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Post by PB on Mar 25, 2024 8:04:11 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 25/03/24Another weekend with the grand children comes to an end, tranquility returns but I'd trade it any day for their return.. We took a walk on the bleak and muddy east side of disused Blackbushe, the push chair could have done with floats or four-wheel-drive, the council owner public recreation area is hard to recreate on! The tracks through the gorse bushes to old 14/32 runway were just as boggy, but the runway is still in very good condition. A few bikes hairing around, one or two dog walkers - and the recall of days gone by! The old 14 numerals can still be seen, I was seventeen in my 'operations' days with AVM Bennett when I spent time with a broom and much white paint keeping those numerals bright and visible from above. Where did those years go, hard to believe we flew from all them depending on the whim of the wind, and I made my first landing on that very tarmac. (No, there was not a hole to fill in).
Now, another week of medical eventualities starting from my nose...
As with most days, today hosts a number of interesting facts from aviation history! Back in 1944 the one and only 'Winkle' Lt Comm Eric Brown landed a twin engine aeroplane on an aircraft carrier for the first time. A navalised Mosquito VI landed on HMS Indefatigable with 'Winkle' in command...
In 1955 on this day an XF-104 reached a speed of Mach 1.79, 1,324 mph with the help of afterburners.
On this day in 2013 a better day for Boeing. They test flew the Boeing 787 Dreamliner following problems with the lithium-ion batteries overheating. Landing with no problems it was deemed the aircraft was safe once again. A memory from warbird days at Blackbushe. Doug's Meteor resplendent in the colours she was delivered in. Another candidate for the proposed Warbird Museum that was squashed by planning before it could begin.A jet movement from the fifties, Royal Canadian Air Force from the 1st Air Division in October, 1957..The tail end of Doug's Meteor at the end of the first day of our 1977 Blackbushe Ar Festival..your scribe is in it too!Until tomorrow...
PB
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Post by PB on Mar 26, 2024 7:33:38 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 26/03/24We start "POTD" with a potentially bloody story enacted on the Blackbushe apron yesterday..
First, it was totally unnecessary, second it should NEVER have happened, third the intervention of Blackbushe's fabulous Fire and Rescue team saved the day. First, let's look at the byelaws and requirements for those using Blackbushe's adjacent Country Park and the disused runways that are available thanks to the owners of the land.Attention must be drawn to the requirement for dogs to be kept under close control especially at the moment due to bird nesting time. It's there for ALL to see...Sadly somebody had released their two dogs on the disused runway area and were totally unable to control them. The dogs found a deer and pursued it across the active runway (with the prospect of a serious accident had an aircraft been in the final stages of landing) until it reached the main apron. It was here that intervention by the Firecrew took place and thankfully the deer was spared a gruesome end in full view of all, it thus made its way onto the disused end of Blackbushe and hopefully not too much discomfort.
Too often walking on the east end Country Park results in near misses with dog poo or plastic bags full of it hanging from branches. It cannot be that difficult to clean-up after your dog and also stop it spreading terror amid the wildlife? I assume the owner of said dogs got them back - hopefully never to release then on land that is available for humans and wildlife alike.
Next item on the Agenda relates to use of Blackbushe, or none use of Blackbushe by fixed wing aircraft today..the relevant NOTAM is copied below.Blackbushe: Aerodrome limitation Q) EGTT/QFALT/IV/NBO/A/000/999/5119N00051W005
NO FIXED WING OUT OF HOURS MOVEMENTS DUE WIP
FROM: 25 Mar 2024 18:00 GMT TO: 26 Mar 2024 22:00 GMT SCHEDULE: 25 1800-2200, 26 1800-2200No fixed wing flying today, all in a good cause as work proceeds with the Airport's new lighting system.Here's the view should be flying around Blackbushe, the Airport stretches out to the east while showing the scars of the past six decades.. Thanks to Mike Biddulph for his latest aerial study.The first thing that catches my eye is the Airport's perfect situation, almost completely surrounded by open-spaces and woodland, and situate on its own plateau that makes it easy to see and often clear of mists that gather in the lower surrounding land. The perfect 'natural' airport! The second thing that catches my eye is the extraordinary way in which British Car Auctions have spread themselves across the Common Land apparently without objection. The acres of used vehicles seem to increase on a regular basis?
