, therein lies a significant task!! The Blackbushe Heritage Trust is travelling various paths to raise the necessary funds and as the regular visitors to "POTD" will know TOMORROW evening our first Fund Raising Talk takes place at the Airport's Pathfinder Cafe. Phil Johns will be giving a talk on his life in aviation and the routes and adventures it has lead right around the world. Phil's talk will be taking you to the edge of your seat, but you need to be there!!!!!

Tickets are £10 per head with tea and coffee provided. Starting at 19.00 we would love to see you there!! Your attendance will bring the aeroplane a bit nearer to Blackbushe, you'll have a most interesting evening, and meet up with the Trustees whose ambition is so geared to recovering this precious piece of Blackbushe history.




If you have not got your tickets you're welcome to try at the door on Tuesday evening. But once we're at max take-off weight the doors will close and you'll have to watch out for our next Fund Raising Evening.

Tuesday evening, 22nd November, Pathfinder Cafe, Blackbushe Airport.

Hope to see you there!!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
22/11/22

Since this time yesterday "POTD" has had 208 visits, 208 reminders of this evening's fascinating talk at the Pathfinder!!

Looking forward to seeing some of you at this evening's fund raising talk at the Pathfinder, starts at 7pm, just £10 includes tea and coffee provided. All funds raised go toward the repatriation of the Blackbushe Heritage Trust's Vickers Viking G-AGRW.

Meanwhile, an interesting further step toward electrified aviation comes in this week's AvWeb report , "Ampaire Flies Hybrid Caravan"..

"Ampaire flew its hybrid electric Caravan for the first time Nov. 18, completing a 33-minute hop from Camarillo, California. According to Green Car Congress, the short flight was conducted to do initial checks on the propulsion system, which consists of a compression ignition engine coupled to a generator that charges a battery bank in a belly pod which, in turn, powers the electric motor that turns the propeller. No issues were reported.
Seguin took the Caravan to 3,500 feet at full power and then spent 20 minutes at various power settings checking temperatures and other parameters. The hybrid actually has a greater range (more than 1,000 miles) than a standard Caravan and has the same payload. Because the batteries are in the pod, cabin space and passenger capacity are also the same. Ampaire says the overall reduction in operating costs is 25 to 40 percent and if the generator is run on sustainable aviation fuel its net carbon contribution is almost zero. The company hopes to have the mods STC’d by 2024".



Who knows who or what will occupy Blackbushe in years to come?



Here's a possibility!! A Viking about to depart as seen from the Terminal's First Floor windows... Maybe, with your help, one day the Blackbushe Heritage Trust's Viking will sit just there too?

Join us tonight at Blackbushe and you'll have taken a step in that direction!!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
23/11/22

Reading the local "News & Mail" this morning in my weekly search for something to catch the imagination I noted a heading, Council leaders join forces in plea to PM.

Reading on further it transpires that leaders of two of the country's biggest councils, Hampshire and Kent, have written to the PM and the Chancellor of the Exchequer urging them to take strong action to offset the financial crisis facing 'upper-tier' councils. Cllr Rob Humby, leader of HCC, and Cllr Roger Gough, leader of Kent CC warned that bankruptcy is possible within the next year if drastic action is not taken. Growth in adult and children's social care would go unfunded, for example. Hemmed in by outdated laws that prevent local fund raising initiatives to generate their own revenue council budgets are at "breaking point". Hampshire CC will not be able to close future budget gaps and would have no option but to consider talks with their auditors, DLUHC (Dept of levelling-up, Housing, and Communities) and the Treasury over coming months.

There's no doubt that we all face some degree of financial balance as inflation rides across the nation, but reading of Hampshire's situation I wonder if today they would have been so keen to finance the demolition of two-thirds of the Terminal building at Blackbushe Airport as they did in 1995, despite being offered generous cash sums to not do so, or embark on the highly costly legal encounters that have stymied developments of the Airport's much needed hangar construction plans following the Planning Inquiry in 2019. No doubt opinions will vary on the questions?

Yesterday was a very pleasant and sunny day at Blackbushe, if not a tad chilled by the fresh westerly that cooled all who stood in its way. Some few weeks ago a request was received from residents of Yateley's delightful retirement home adjacent to the Tri-Lakes site that some of its members would like to learn more about their local airfield and its history. Yesterday, blessed with sunshine a party of ten arrived aboard their own minibus. Provided a wonderful opportunity to show them some aeroplanes close up, and onboard, before retiring to the Pathfinder for morning coffee. Pete Vickery had graciously accepted my invite to join the party and nobly stuck with our most senior guest who, just under 100, insisted on walking out to view the aircraft! Fortified by the Pathfinder, we marched at a suitable pace to the Terminal for a visit to the History Hub 'photo museum' whereby the chance to run through the Airport's potted history provided a great platform for anyone with a bit of knowledge of the past to release the flow!

