PHOTO of the DAY...

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
25/11/22

It's the 25th! We all know what will happen next time that date comes around, another year has passed since last Christmas...



The festive feel has arrived at Blackbushe as these lights forming part of the Pathfinder Cafe's Christmas glow show to all who pass by!!



The festive season, that traditional period known as one of Joy and 'Goodwill to All'. At least we can celebrate the fact that the ghost of Covid will not, hopefully, be showing the face that has disrupted Christmas and forced friends and families apart as of recent years, not to mention the terrible devastation left in its path. Sadly, the strike virus is spreading across the land this year, another intervention designed to bring misery to those who certainly don't deserve it, the railways implementing the cruelest of Christmas cuts..

No such problems for those travelling in and out of Blackbushe Airport, the airfield is open apart from Christmas Day when it's closed, but otherwise will be open to meet the needs of planned air traffic movements over the holiday period. All flights are strictly PPR as always, Blackbushe catering for pre booked movements while also giving staff the maximum amounts of time to share with their families. What a great place Blackbushe is!!

Business aircraft movements and their passengers at Blackbushe will, of course, avoid the Christmas crowds and crushes at the major airport terminals. Much to be said for the convenience of affordable General Aviation airports!!

Nobody could have been a greater advocate of the benefits of Blackbushe than Stuart Marshall who was Manager of the Airport for many years. Dear Stuart, a friend for so many years, it is almost a year since he was sadly taken from us. A tradition that Stuart, his wife Sandra, Pauline my wife and myself kept prior to Christmas was for the four of us to meet for lunch pre Christmas at a suitably cheery festive location. Covid broke maintenance of the regular meetings, but happily yesterday we met with Sandra for a most enjoyable lunch and conversation, traditions must be upheld!! Meeting in one of the venues we all shared in the past brought back happy memories and the chance to toast 'absent friends'. Stuart would surely have been smiling at our gathering...

We concluded by making a further trip to Sandra's home to collect another consignment of Stuart's precious library of aviation related books. As done previously, I have listed them all in preparation for sale. Sale on behalf of the Blackbushe Heritage Trust, all proceeds will go to the funds being collected in support of returning Viking G-AGRW to Blackbushe Airport and establishing her as a long term heritage site as a salute to the post war commercial airlines who depended on the Viking to pioneer new routes. Routes where Blackbushe proved to be the perfect Airport, close to London, easy to reach, largely fog free, and environmentally perfect for the operation of heavy transport aircraft....




Whether you remember Blackbushe and her past glory as a major player in the commercial air transport business, or not, this page from the 1958 Ian Allan "British Airports" book conveys something of the significance of bygone Blackbushe...




A further reminder of the type of air transport service you could expect at Blackbushe if travelling in the late 1950s.. Eagle were, of course, Blackbushe's largest resident airline..



There we go. Memories that keep on flying..

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
26/11/22

The wheel of time relentlessly spins around. Yesterday, 25 November, 82 years ago the wonderful sound of the DH Mosquito taking-off was heard for the first time. A sound very familiar to the surroundings of Blackbushe with no less than eight Mossie squadrons attached to the airfield during World War Two..




G-MOSI, Doug Arnold's majestic Mosquito during her tenancy of Blackbushe back the eighties. Sadly, like so many precious British antiquities of the air G-MOSI moved across the Atlantic to a new home taking the magic sounds of her Merlins with her...




Listen.....



Go back just 71 years from today and we would have celebrated another first flight, namely the Gloster Javelin. With her delta wing and T-tail construction the "Jav" had her own unique appearance, she also had an unusual sound that made it very possible to know when a Javelin was in the area. Another first, a Javelin was the first aircraft I was lucky enough to sit in. At RAF Odiham on a Sunday morning long ago. I was twelve at the time and the ascent over the engine intakes and descent into the cockpit was unforgettable..I marvelled at how anyone could make sense of the cluster of dials before me while also flying this large chunk if aeroplane.




The Javelins of Blackbushe!! RAF Javelins were seen, and heard, at Blackbushe in 1957 and '58 on various trials with Airwork. All part of the great variety Blackbushe has offered through her extraordinary journey through the past eighty years..



Enjoy Saturday...