The east end of the airfield where two runways met their fate still shows where those runways lay, while to the north-east the white buildings of the Blackbushe Business Park are hard to miss. They, of course, lie where the United States Navy once had their base and its exciting variety of aviation activity.
The A30, as always, runs ruler straight along the airfield's southern border. As you can see it once dissected the Airport, the area to the south still showing some traces of the past, especially where runway 01 crossed the road and reached the Airport's long lost southern flank.
However you look at Blackbushe it tells many a story! For some of us of a certain vintage it is the land where 'ghosts' of the past live in our memories and from those memories the past six decades have stemmed hopes and visions of a new Blackbushe arising from the old bones.. Happily, that day would seem to be getting closer, certainly it is more likely today than at anytime in those past sixty years where hopes have risen only to be dashed time and time again. The new lighting installation illuminates our hopes for the future!!
Meanwhile, let's hope that we might now enjoy walking on the 'old' Blackbushe in the knowledge that dogs will be kept under strict control..?
PB
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Post by PB on Mar 27, 2024 7:37:43 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 27/03/24Just realised "POTD" has been churning out its considerations for over nine years!! That's an awful lot of mornings and over 720,000 visits just to "POTD".... Started by writing a quick paragraph regarding Blackbushe thanks to another aviation related operation but the 'operator' had a funny turn and became somewhat anti-social and deleted all my contributions...that site has since vanished. Thus I launched the Blackbushe Forum inclusive of "Photo of the Day". Far from perfect but hopefully the original intention of providing a focus for like-minded Blackbushe people continues to maintain a place where we can share our thoughts - should we wish to! There are now various channels for Blackbushe matters but we'll keep going a little longer.
It would, perhaps, be good to see a little more 'conversation' utilising the Forum's "POTD Comments" facility?
Today calls for brevity with an appointment with Neurology this morning to consider what is behind a very painful twelve months where to date others have failed to find the problem - or a fix! One can but hope..heaven knows what they'll do or where their probes might go?? The present Blackbushe story has, for those of us lucky enough to still be around, been going on for over six decades... A mysterious tunnel of time where light has always been seen at the end although often that light has seemed far far away... Very clearly I remember the thrill when an aeroplane landed at the weekend, this beauty, for example!I was probably 16, still at school, but Sundays at Blackbushe in those far-off days were close to heavenly. Such a great gathering of aviators, and personalities who became legend at the time. And aeroplanes, not very often, but what a joy when one turned down-wind having over flown the airfield. "He's coming in!!" would go the cry. On arrival suitable welcomes to Blackbushe and the chance to smell a real flying machine and run your fingers over what were primarily canvas covered wings back then. Dear old Blackbushe provided the most amazing opportunity to get near aircraft and mingle with our growing group of people who could also see a future for what had until May 1960 been London's 'second airport'...
I've got to go, but very grateful to have been able to enjoy and share what Blackbushe Airport is all about. Just hope the old frame will support me long enough to see those long awaited hangars and the 'new' Blackbushe emerge..
Why not share your Blackbushe memories on our Forum?
PB
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Post by PB on Mar 28, 2024 8:50:34 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 28/03/24Well, yesterday was the busiest at "POTD" with almost 840 visits. Always good to have company!!
The history books show that today's date holds a couple of 'moments' of note.On this day in 1947 a dual ceremony was held as the first DC-6 aircraft were delivered to American and United Airlines. Above Harold Bamberg flanked by some of his wonderful team while one of the DC-6 aircraft looks on. I think it's G-APON.Remember our Farnborough Weeks at Blackbushe in the seventies? Invaded by business flights up to F-27 in size, the Jetstream was a regular shape in our line-up of visitors. From history's view point today is significant as the British Aerospace Jetstream made its first flight on this day in 1980. This was the Jetstream 31, the stretched Jetstream 41 would follow later. An original design from Handley-Page production of which transferred to Scottish Aviation and subsequently to British Aerospace when the British aircraft industry was nationalised...Those Farnborough Weeks at Blackbushe painted a picture of future Blackbushe (we hoped) where business and commuter flights were a more regular sight year round, not just for Farnborough... The Jetstream seemed so well suited for the job! Those first days of Farnborough Week were pure magic as we received and lined-up business flights that filled up one side of runway 14/32, sometimes we filled both sides. Blackbushe truly came to life!