Lunch at the Pathfinder followed, graciously sponsored by Blackbushe Airport. Delicious food, enjoyed in the comfort of the Pathfinder's ex Boeing 747 seating!! An enjoyable occasion, the first of its kind from my experience, some lessons were learned to enhance any future such occasions, and my thanks go to Pete Vickery for his willing assistance and to Blackbushe Airport for their help and generosity. There's no doubt that the party took home much goodwill toward their local airfield..


And last night the fun just went on and on... As all who follow POTD will have known, last night witnessed the first of the Fund Raising talks by the Blackbushe Heritage Trust where our audience were entertained by Trustee Phil Johns on a talk of his life and adventures brought about by an aviation based career around the world. All who attended thoroughly enjoyed the evening where various prizes were won thanks to the evening raffle, Heritage Trust raffle tickets continued to find new owners, and Trust merchandise also found new homes.

Further events may be expected!




Last night at the Pathfinder, Phil Johns recalls his life in aviation including early 'Eagle days' at Blackbushe.




Beyond the window last evening, Christmas has arrived at Blackbushe!!




..and indoors, lovely Flo wearing the burgundy uniform of Eagle Airways ably assisting Phil's talk!!



An enjoyable and informative evening, look out for details of future such occasions!!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
24/11/22

Eighty years and twenty four days have rolled by since the aerodrome on the plateau, Royal Air Force Hartford Bridge, was officially opened and declared ready for action. Well, almost, there was no electricity which from what one can tell of a typical November might have demanded an awful lot of candles.. Through to the end of the year, 1942 witnessed much last minute work on the new airfield amid the new hangars, large numbers of nissen huts, a very solid Control Tower, three new runways, and the personnel accommodation and messes that occupied the land north east of the field in the direction of Yateley. What a blessing for the local traders in the then village of Yateley! The pubs did exceedingly well too....

For an uncomfortably large percentage of those eight decades the airfield we know today as "Blackbushe" has played a significant role in my journey through life. It's kind of welded itself to me to a point where I ain't gonna shake it off now!

Four years old, or less, the sound of Blackbushe heavies taking off was a part of life. We lived in Sandhurst, the beat of the engines changing as Hermes, or whatever, started their initial climb outs that were so different to the way heavies of today leave the ground behind. My Dad would point out the changing sounds and their significance. I was hooked on the thought of large aeroplanes having to reach some mystical speed after which they would surrender to the laws of aerodynamics. Decades later the passage of an airfoil section through air at speed still results in magic.

Old Blackbushe left many impressions behind following visits to watch the aeroplanes as a wee laddie. Vikings were plentiful and so easy to recall as their twin Hercules provided the urge to go even if the initial phase of flight was relatively flat. At night Blackbushe was a picture, especially toward the end of her civil life. A huge orange and white gantry across the A30 in line with the main runway provided part of the high intensity approach lighting, the sprawling main apron lit by huge gantries that turned night into day. It's still hard to reconcile the fact that it was almost totally destroyed by Government and the local parish council while a consortium tried to take over the airport as a going concern.

Then came the sixties, AVM Bennett's purchase of most of the airfield's acres north of the A30, and then started the story of which we are a part today. Decades of legal battles by all of the Airport's owners. Bennett, Arnold, BCA, and today's investment group who are playing the most significant moves toward the final securement of Blackbushe and a future as a well equipped General Aviation hub.




Early recall. First photo I took with my new basic Kodak camera was an Orion Viking standing abeam somewhere near where this one was caught by Benjy Wilmer, probably on the famous loop by the A30 still home to Blackbushe's residents. The green upper cabin made it different to the many others..




The early sixties brought joy and pain in equal doses. The airfield was largely saved, but on the 'other side of the fence' it was a very different picture. Still is.




Today, it still depends which side of the fence you choose to view from... Actually, there's a brand new fence provided by the Airport at significant cost but a great enhancement to the visual and security aspects. No longer the domain of the lighter side of aviation life, Blackbushe today hosts a variety of regular business aircraft movements, Blackbushe has become a very respected and professionally run airport!! An airport that remains dedicated to providing the infrastructure that will once again provide an airport that is a benefit to the visual amenities, no more aged 'temporary' structures, but a smart fully equipped facility that will serve General Aviation, the local population with employment and economic support, an asset that will be a beacon of enterprise for north-east Hampshire.



It's been a long story since I listened to those 'heavies' departing Blackbushe long ago whilst at home in Sandhurst. Just need to hang on for the next few furlongs to see the new Blackbushe arise from the field of memories that are so special to those lucky enough to remember all those 'yesterdays'....

It's been quite a journey!

PB