PHOTO of the DAY...

[PB]

"Photo of the day"
14/02/15

Valentines day...time to feel the luuuurve?

Question I'm asking myself is how can I express such emotion amid an audience that is primarily testosterone fuelled, although if Lynda reads this..."Hi ya..." Lovely seeing you again yesterday, although the facial hair is still a worry.

Moving swiftly along the taxiway, I could say that my lifelong relationship with Blackbushe has been some kind of love affair. It's been through the early stages of adoration, the rocky phase when it nearly all fell apart, and the continued mellow years that have lead us to today. We are very close...!!

From aviation there are various aeroplanes with which I have had 'relationships'. The Boeing 707 and the VC10 were no small players, but one single aeroplane stands out as my most loved aeroplane since 1946 when I arrived on the runway of life...

..and that is



My beloved "BVOL"...

This was the Dakota presented to the United Kingdom as a gift from the South African Government, and whose arrival into this country was accompanied by great fanfare, press coverage, and a reception by high ranking dignitaries including the Prince of Wales.

My first glimpse of this radiant beauty was as she moved seductively across the Farnborough Air Show in her deliciously Dakota like fashion..my future involvement with this lady was no more likely than harmony during PM's Question Time..and we know how unlikely that is..

I'll never forget the phone call. It came one evening around the end of 1994, early '95. It came from some dizzy heights of the Army structure in Aldershot, "Would I be interested in taking on the operation of their Dakota?". I should point out that the Army had been presented with G-BVOL and she was now their baby. It seemed that somebody had mentioned to somebody that yours truly had been doing the odd thing at Blackbushe involving aeroplanes, displays, and flying, and for some reason they thought I might help propel the Dakota into a glorious revenue earning role..

I probably paused for a nano second before offering an unconditional acceptance of the offer...She was bedded down at Farnborough at this time, but it seemed to me that she would look nice at Blackbushe too..that was going to be a requirement!

I'll not bore you with much more on the subject, it could go on for pages. The summer of '95 was a passionate summer between me and my "Dak", we went to many places together, displayed her to the max and enjoyed supreme hospitality from air show organisers across the land. The RAF were very generous in the amount of fuel they gave us in return for a 'show', we had to raise enough to keep her in the air, and simply from air show revenues the challenge was more than we could really ever hope to meet. We took her to Benson, Middle Wallop, BAe Dunsfold,Flying Legends at Duxford,etc etc and Belfast for VJ Day and a royal salute in the company of other warbirds and serving RAF aeroplanes. (interesting in limited vis with Tornado and VC10 machinery sharing your cloud..). The B-25 got lost and never made the fly-past! It was a fabulous summer, but the CAA stepped in and demanded modifications that our funds and the Army bank could not afford. Our mission to Northern Ireland was our last. It was a sad day taking her to Coventry to be sold. She still lives, or she did, as bits of her still fly on a Dutch Dakota..wings and things. The fuselage was put on display at the Aviodrome, close to EHAM, and painted in KLM colours of the Dakota era. My first airline employment was with KLM as a Flight Ops Officer/Despatcher so I had a somewhat warmer feeling about BVOL's demise. During her time with us at Blackbushe BVOL was painted in the colours of a Dakota that dropped a pre-invasion group of speciliased troops near Caen during the hours leading up to D-Day..

Spending weekends away from home amid the air show scene with 'my own' Dakota was a dream come true.. No payment, but who needs pay when you've been given all that? It was hard work trying to penetrate the UK display scene with a brand new act that would not be cheap..again I had a full time job plus the demands of our Dakota, seemed to be the way my spare time went - and still does. Devoted to things Blackbushe or that fly!! Sadly, all my film coverage was with my VHS movie camera, I have no stills except the one I have shared with you. No idea why, I guess I always thought there would be time, and the movie footage was fun. Grabbed some fun movie as we left Ireland with the Blenheim and B-25 tucked up close to our our port and starboard. Grabbed some more fun movie minutes when we did the impossible by doing a joint display with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. They have a strict policy not to fly with civvy types! I still hope that somebody might have caught a photo of the two Daks airborne together at Duxford Flying Legends 1995???

We kept her at Blackbushe for much of the summer having negotiated terms..made it easier to nip up when we were not away at a show and lovingly clean the flow of oil that Dakota engines love to trail. You need to worry when the oil leaks stop!! The other challenge posed by an outdoor Dakota painted in wartime colours came from those others with whom we shared the Blackbushe circuit. BIRDS!! Oh sh*t, and did they! All over the hard to reach fin and rudder, great daubs of what looked like outdoor paint smeared by rain and condensation provided me with a routine act on the tailplane with long sqeegee mop in hand trying to 'stay on top' of the avian poo.

