Post by PB on Oct 25, 2024 10:02:09 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
25/10/24
If, after over six decades of inexhaustible patience, Blackbushe Airport is moving closer to that hallowed day when the big thumbs-up comes from those who decide "yah" or "nay" whether planning may be granted towards an airfield with no hangars, lacks necessary accommodation, but does nothing than show the world the benefits afforded by a General Aviation centre exactly where Blackbushe is located then this might be a good time to pay attention...
The survival of Blackbushe is close to miraculous. The Visual Control Room atop Blackbushe's Control Tower was one of the few bits to survive. It was removed and sold to Edinburgh Airport for a reported £5,000, while the land the Airport covered was to be returned to its original owners by the end of 1960. The Airport closed on the last day of May of that year. During this time the demolition contractors were given a deadline to complete their dreaded work by the year's end. They made an awful mess, but they failed. Blackbushe was a tough nut to crack... The runways and taxiways were so tough the contractors were simply unable to finish the job by end of December 1960. They requested 'extra time' but from the Calthorpe Estate who owned the majority of the airfield such time was not granted. The airfield was in the most terrible state, piles of rubble and debris everywhere, the Ministry of Civil Aviation got the bill for clearing things up! Calthorpe had no need for such a vast area of concrete and happily sold the land to AVM "Pathfinder" Bennett in 1961. The smaller east-end of the airfield was on 'church land' and handed to the local parish council who took it upon themselves to destroy every runway and taxiway on their newly gained territory. It still bears the scars.
I was fifteen when all this happened. The views of Blackbushe's destruction are still firmly in my mind. Sometime during the summer of '60 I sat on my bike by the side of the A30 and watched as Airwork's hangars were being ripped down, this wonderful Airport was dying before me. I don't deny that tears trickled down those still fresh cheeks. The sights and sounds of the previously busy Blackbushe locking themselves to memory for ever. They're still there!!
Bye bye Airwork....
Pre May 1960 views from the A30, once closed would we EVER see a Viking at Blackbushe again?? Seemed unlikely....but who knows!!
The AVM acquired the land in July 1961 operating it under the name of Dart Aircraft Ltd.. Some while later I gave up an engineering apprenticeship at RAE Farnborough to join the AVM's very small team charged with the job of running Blackbushe Airport. Was it a good move on my part? My ambition of becoming a Flight Engineer was overruled by some innate drive to be associated with dear old Blackbushe even if she had been knocked about a bit... As it turned out - thanks to the ambivalence of various local authorities my personal future prospects looked grim and I moved on to a very happy and rewarding career in the airline business!
This year has witnessed Blackbushe enjoying the installation of a totally new runway lighting system, truly state of the art. Shortly before Blackbushe was closed by the government they had installed a new lighting system which back in the late fifties cost some £60,000. A lot in 1950's value of the pound. This year's new lighting cost 'significantly' more, but what a fabulously lit runway Blackbushe has once again!!
The question of developing Blackbushe was one seemingly without end. In August 1961 the AVM submitted two planning applications to Hampshire County Council, one for the use of the land as an airfield, the other for the construction of hangars. These were refused on the grounds that the site was to be an open space, it would be "detrimental to the amenities of Yateley Village" and would interfere with the traffic flow on the A30... They would have had suffered apoplexy amid their authoritarian minds if the question of British Car Auctions could even have been dreamed of, back then it was not on anybody's mind.
Initially the Airport was run under the "twenty-eight day rule" where the property owner can use the land for any purpose for twenty-eight days, or less, during a year.
One of those "twenty-eight days" rules during those extraordinary weekends where aircraft came, flew circuits or pilots just had a cup of tea during their brief stay. Landing on 01, the late Reg Venning in his Taylorcraft plus D. Reg and this aircraft became long term Blackbushe residents. What better way to spend your Sunday than in the Airport Land Rover manning the Aldis lights?
The Blackbushe story is one of length, divide, and determination. The story is not yet over, but this still could be the year when the Battle of Blackbushe finally ends and past differences are absorbed into hope and the development of an airfield that will be of benefit not just to aviation, but the local economy, employment, and simple entertainment. Just look how many now come to watch the aircraft and enjoy the Pathfinder Cafe with its unequaled views of passing aeroplanes.
When I took this photo in 1962 the AVM had put a windsock in place, and the old freight shed floor had been roped off as the new Airport car park! The wrought iron stubs sticking out of the concrete show how crudely Blackbushe was destroyed, the old freight sheds never thought they'd become a car park...
Today's Blackbushe traffic consists of flying school operations and business flying, a very different view to the intransigent days launched in the sixties, the days when a councillor complained about aircraft being so low when they landed...and had to 'duck' as said council member was walking (trespassing) on the active runway..
It's been a long story, as you can imagine. Legendary friendships, opportunities, boiling frustration, and many hours enjoyed in the sky that would never had happened if the AVM had not bought the airfield.. Many friends have been taken from us over the years, I'm just grateful to have made it thus far and live in hopes of seeing someone thrust a spade into the good Blackbushe earth before too long. A spade movement that will signify the epilogue of a story of many chapters and six long decades....