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
27/11/22


07.00 on Sunday morning, still very dark, but at least winter's icey sting continues to be held in abeyance. Late November, the time when we're strung between the ageing year and the prospect of the next to come... There's much to be hoped for as 2022 feels its age, and while much uncertainty hangs in the air as politicians cross swords, unions conspire to bring our nation to its knees, and certain factions glue themselves to places of maximum public nuisance, there is room to hope that common sense will at least find anchorage at Blackbushe over the coming year - or so - and the longed for enhancements to her infrastructure might receive the necessary approval. The distant skyline shows that chink of the light of hope, a chink perhaps not seen before.

Meanwhile, we must celebrate the fact that the airfield continues to thrive, can stand her own two feet, and increasingly serves the business aviation community as the numbers of aeroplanes in that category are increasingly observed on turn arounds on Blackbushe's welcoming apron..

It's surprising, but perfectly logical, that when discussing Blackbushe's magnificent past (as I am won't to do..) many people are surprised when I point to the north-east of the airfield through the increasingly overgrown thicket of the abandoned eastern end of the airfield, (the end wherein lay Airwork's large hangars and infrastructure, the Control Tower, and the United States Navy with their vast hangar, offices, and housing community that brought a little bit of the USA to Hampshire), to learn of the airport life that once thrived in the sadly lost world of Blackbushe 'east'... Today's Forum header picture indicates something of the activity that occurred in the vicinity of the United States Navy's only UK land base - at Blackbushe!




A very typical moment abeam the US Navy's Blackbushe base..




A well known view! US Navy "Warning Star" Super Connies arrived at Blackbushe as part of their global travels, massive and sinister, they bristled with pods and blisters..




Some of the routine US Navy traffic in the Navy's Blackbushe zone, while a Grumman Albatross looks into the cavernous Navy hangar. Two "Warning Star" Constellations could be housed with the building..




Whenever you set foot on a US military based in the UK it's like setting foot in the USA. In the line of duty I've set foot on numerous US bases in the UK and you do feel you're in the USA, just without the time change.. A bit of Blackbushe that once conveyed the feeling too!




The front of Blackbushe's US Navy hangar. AVM Bennett tried to acquire the hangar when buying his 365 acres of the airfield. The council wouldn't play ball..




Blackbushe's US Navy base and its associated infrastructure..




End of the story. Caught by my camera in the sixties while approaching Blackbushe's runway 26 - as it was then - the mighty hangar was used by heavy plant manufacturers for some years until it was finally destroyed, deemed unsafe as certain parties had stripped it of vital metal work. Once removed, the hangar's old site became the Blackbushe Business Park. Built on what was Common Land, a land exchange ensured that the business park could be constructed where once the mighty home of the US Navy's only UK Land base once stood....

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
28/11/22

Another day, another "POTD"...Yesterday, the "POTD" system that logs every visit made to its pages clicked through caller number 594,000. Editorial rough predictions a while back indicated that we'd cross the 600,000 mark by Christmas, maybe we will? Whatever, I'm glad that the project has brought together a group of people who share some goodwill towards Blackbushe, her past, present, and her future... Thank you!! When I first wrote a "POTD" I was uncertain that we'd reach a hundred.

Down to business.

As you know, the Blackbushe Heritage Trust are working toward their goal of returning a Viking to Blackbushe, this being the Trust's first year of life there's been much to establish, volunteers to muster, and fund raising projects to set into action..




THE BHT RAFFLE HAS BEEN A KEY FUND RAISER - THE DRAW TAKES PLACE ON SATURDAY 3RD DECEMBER at 13.15 IN THE PATHFINDER CAFE. CAPTAIN SIMON CHEADLE BRITISH AIRWAYS CHIEF PILOT FLEETS WILL BE CONDUCTING THE DRAW FOR THE AMAZING FLIGHT SIMULATOR PRIZE..



Other prizes drawn will be the three flights from Blackbushe in a light aeroplane, a framed print of the Trust's Viking plus BHT cap, and a £50 voucher to spend in the Pathfinder Cafe...

Tickets for this great occasion are still available in the Pathfinder Cafe. Just £3.00 each, you could win a great prize AND you WILL be helping the Trust's ambitions to return a Viking to Blackbushe Airport where history dictates they belong together.