Today at "POTD" HQ life is a bit delicate having spent most of the night staring at the back of the "POTD" eyelids. The prang from seven weeks ago continues to bleed and has become a bit yucky despite careful attention and daily dressing changes. The crushed nasal septum has blocked my 'dose' shutting off all airflow, is rather 'delicate' and will not let me get anything near the slumbers needed. Another hospital job along with the others pending!! Yesterday's Neurology appointment means more MRI scans on my head and spine, progress!! Just the pending eye surgery and heart procedure to look forward to... By coincidence another blockage has shown up in our road as gas pressure has dropped below the required levels. We've got five-way traffic lights that require concentration as to when to pull out into the traffic flow - just make sure you're going the same way as the others!! Five-way lights seem to take a lifetime before one's green lights up!
PB
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Post by PB on Mar 29, 2024 7:58:40 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 29/03/24Time has a way of giving you shocks, how fast it flies and also how slowly it can pass, a bit quantum in its ability to do two things at the same time...
Time delivered its shock of the day when realising it is now 43 years since British Airways operated their last VC10 flight, on this day in March 1981. Dear old 'SGL' took to the skies from Heathrow with 137 passengers onboard for a couple of enthusiasts charter flights. No more long hours crossing the planet, these flights routed over Manchester and Prestwick followed by flying over Brooklands from whence the VC10 first felt the joy of flight years before. It's now 43 years since that last flight, over sixty years since VC10s roared across Blackbushe of a morning outbound from Wisley, westbound, on yet another test flight of this new and incredible looking aeroplane. The VC10 was never quiet from the outside, but up front it was as quiet as a glider while if you were located at the very rear of the cabin it could get quite noisey..
During school holidays, while the VC10 was proving herself, I spent days at Blackbushe helping Gordon Wilmer, the Airport caretaker, with whatever jobs were going. Being on Blackbushe was quite blissful, the airfield was still huge, deserted, and full of memories of the days recently removed when it was home to such a variety of civil and military activity. Very occasionally back then an aircraft would land, well known breweries dropped in as Blackbushe was close to the hop growing action of Alton. An Aztec B and Piaggio 166 were two that I recall well from those now far off days. One of the priority jobs in those sadly far off days was replacing all the drain covers alongside the runways. These had all been systematically smashed and then rubble poured into the drains to make them inoperative. A dreadful eyesore, the destruction programme was obviously aimed at making Blackbushe disfunctional should anyone have the idea of bringing her back to operational life. Each drain had to be cleared and a new cover made and fitted.
AVM Bennett now owned most of the old Airport and with his ways of 'getting things done' his company up at Denham fabricated metal moulds into which metal reinforcement grids and concrete were poured. This produced new covers that fitted the drains and I assume are still in place today. Don't know how many had to be made, but either side of two runways alone must have added up significantly!
Unique memories! Where else could you spend school holiday days helping on what had been a major London airport a few months before? Blackbushe had, and still does have, a unique character. Remote, almost surrounded by forest, and yet so usefully close to cities and commerce. This great flat plateau was denuded of all that went before except the Terminal and the US Navy hangar, hope for her future was strong as was the influence of certain bodies and local officials who - for whatever reason - did all they could to prevent the AVM from achieving any success in his ambition to give Blackbushe rebirth. Six decades later the opposition has crumbled and hopefully we're on the last lap before Blackbushe can restore her infrastructure and become a fully qualified 'airport' once more...The forgotten land! Blackbushe's east end in the mid fifties, the two runways, Airwork's hangars and engineering complex, all plain to see. If you look at the lower left cars in the main Terminal car park can just be seen as is the eastern end of the then very large main apron... The Control Tower can be seen on the opposite side of the taxiway to Airwork's complex with a number of smaller aircraft parked in the triangle north of the Tower, what might be a US Navy C-54 is taxiing past the Tower. If you look at the end of runway 32 you can plainly see the taxiway used to tow aircraft across the A30 to the south-side and the engineering bases of Britavia/Silver City and Eagle Airways. All now gone as is the east end of the Airport in the photo...This photo puts into context the relative size of Blackbushe's lost 'east-end' and the amount of runway lost to it...