PB
25/10/24
If, after over six decades of inexhaustible patience, Blackbushe Airport is moving closer to that hallowed day when the big thumbs-up comes from those who decide "yah" or "nay" whether planning may be granted towards an airfield with no hangars, lacks necessary accommodation, but does nothing than show the world the benefits afforded by a General Aviation centre exactly where Blackbushe is located then this might be a good time to pay attention...
The survival of Blackbushe is close to miraculous. The Visual Control Room atop Blackbushe's Control Tower was one of the few bits to survive. It was removed and sold to Edinburgh Airport for a reported £5,000, while the land the Airport covered was to be returned to its original owners by the end of 1960. The Airport closed on the last day of May of that year. During this time the demolition contractors were given a deadline to complete their dreaded work by the year's end. They made an awful mess, but they failed. Blackbushe was a tough nut to crack... The runways and taxiways were so tough the contractors were simply unable to finish the job by end of December 1960. They requested 'extra time' but from the Calthorpe Estate who owned the majority of the airfield such time was not granted. The airfield was in the most terrible state, piles of rubble and debris everywhere, the Ministry of Civil Aviation got the bill for clearing things up! Calthorpe had no need for such a vast area of concrete and happily sold the land to AVM "Pathfinder" Bennett in 1961. The smaller east-end of the airfield was on 'church land' and handed to the local parish council who took it upon themselves to destroy every runway and taxiway on their newly gained territory. It still bears the scars.
I was fifteen when all this happened. The views of Blackbushe's destruction are still firmly in my mind. Sometime during the summer of '60 I sat on my bike by the side of the A30 and watched as Airwork's hangars were being ripped down, this wonderful Airport was dying before me. I don't deny that tears trickled down those still fresh cheeks. The sights and sounds of the previously busy Blackbushe locking themselves to memory for ever. They're still there!!
Bye bye Airwork....
Pre May 1960 views from the A30, once closed would we EVER see a Viking at Blackbushe again?? Seemed unlikely....but who knows!!
The AVM acquired the land in July 1961 operating it under the name of Dart Aircraft Ltd.. Some while later I gave up an engineering apprenticeship at RAE Farnborough to join the AVM's very small team charged with the job of running Blackbushe Airport. Was it a good move on my part? My ambition of becoming a Flight Engineer was overruled by some innate drive to be associated with dear old Blackbushe even if she had been knocked about a bit... As it turned out - thanks to the ambivalence of various local authorities my personal future prospects looked grim and I moved on to a very happy and rewarding career in the airline business!
This year has witnessed Blackbushe enjoying the installation of a totally new runway lighting system, truly state of the art. Shortly before Blackbushe was closed by the government they had installed a new lighting system which back in the late fifties cost some £60,000. A lot in 1950's value of the pound. This year's new lighting cost 'significantly' more, but what a fabulously lit runway Blackbushe has once again!!
The question of developing Blackbushe was one seemingly without end. In August 1961 the AVM submitted two planning applications to Hampshire County Council, one for the use of the land as an airfield, the other for the construction of hangars. These were refused on the grounds that the site was to be an open space, it would be "detrimental to the amenities of Yateley Village" and would interfere with the traffic flow on the A30... They would have had suffered apoplexy amid their authoritarian minds if the question of British Car Auctions could even have been dreamed of, back then it was not on anybody's mind.
Initially the Airport was run under the "twenty-eight day rule" where the property owner can use the land for any purpose for twenty-eight days, or less, during a year.
One of those "twenty-eight days" rules during those extraordinary weekends where aircraft came, flew circuits or pilots just had a cup of tea during their brief stay. Landing on 01, the late Reg Venning in his Taylorcraft plus D. Reg and this aircraft became long term Blackbushe residents. What better way to spend your Sunday than in the Airport Land Rover manning the Aldis lights?
The Blackbushe story is one of length, divide, and determination. The story is not yet over, but this still could be the year when the Battle of Blackbushe finally ends and past differences are absorbed into hope and the development of an airfield that will be of benefit not just to aviation, but the local economy, employment, and simple entertainment. Just look how many now come to watch the aircraft and enjoy the Pathfinder Cafe with its unequaled views of passing aeroplanes.
When I took this photo in 1962 the AVM had put a windsock in place, and the old freight shed floor had been roped off as the new Airport car park! The wrought iron stubs sticking out of the concrete show how crudely Blackbushe was destroyed, the old freight sheds never thought they'd become a car park...
Today's Blackbushe traffic consists of flying school operations and business flying, a very different view to the intransigent days launched in the sixties, the days when a councillor complained about aircraft being so low when they landed...and had to 'duck' as said council member was walking (trespassing) on the active runway..
It's been a long story, as you can imagine. Legendary friendships, opportunities, boiling frustration, and many hours enjoyed in the sky that would never had happened if the AVM had not bought the airfield.. Many friends have been taken from us over the years, I'm just grateful to have made it thus far and live in hopes of seeing someone thrust a spade into the good Blackbushe earth before too long. A spade movement that will signify the epilogue of a story of many chapters and six long decades....
PB
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