That's this Saturday coming, hopefully see you there............

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
29/11/22


Had you been in the vicinity of Blackbushe in November of 1959, the last November of her life as a major commercial airport, you could well have expected to see fog diversions assembled on the apron, cross runways, and wherever else some space was to be found to place those for whom Heathrow provided too thick a blanket of fog.




One of the memorable moments from a November day at Blackbushe on 11th November, 1959...Thankfully the photo from Benjy Wilmer was included in the collection I received as per his wishes following his death.




A couple of Benjy's photos plus comments!



Benjy and I struck up an amazingly strong friendship, started one afternoon after school. I cycled up to the airfield as I often did for the 14 mile round trip to get some air in the lungs and take a look for any changes as AVM Bennett had by now bought a large percentage of the old airport.. Benjy appeared out of the Terminal as I cycled across the then hugely expansive apron. Stopping to say, "Hello", turned out that Gordon "Benjy" Wilmer was working as the AVM's man-in-charge of everything at Blackbushe. Basically it was his job to get the place sorted out!! A herculean task considering the damage inflicted by the government's 'blitzkrieg' efforts to remove Blackbushe from the map... We chatted for a while, and thereafter I'd often stop and talk with him in my post school trips.




Benjy previously worked for Eagle Airways at Blackbushe. His photographic skills were well known, Eagle used his work, the above being an example of Blackbushe memories thanks to Benjy's camera.



School holidays provided the perfect opportunity for me to spend time at Blackbushe and having got to know Benjy well I really enjoyed spending days simply helping with his 'on airfield' tasks. Occasionally an aeroplane would land, the breweries providing the occasional Aztec B or Piaggio P.166.... The Blackbushe disease was well ingrained by this time. Helping construct the hundreds of drain covers alongside runways necessary after the government had simply smashed the originals in their campaign to render Blackbushe useless was a useful way of spending school hols... The AVM had created metal molds to use in the construction of new drain covers. They were filled with concrete and reinforced with wire mesh, when set the new covers slowly helped Blackbushe's drains regained their integrity. All the time at the airfield I was haunted by the many memories of prior days when Blackbushe was a busy commercial airport and home to the US Navy's amazing land base.. Seemed so tragic that such a wonderful airfield could have been devastated so fast!

As the years went by Benjy moved on to work elsewhere, but his loyalty to Blackbushe never diminished. I would pick him up from home most Sundays for days thus spent at Blackbushe. The social side of the airfield come the days of Three Counties Aero Club was fabulous and added to the many memories that accompany me nowadays. Sadly, after his death, many of the hundreds of Blackbushe colour slides Benjy would show disappeared. His life with Eagle gave such amazing opportunities! However, his wife ensured that I received all that she could find, but somewhere many memories of Blackbushe had disappeared.. However, thankfully we have all been able to see much of Benjy Wilmer's camera work through the Forum over the past few years. I know he'd be delighted to know of the appreciate audience!!




A Comet moment from BOAC crew training days..




Unnamed, some of the boys from Blackbushe.




Eagle days. Benjy Wilmer, left, and Bill Townshend. Bill became Three Counties Aero Club's resident engineer in the 1960s. Sadly two dear friends no longer 'in the circuit'..




Another face of fame. Maurice Robinson, right. Following Blackbushe's re-opening, Maurice returned to the Airport forming Robinson Aviation based in the AVM's new lock-up hangars on the airfield's western end. Maurice produced some amazing replica aeroplanes including an Avro 504 and the famous Stukas made from Proctors for the Battle of Britain film. Sadly, Maurice too is no longer with us.




Photos like this from Benjy's collection truly capture the old Blackbushe when a boy and his bike stood by the A30 and stared at the wonders this place called Blackbushe offered. Never dreamed that 60+ years later I'd be using a thing called a computer at 7 in the morning casting such memories to an unseen audience...




Farnborough Week, 1959. Wonders, joy, tragedy, hope...That's life, that's also been life at Blackbushe for some of us...




November, another fog diversion arrives at Blackbushe!! This one's in 1950....



PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
30/11/22

Almost farewell to November. Not the best month to write home about from a personal point of view, but that's another story.. Survived Halloween and firework night, Blackbushe actually completed her 80th years since being officially opened, the dear old aerodrome is now eighty years and one month old, or she will be on the first tomorrow..

We are now feeling out way through the season of mists, none too bad so far from what I have noted, but it's the time of year when runways can be devilish hard to see through a layer of the grey stuff. Blackbushe was famous for being a FIDO airfield whereupon thousands of gallons of petrol were forced through pipes either side of the runway and set on fire. It cleared a path to enable departures and arrivals but a degree of caution was required to remain on the runway and not perform a tail dragger ground loop at the wrong moment! In later years the civil Blackbushe Airport offered a GCA service manned by the United States Navy. Blackbushe was a US Navy base in the fifties and no doubt the GCA was provided with a degree of self interest! The orange and white GCA vehicle adjacent to the main runway was a familiar part of the Blackbushe scene..

The mention of approach aids above is triggered by a report sent to me recently by the General Aviation Advisory Council. It's a look at where approach aids are available at UK civil airports. "Airfield guides for pilots provide details of around 1,000 UK airfields nationwide, of which 124 are licensed and listed in the UK AIP. Exactly half of those (62) have at least one instrument approach, serving a total of 136 runway ends. 52 of the 69 have an approach at both ends of a single instrument runway.

Only one airport has an approach at one runway end (Biggin Hill), where 03 would require a circle to land. Nine airports offer more than two instrument runways.

Three: Isle of Man, Prestwick and Sumburgh

Four: Aldergrove, Manchester, Gatwick, Heathrow, Isle of Man, Lands End

Recent developments include approved approaches for Northampton/Sywell and Kemble (albeit with heavy restrictions). Those at Shoreham have been restored; an ILS has been deployed at St Athan. Meanwhile Coventry’s have been withdrawn, and Scatsta in Shetland has closed".

The whole report may be read here.. www.flyerdaviduk.com/2022/07/19/a-snapshot-of-uk-instrument-approach-status/




Meanwhile. I'll leave you with an image from Blackbushe long ago in the early sixties..it brings back some special memories of days when the airfield was just a vast open space, devoid of any structures apart from the Terminal and the US Navy hangar, and treasures like the RAE Flying Club's Tiger Moth popped in allowing the chance to feel and smell the wonders of a real live aeroplane. I'm probably 16 years old again with fellow members of the very new Blackbushe Aero Club. Sundays were magic exploring the old Airport with fellow Club members, we were in this unique and extraordinary situation of having what was London's second airport now laid to waste but so full of hope for the future... The hope that perpetuates in 2022.



Before I go, don't forget this Saturday coming, 3rd December. The Pathfinder Cafe , 13.15, the Blackbushe Heritage Trust draw takes place to reveal the winners of the Trust's first Annual Raffle. That fantastic first prize of a flight simulation experience with British Airways at Heathrow, flights in an aeroplane from Blackbushe, a signed framed print of the Viking, and £50 voucher to spend in the Pathfinder. Tickets are still available right up to the minutes before the draw! Every ticket bought goes toward bringing that Viking back to Blackbushe...

See you there?

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
01/12/22

December! One way or another it's an interesting month, the days will start to lengthen by the end of the month, by two minutes and seven seconds every day after 21 December..

First date for you to remember is 3rd December..at the Pathfinder Cafe for the Blackbushe Heritage Trust's big Raffle prize draw. Amazing prizes for anyone with the slightest leaning toward aviation, a professional session in an airliner simulator at Heathrow courtesy of British Airways, or one of three flights in a smaller aeroplane from Blackbushe, framed print and Heritage Trust merchandise, or a £50 voucher to indulge yourself at the Pathfinder Cafe!! Tickets still on sale, you can buy 'em at the Pathfinder right up to draw time on Saturday which will be at 13.15 with British Airway's Chief Pilot doing the honours!! Be there, and buy your tickets, each one sold goes to the fund building toward the return of an historic Viking airliner to Blackbushe - for all to see....



Every raffle ticket sold is another step toward bringing G-AGRW home to Blackbushe. She's had a number of operators in her time, from BEA at the beginning, Hunting-Clan, Autair, and becoming part of a McDonalds burger joint before resting at an airfield in Austria where she currently awaits repatriation to Blackbushe and her new 'forever' home...