Back to those far-off school holidays when a visitor was absolute gold-dust! I think this was Charringtons Aztec-B, but I recall staring at her in amazement that such a fabulous aeroplane would land at broken Blackbushe. One conjured with many visions of what the future might bring! The Airport was silent, the AVM had placed the civil air ensign flag atop the Terminal right from day-one proclaiming that Blackbushe lived!! Now six decades have passed and slowly slowly life has returned despite the planning restrictions employed throughout, I just wish some of the great characters who were leading lights in the Blackbushe story then were still with us to see how the old place has survived thus far..No doubt, delighted to see the airfield has survived but shocked that it took six decades to get this far!PB
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Post by PB on Mar 30, 2024 6:48:42 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 30/03/24Saturday, and by 06.30 clear skies and the wind has calmed down...
As of now time is very short and "POTD" must live up to its claim of being 'daily' with a photo.... Perhaps a sequence of photos capturing the arrival of a CityHopper F-27 during Farnborough Week, 1978, when such types occasionally graced our tarmac? The memories still linger, the aroma of kerosene, the shrill sound of those turboprop engines, all added to the too short moments when you could 'see' Blackbushe in your memory when such movements were everyday affairs. Nevertheless, it was fantastic to see such action again if only for a fleeting moment.
Back tomorrow with the next stage of our airfield history in the months leading to D Day. See you then...
PB
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Post by PB on Mar 31, 2024 8:54:39 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 31/03/24You know those days tinged with magic where your spirit flies to higher places and the world feels right? Yesterday was such a day when reaching for the sky, another mission with Mike Biddulph into a perfect sky, super viz., majestic clumps of Cumulus on the warming air, and not a drop of rain to be seen!! A couple of Red Kites circling at around 2,000ft sailed over head as they looked done on the passing Cessna as we were out to the north and inbound to Blackbushe. If they're looking for food on the ground at that height they must have remarkable eye-sight. They have! Homebound to Blackbushe. Blackbushe, the airport on the plateau, stands out as it always has done!Phil Johns makes his last flight from Blackbushe yesterday.. Another flight thanks to Mike Biddulph was given Phil Johns his last Blackbushe sortie yesterday.Phil first flew from Blackbushe in a Rapide in the fifties, he also flew with Mike's Father Symon in the family Proctor G-AGTC. I too flew with Symon in the Proctor so yesterday's sorties were really quite the emotional affair, especially as Phil is moving to Australia next week!! I first met Phil when we were very young things around 1961 at the time of AVM Bennett's purchase of Blackbushe and those long gone weekends when we met-up and talked of Blackbushe's hopes and hoped that maybe someday an aeroplane would land... Phil commenced an incredible life in aviation as an apprentice with Eagle Airways at Blackbushe. There are few such truly 'Blackbushe people' as dear Phil. He will be sadly missed for the huge amount of work and lead he has given in the Blackbushe Heritage Trust's Viking restoration... We wish him well, good health, and good fortune in his coming move. Now being Sunday, the next installment of our look at life at RAF Hartford Bridge during the period leading to D Day in June, 1944. This year being the 80th Anniversary of D Day Blackbushe's involvement is of particular historic concern. Continuing the RAF Hartford Bridge story in the weeks leading up to D-Day...
88 Squadron mounted a 'circus' on Bois de la Justice on 24th February, 1944, and met 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 the operation FIDO was used to help the crews land back at the airfield. Thick haze was causing difficulty and although the locally based crews were grateful for the assistance in locating and landing at 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 the FIDO facility at Hartford Bridge which was now really proving its worth as a landing aid in poor weather.
On the 25th disaster hit 226 Squadron when they lost three Mitchells on a radon 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, crashed into 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 onboard.
The Photo Reconnaissance 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 from the PR aircraft but by the bomber squadron aircraft too.
The A30 was by this time closed to all non-airfield traffic, which meant for vehicles via the Fleet Road. This was not appreciated by drivers who were familiar with using the direct route via the main road. The diversion was a fair distance to travel and took a considerably longer time to cover.
That concludes our visit to RAF Hartford Bridge for February, 1944, next week we move into March...
Imagine, if you can, our airfield at full size, some 3,000 personnel based there, routine bomber sorties with tragedies and life and death too often employed...
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 1, 2024 6:49:14 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 01/04/2024Easter Monday, regardless of your religious persuasions it is a time for new beginnings, winter gives way to warmer air currents and an increasingly active atmosphere, nature springs into life and one is filled with a degree of hope that all will be well in the sunlit months to come... Yesterday went well, the MRI equipment at Frimley Park failed so one now has two MRI sessions end to end - one on the brain the other on the spine later in the week followed by laser eye surgery in the afternoon of the same day. The wonders of modern technology!