She's gone, and I still miss her greatly, but better to have loved at all, than never...as the saying goes.

Wishing you all you hope for on Valentine's Day...

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
15/02/15

They say that "second time around" is the best? I wouldn't know except for this morning's Sunday edition of 'Photo of the Day' somehow disappearing just before uploading it before your eyes. This then is the second time around... To lose two hours early morning work of research, head scratching, tea drinking, key bashing and finding words from 'out there' is the short cut to an explosive ego decompression. We all have experienced a serious loss of material recently, but that was not accidental...and an apology is still not forthcoming!!

So, moving onto brighter pastures. Not only are the scientists in Switzerland closing in on finding the "supersymetrical particle" within the Large Haddron Collider, this new particle (if it exists) may be found in the gluino which in turn may shed 'light' on dark matter - the mysterious something that apparently occupies the majority of creation - not only that, but this weekend also sees our new forum celebrating its second week on Earth. Not too much 'dark matter' in here hopefully, apart from my reaction to losing this morning's work. I think in future I'll impress my thoughts onto a Word document and copy them over..At least they won't get lost in outer space that way.

It's already coffee time, but must bash on as I have yet to write the Blackbushe 'story' and tie up arrangements with the Blackbushe clubs and operator about utilising the space that awaits them on the forum.. Who said forums look after themselves?

First look back this morning takes us into the distant past, the definitely distant past when your scribe first tumbled onto planet Earth. The time when World War Two had concluded, and as a result pre-owned airframes were coming into the market...The time when far sighted entrepreneurial adventurers such as Laker, Bennett, and our dear Harold Bamberg provided the sparkle that lit the fuse to this country's post war embryonic independent airlines. These early independent pioneers had to face the Government ruling that they could only carry freight. The ruling powers protecting their state funded BEA and BOAC to the hilt. In due course some passenger services could be flown on 'behalf' of BEA, but as time rolled by this country's independent airlines flourished thanks to the heroic efforts the kind of men named, today's massive operation of independent carriers can look back with thanks to those early pioneering days at Blackbushe where so many such operators placed light under their wings for the first time..

Aircraft like the Halifax and Stirling became available, aircraft with a proven load carrying capacity, proven long range ability, and reasonable handling characteristics. Harold Bamberg told me was never too fond of the Halifax's ineffective rudders, but otherwise it was a nice enough aeroplane.

One of numerous Stirlings to frequent peacetime Blackbushe..Photo taken cc 1948.



OO-XAE was under the ownership of Air Transport, was shipped to Brussels and the sold on to the Egyptian Air Force. It wasn't just the civilian market with an eye on used 'vehicles'..

Halifax F-BESE operated from Blackbushe through 1949 to 1950 in the hands of SANA. Sadly she was badly damaged when she caught fire and was finally scrapped here at Blackbushe in 1951.



Blackbushe was always in the market for unusual visitors, and I guess this SM.95 from Alitalia qualified for inclusion in the 'unusual' basket?



I-DALL's visit to Blackbushe has escaped my records so far as dates are concerned, but arrive she did. Alitalia bought six SM.95s. Savioa-Marchetti built just23 examples of the type, I-DALL being c/n 11.

The morning would seem to have escaped me, time to press the launch button and blast today's offering into a computer near you......

PB

[a30yoyo]

And then the fog lifted at Northolt and it flew back there? (regular Northolt-Rome service late 40s...early50s)
I-DALL by David Whitworth, on Flickr

Did you take these classic late 40s shots yourself, Peter?

[PB]

Good afternoon Mick, and thank you very much for the splendid shot of a one time Blackbushe visitor. I trust this photo was taken at Blackbushe......?? Probably Northolt as I don't think this Italian flying machine was seen at Blackbushe at other times, but I wouldn't know for sure. Not a bad looking aeroplane conveying something of the classic Italian styling...

To answer the question as to whether I took today's photos...?? If you read the words that cost me my Sunday morning, you will see reference to the fact that I joined the crew on planet Earth at the time these aircraft frequented Blackbushe. I was really too young to lift a camera, and probably would not have been too good at pointing it in the right direction. A motorised pram would have been a good first step toward getting on location, but Santa never brought me one. I had a great pedal car, but....hadn't got the range. No, the photos were given to me by various friends and acquaintances to whom I - et al - will no doubt be eternally grateful!!

Finally, as previously requested, I would be very grateful if all questions and comments with regard to "Photo of the Day" could kindly be directed to the Photo of the Day 'comments and questions' section which is next door to this in the "Photo of the Day" category...as said previously I would like to keep the continuity of the daily POTD as smooth as poss.. In the previous life there would be a whole page of correspondence appear, sometimes not relevant to my thread, separating the daily Photo and blurb. That did not necessarily amuse me too much!