December! Going right back to the beginning of time, well, 1942 so far as Blackbushe is concerned..Known originally as Royal Air Force Hartford Bridge she was, as you know, officially opened on 1st November, 1942. By today the new base had been open for her first full month. The month had been busy with the party from RAF Odiham preparing for the first arrivals, the new Control Tower was initially manned by one Air Traffic Controller, and personnel found their new accommodation in the communal site to the north east of the airfield. November had been a trying month especially as there was no electricity supply causing concern over lighting and meals having to be consumed before it became dark...

By December things were getting more organised and on the 5th of the month 171 Squadron arrived with their Curtiss Tomahawk and the North American Mustangs to which they were converting. Much of December, 1942, was thereafter spent in the settling in mode...

A long 6,000ft runway awaited the new arrivals plus two other shorter runways as and when necessary. Meanwhile, Airborne Aero Flight who had moved in from Farnborough before the official November 1st opening date, continued their intensive glider trials as the nation prepared for future operations to restore peace to a troubled world..




A 171 Squadron Mustang. Photo location uncertain, possibly Middle Wallop, but the aeroplane typical of those who arrived at their new Hartford Bridge home in early December, 1942.


Stay warm, stay safe....

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
02/12/22

Fixed yesterday's error in POTD whereby a Viking was described as a Mustang. First time for everything, it is easy to make errors first thing in the morning when selecting and swopping around amid a library of many hundreds of photos. Nevertheless, the editorial department have been suitably admonished. Usually errors are pointed out by our eagle eyed members, hopefully we'll get the right photos in the right place today?

Here's a photo from yesterday, taken yesterday....


Following some lunchtime Heritage Trust business in the warmth of the Pathfinder Cafe I took pity on the Piaggio parked on the apron and took his/her/its photo. Poor thing looked utterly depressed by the weather,sitting in abject silence and lucky to be able to see its wingtips! The unusual circumstance of the airfield famed for its fog free record being subject to Harry Clampers was recorded if only for its rarity....



Nowhere can expect to be fog free under the current weather pattern, but Blackbushe being cleverly built on a plateau can sometimes be head and shoulders above the clag that can torment others in the airport business. Apparently not every time!!




...normal service at Blackbushe.




As if a reminder is necessary, Blackbushe Airport back in the days when smog/pea soup descended on London Airport and many flights diverted to the other London airport of the day..Blackbushe!! November, 1959.




"Beauty and the 'bushe." No fog here, just the beauty of a BOAC Comet 4 during a Blackbushe crew training detail in 1958/59.



Just turned 06.30, time to refuel...

Meanwhile, DO NOT forget the Blackbushe Heritage Trust Raffle draw at 13.15 tomorrow at the Pathfinder Cafe!!! Still time to buy your Raffle Tickets, £3 each and fantastic prizes. YOU could be flying a British Airways simulator under professional instruction, or going flying from Blackbushe, win a framed print of the Heritage Trust's Viking or maybe a £50 voucher to enjoy at the Pathfinder Cafe! Tickets are still available, roll up tomorrow and buy yours before 13.15 as that's when British Airway's Chief Pilot will be pulling out the winning ticket....



Finally, two important firsts to finish with...


On this day in 1945 two aeroplanes of great importance to Blackbushe's history made their first flights.




The Hermes..


..and




The Bristol Freighter..



HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU BOTH!!!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
03/12/22

The first weekend in December, the weather is turning colder according to the met people, the festive season looks like it's on schedule - fun times are just around the corner. Well, today for some the fun times start TODAY!!! British Airways Chief Pilot will be making the draw today, perpetuating the link between BEA/BOAC and Blackbushe formed many years ago!!

At 13.15 to be precise when the Blackbushe Heritage Trust's first Annual Raffle draw takes place at Blackbushe's Pathfinder Cafe... YOU may still buy tickets right up to the moments before the draw takes place, they are just £3 each and you might win a unique opportunity for a session flying one of the state of the art flight simulators belonging to British Airways at Heathrow, one of three flights from Blackbushe in an aeroplane a little smaller than those of British Airways, a framed print of the Viking at Blackbushe plus a BHT cap, or a £50 voucher to enjoy at the Pathfinder Cafe..