Talking of technology the fact that I can sit here spouting off about Blackbushe on the PC and by hitting the 'send' button it could instantly be read anywhere in the world is a miracle that we all take for granted. Technology has changed our world, largely for the better but sadly its offshoots are poisoning the minds of some... Another wonder of 'our time' is the photo copier wherein old photos can be converted to an electronic image and shared with whoever you wish. Take Pete Vickery who looks after event planning for the Blackbushe Heritage Trust, he recently acquired some old Blackbushe photos and these I have now copied ready for your interest. I'll pop one a day into our "POTD", starting from this one... The Albatross was just a part of the United States Navy's operation at Blackbushe. The image of the US Navy Open Day at Blackbushe reminds of when you could set foot in what felt like being in the USA, just as it does whichever US military airbase you should visit. My work involved spending time at numerous US Air Force bases and they all feel like being on the other side of the Atlantic! Hard to believe today that where the Blackbushe Business Park was built is where military life thrived and was host to such a variety of military action until 1960 when someone somewhere decided that the destruction of Blackbushe would be a great idea..It's taken six decades of legal activity to overcome the influences who would prefer to see the airfield returned to how it was centuries ago, but hopefully those decades will be brought to a closure before too much longer! The light is at the end of the tunnel, but not just that it'll also be coming from the main runway as work continues on the installation of the Airport's new runway and approach lights. This week will see construction of ducts and pits parallel to runway (30m from edge), outside runway strip. Construction has moved to the north of the runway, so disruption to aerodrome traffic will be minimal. Closure of the Airport to fixed wing traffic is scheduled for 8-19 April to permit construction of ducts and pits within the runway structure plus some essential resurfacing and fencing work.. Exciting times!Looking back on April 1st - "April Fools' Day" - over the years... In 1993 the Queen reviewed 70 RAF aircraft on the ground to mark the Air Force's 75th Anniversary - the mass fly-past was scrubbed due to bad weather. Hopefully bad weather will not play a part on 15 June this year. Large fly-past over London - the King's Birthday Fly Past, and also the Blackbushe Air Day.
In 1972 BOAC and BEA were merged to form today's British Airways. In 1971 on this day the Trident 3 entered service with BEA. Back Every Afternoon.In 1953 on 1st April BEA and Air France introduced "Tourist Fares", and in 1949 Pan American introduced the Boeing Stratocruiser to its network...and here's a page from another of my Blackbushe collections. Nobody could ever say that Blackbushe Airport's life has not been packed with variety!!Happy Easter!!
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 1, 2024 6:49:43 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 01/04/2024Easter Monday, regardless of your religious persuasions it is a time for new beginnings, winter gives way to warmer air currents and an increasingly active atmosphere, nature springs into life and one is filled with a degree of hope that all will be well in the sunlit months to come... Yesterday went well, the MRI equipment at Frimley Park failed so one now has two MRI sessions end to end - one on the brain the other on the spine later in the week followed by laser eye surgery in the afternoon of the same day. The wonders of modern technology!
Talking of technology the fact that I can sit here spouting off about Blackbushe on the PC and by hitting the 'send' button it could instantly be read anywhere in the world is a miracle that we all take for granted. Technology has changed our world, largely for the better but sadly its offshoots are poisoning the minds of some... Another wonder of 'our time' is the photo copier wherein old photos can be converted to an electronic image and shared with whoever you wish. Take Pete Vickery who looks after event planning for the Blackbushe Heritage Trust, he recently acquired some old Blackbushe photos and these I have now copied ready for your interest. I'll pop one a day into our "POTD", starting from this one... The Albatross was just a part of the United States Navy's operation at Blackbushe. The image of the US Navy Open Day at Blackbushe reminds of when you could set foot in what felt like being in the USA, just as it does whichever US military airbase you should visit. My work involved spending time at numerous US Air Force bases and they all feel like being on the other side of the Atlantic! Hard to believe today that where the Blackbushe Business Park was built is where military life thrived and was host to such a variety of military action until 1960 when someone somewhere decided that the destruction of Blackbushe would be a great idea..It's taken six decades of legal activity to overcome the influences who would prefer to see the airfield returned to how it was centuries ago, but hopefully those decades will be brought to a closure before too much longer! The light is at the end of the tunnel, but not just that it'll also be coming from the main runway as work continues on the installation of the Airport's new runway and approach lights. This week will see construction of ducts and pits parallel to runway (30m from edge), outside runway strip. Construction has moved to the north of the runway, so disruption to aerodrome traffic will be minimal. Closure of the Airport to fixed wing traffic is scheduled for 8-19 April to permit construction of ducts and pits within the runway structure plus some essential resurfacing and fencing work.. Exciting times!Looking back on April 1st - "April Fools' Day" - over the years... In 1993 the Queen reviewed 70 RAF aircraft on the ground to mark the Air Force's 75th Anniversary - the mass fly-past was scrubbed due to bad weather. Hopefully bad weather will not play a part on 15 June this year. Large fly-past over London - the King's Birthday Fly Past, and also the Blackbushe Air Day.