I trust I may crave your indulgence on this one, I certainly very much appreciate discussion on our old airfield and its past - hopefully this won't come across in some dictatorial fashion, that's the last thing I would want....Forums are indeed for exchanges of ideas, and experiences!!

Wishing you a pleasant day!
PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
16/02/15

More than mid way through February, evenings are light longer, and even nodding daffodils are showing their faces as our entrenchment in winter shows signs of abating in the promise of better things to come. No doubt most who read these lines will think of things 'aviation' and the hope of air shows, fly-ins, or just more stuff going on over our heads - passing flying machines that are not hidden behind endless layers of stratus or poor vis, while the gliding fraternity find once more the nectar they seek, fresh booming thermals - the greenest possible way to fly!

Much of this Forum's reason for being is to look back at the past, and while hope of spring springs eternal, with Blackbushe we seem to be in a situation where there is much to look back on, whereas to look forward leaves many question marks. Those question marks belong to another story, but at this moment I feel the wonderful days of Farnborough Week - at Blackbushe - tugging at the memory strings!

The late fifties produced the best of these, and as the following shots indicate, the variety of types, nationalities, and air forces was impressive..



Departures, having spent the day at Blackbushe whilst their passengers spent the day at Farnborough..






..and air force visitors arrived in style!



The Fleet Air Arm arrived too..





The pilot of this Royal Navy Sea Hawk escaping with no more than a broken ankle..the accident happend as he attempted to reach Blackbushe having broken off from his formation display due to technical problems. Blackbushe was the emergency field, but events overtook the Sea Hawk and it crashed close to the Silver City hangar. Narrowly missed were a fully serviced - and fully fuelled - airliner in the hangar, and many personnel - including our Global Moderator, Stuart, who dived under the nearest car as events unfolded just ahead of him...

With the closure of Blackbushe in May, 1960, the annual Blackbushe Farnborough spectacle came to an end. September, 1959, the Airport was covered in visitors..







..of all shapes, and size! Wet, or dry...

September, 1960, it was a deserted vast flat expanse of tarmac, all buildings except the Terminal and US Navy hangar were gone..just ugly piles of broken concrete were to be seen in place of an exotic display of aeronautical hardware..

After a couple years had passed by, Blackbushe enjoyed some limited light aircraft movements and a little club flying activity. Farnborough Week even started to produce movements on the hallowed Blackbushe tarmac..

Like a ghost of the foregone years..




Eagle's Gemini came home, but only briefly, this time she had the Airport to herself..just the waving gold of the acres of grass that previously was so well mown, and that fabulous US Navy hangar for a backdrop..

..and another Miles built visitor enjoying the golden grass..



Around '63 a temporary radar unit loaned by Echo in hopes of increased traffic movements.



By the seventies and early eighties Blackbushe had become something of a pulling point for air show flying visitors..Primarily light aircraft, but regional airliners came in too.





We used runway 14/32 for parking most of our smaller visitors, at times filling it from end to end, and on both sides!!



Just shows what we CAN do....

Great days from 1960 I always managed to take the week off from work, although school days made it difficult at the beginning. For so many years either for the AVM, Doug Arnold or BCA, I dug out the old marshalling bats and looked after visitor parking. What a wonderful way to spend a week's holiday too..no pay, but no overheads either!!!! Arriving at Blackbushe early each morning, not knowing what the day might hold, and the pleasure of seeing so many inbounds as they taxied up to the boys with the bats...



Full house, but dark clouds were ahead once more for Blackbushe and the Farnborough Week spectaculars. Weeks spent with dear Roger Russell and Dave Hill in the bracing Blackbushe air are now distant memories, and no longer do I spend Farnborough Week at Blackbushe. The world has changed...

So has our runway....



PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
17/02/15

One of those mornings, you wake up and wonder... is that indigestion?

Apparently it was turbulence of the less dangerous kind, so onward and upwards, or rather backwards....with the word according to Blackbushe.

Having started the task of rebuilding "Photo of the Day" because of a modern day Dick Turpin's deeds on the super high speed virtual highway when the unseen face of a modern highway man stole all traces of four years dedicated work - you will no doubt find a lot of the material familiar as out of necessity I am on a long distance 're-cycling' journey. The best I can do is re decorate the content by hanging some different literary patterns around our precious pictures, and hope that the 'old product' maintains an element of interest for most. Days that start with a 'health concern' should spur me on to work harder and faster I guess, but meanwhile I celebrate the wonders of life and the almost mystical part that Blackbushe has played in it...