Be there for draw time today, and remember - every ticket you buy goes toward the Trust's mission to return a Viking to Blackbushe, a Viking who will then shout out loud for generations to come the story of Blackbushe Airport and the Viking together!! The story that shows the value of Blackbushe to the nation's post war airlines and how together they forged Britain's foothold in the development of post-war commercial aviation..



A 10,000ft runway? Nope. The road to Blackbushe, the road through Blackbushe, yes! Take it today, and we'll see you at the Pathfinder!! The photo was taken in August 1963 during the making of the movie, "The Winstone Affair" starring Robert Mitchum. Set in blazing hot India during WW2 the hot August days turned Blackbushe into a very suitable sun parched land, perfect for the movie. The Dakota came down from Tyne Tees Airways and was totally repainted in US military decor - water colours that soon washed off again - and Blackbushe once again showed her suitability to the movie industry!!




Civil outfit..




Going...




Gone..




...and "Action"! On the set at Blackbushe. The black and white barrier seen to the left of the photo was donated to the Airport after filming was complete and employed as the car park to apron barrier for quite some years after. The old Blackbushe bowser, our only source of fuel supply back then, also played its part in the movie...



I look back on those days with much nostalgia, it was quite unique having this huge airfield that only a short while before had been a major London airport, with now such a tiny team to keep her going while the wolves were at the door using all their 'local powers' to finally remove all traces of an airfield along with the history of the many souls who gave everything operating from here in the name of freedom.

With your help buying Raffle Tickets to save the Viking and restore a piece of heritage that belongs to the airfield, the nation, and all who formed the pathway to post war British commercial aviation.

See you later?

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
04/12/22




Fun times at the Pathfinder Cafe!!


As all who follow "POTD" will have known, yesterday witnessed the draw of the Blackbushe Heritage Trust's first Annual Raffle, the final descent into the bag full of hopeful entrants' tickets being made by our 'draw master' none other than British Airway's Chief Pilot, Captain Simon Cheadle. Nobly assisted by Pete Vickery whose assistance and contribution to yesterday's prize draw proceedings was gratefully received too! Huge thanks to all who work tirelessly to the benefit of the Trust.

A few words from myself to get things moving and silence spread across the Pathfinder as the diners were treated to a fun session as prizes including a full blown session in a British Airways simulator at Heathrow, three individual flights in a Cessna from Blackbushe, framed portrait of the Heritage Trust Viking plus Trust merchandise, and a £50 voucher to spend in the Pathfinder...All winners will be duly notified. All great fun, and a great success as the Raffle will have produced a useful contribution to the Trust's funds necessary to bring the Viking home to Blackbushe.. Thanks to all who bought tickets!!

NOW, this is important too with regard to the Trust and hopes to eventually return a Viking to Blackbushe. On MONDAY EVENING, 5th December, at 19.00 there will be an important extra Blackbushe Heritage Trust volunteers' meeting at the Pathfinder to discuss and update exactly where we are with regard to our ultimate plans and their outlook. To all who have attended our previous meetings it will be really necessary for you to attend on Monday, I'm sorry, but it's important we all know exactly the way things are going... Please make a couple of hours free on Monday evening, we look forward to seeing you!!




Yesterday's "POTD" took a look at the road to Blackbushe in 1963, here it is in the late sixties in the days when all six runway headings were available according to the whims of the wind..On this occasion we're on very late final for runway 01 always giving plenty of daylight between yourself and those in transit along the A30. The windsock seen near centre upper half of the photo confirms the wind blowing from the north making 01 the runway of choice..




Or you can take a high-winged approach, I think this goes back to a day in 1963..you'll see that things on the ground are sparse, rubble, ditches, holes, lengths of angle iron sticking out of the ground where once great hangars had stood, a deplorable mess but the airfield was operational. Watching aeroplanes from the A30 was once again something people did, and when on 01 they must have got some nice views!



Don't forget, vital meeting at Blackbushe tomorrow, Monday 5th December, Pathfinder Cafe, to discuss the future and plans of the Blackbushe Heritage Trust.. Be there.



PB