In 1972 BOAC and BEA were merged to form today's British Airways. In 1971 on this day the Trident 3 entered service with BEA. Back Every Afternoon.In 1953 on 1st April BEA and Air France introduced "Tourist Fares", and in 1949 Pan American introduced the Boeing Stratocruiser to its network...and here's a page from another of my Blackbushe collections. Nobody could ever say that Blackbushe Airport's life has not been packed with variety!!Happy Easter!!
PB
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Post by PB on Apr 1, 2024 6:51:41 GMT
"Photo of the Day" 01/04/2024Easter Monday, regardless of your religious persuasions it is a time for new beginnings, winter gives way to warmer air currents and an increasingly active atmosphere, nature springs into life and one is filled with a degree of hope that all will be well in the sunlit months to come... Yesterday went well, the MRI equipment at Frimley Park failed so one now has two MRI sessions end to end - one on the brain the other on the spine later in the week followed by laser eye surgery in the afternoon of the same day. The wonders of modern technology!
Talking of technology the fact that I can sit here spouting off about Blackbushe on the PC and by hitting the 'send' button it could instantly be read anywhere in the world is a miracle that we all take for granted. Technology has changed our world, largely for the better but sadly its offshoots are poisoning the minds of some... Another wonder of 'our time' is the photo copier wherein old photos can be converted to an electronic image and shared with whoever you wish. Take Pete Vickery who looks after event planning for the Blackbushe Heritage Trust, he recently acquired some old Blackbushe photos and these I have now copied ready for your interest. I'll pop one a day into our "POTD", starting from this one... The Albatross was just a part of the United States Navy's operation at Blackbushe. The image of the US Navy Open Day at Blackbushe reminds of when you could set foot in what felt like being in the USA, just as it does whichever US military airbase you should visit. My work involved spending time at numerous US Air Force bases and they all feel like being on the other side of the Atlantic! Hard to believe today that where the Blackbushe Business Park was built is where military life thrived and was host to such a variety of military action until 1960 when someone somewhere decided that the destruction of Blackbushe would be a great idea..It's taken six decades of legal activity to overcome the influences who would prefer to see the airfield returned to how it was centuries ago, but hopefully those decades will be brought to a closure before too much longer! The light is at the end of the tunnel, but not just that it'll also be coming from the main runway as work continues on the installation of the Airport's new runway and approach lights. This week will see construction of ducts and pits parallel to runway (30m from edge), outside runway strip. Construction has moved to the north of the runway, so disruption to aerodrome traffic will be minimal. Closure of the Airport to fixed wing traffic is scheduled for 8-19 April to permit construction of ducts and pits within the runway structure plus some essential resurfacing and fencing work.. Exciting times!Looking back on April 1st - "April Fools' Day" - over the years... In 1993 the Queen reviewed 70 RAF aircraft on the ground to mark the Air Force's 75th Anniversary - the mass fly-past was scrubbed due to bad weather. Hopefully bad weather will not play a part on 15 June this year. Large fly-past over London - the King's Birthday Fly Past, and also the Blackbushe Air Day.
In 1972 BOAC and BEA were merged to form today's British Airways. In 1971 on this day the Trident 3 entered service with BEA. Back Every Afternoon.In 1953 on 1st April BEA and Air France introduced "Tourist Fares", and in 1949 Pan American introduced the Boeing Stratocruiser to its network...and here's a page from another of my Blackbushe collections. Nobody could ever say that Blackbushe Airport's life has not been packed with variety!!Happy Easter!!
PB
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