Life for Blackbushe, as you will know from reading Stuart's superb account of its wartime days on the forum, was conceived under the name of RAF Hartford Bridge.

The airfield was home to fighter squadrons, 'interdiction' squadrons, bomber squadrons, transport squadrons, British, French, Dutch squadrons and crews from all over the allied world.

Scenes such as these..









gave rise to sorties such as these..







..as our Hartford Bridge squadrons took the argument to the enemies front door. Often at great cost to the gallant men who whose last touch of mother earth was the solid feel of RAF Hartford Bridge under their feet.

At war's end the name Blackbushe was adopted to replace Hartford Bridge due to conflict with a similar named location in Northumberland. The heroic, fervently patriotic founders of embryonic British independent airlines founded their companies in numbers at Blackbushe. The Airport's natural suitability for flying, combined with its convenient location to the south-west of London was too good an opportunity to miss. Sadly the opportunity is being missed today..

Despite the efforts of the British Government of the time to block the scope and threat these new independent upstart airlines posed to their state primped BEA and BOAC, aircraft such as this Tudor of Fairflight, one of AVM Bennett's operations..



gave rise to views like this...




..as she rises gracefully into the Blackbushe sky, offering views of the control tower and Airwork's complex as 08 sinks beneath.

Talking, as I did a minute or so ago, about the mystical part Blackbushe has played in my life, probably the most mystical time was in 1960/61. Like an empty house, Blackbushe lay bare, stripped of her life - and the lives who depended on her - desolate, destroyed by an act motivated by reasons known to those who committed it. Reasons made public, reasons not made public.

I was just 16, still at school, dearly fond of London's second airport that had been snatched from us. During the acts of destruction I would ride my bike that knew its way to Blackbushe blindfold, and stopping on the grass along side the A30 - as usual - scenes such as this awaited ...




I have absolutely no shame in saying that I cried. I stood, I stared in disbelief that my faithful friend was dead, even the skeletal remains were being devoured to remove Blackbushe Airport from the map at all possible speed. "Airport, what airport? Not round 'ere that I know of.." may have been the reaction of those in denial ...

Once the devastation was complete, my bike and I revisited the crime scene. This time it was us on the runway, not a DC-6, or a York, or a United States Navy Neptune off on another submarine hunt. Nothing flew from here anymore. I found the bomb dump in the forest to the north-west of the dead airport. I recall that day clearly. It was a Saturday, no school, and the forest was silent except for the whispering breeze that toyed with the tree tops, while the sun took the opportunity of sending me signals of light as they glinted twixt the swaying treetops. I think then I had a mystical moment, not a Mystic Meg Moment, but more an opening of my eyes to all that had gone on here before. The aircraft, the air crews, the ground crews who kept the show on the road, the general essence of life during war - the camaraderie that must have flowed through here, the triumph, the grief. Somehow the peace of that morning has remained with me always, it was humbling, sad, but welded my affinity with Blackbushe still further. As you can probably tell, the old airfield has had an effect on me...

The following winter life was returning to Blackbushe, and the forest where that summer's day had 'communicated' with me was seeing the shape of aeroplanes once more. Small ones, maybe, but flying was coming back! Joy!! The forest could still be a lonesome place on a winter's day, but the occasional aircraft engine might now be company.



This is now the BCA car auctioneering complex, the auctioneer's gavel now rules the area.. The BCA development laid waste the old bomb dump, the few military huts still hidden in the woods, the hut with "SMOKE FLARES" written on the door - a link to D-Day, all were gone. But before that, one of the nissen huts had provided home for a new Blackbushe resident, dear GAMZO, Len Webb's pristine Hornet Moth.



Folding wings were a distinct advantage for such a small hangar. That too has long gone in the interest of pre-owned motor vehicles seeking a new home, but many were the times that I helped roll GAMZO out and push her back in..Always impressed me how the locking pins held the wings in place. I knew they would, I hoped they would, GAMZO helped release many of my youthful dreams as I often flew amid her numerous wings to enjoy the marvels of flight - made so much the better by originating from the old airfield with whom I had, and still do have, a mystical relationship. Bless her, she's been very good to me.

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
18/02/15

Yesterday's "POTD" conveyed how Blackbushe has played its part in my life, and the lives of many who have either worked on site before 1960's drastic closure, or are simply of a vintage that enables recollection of a busier time.

You can look back on the few photographs we have of Blackbushe at war from 1942-45 within Stuart's ever growing coverage of the period - found elsewhere on our forum. You can look back on the days after 1960 when the airfield fell into private hands, or you can look back by stretching the grey cell further into the marvels of the civilianised Blackbushe that grew post war into London's Second Airport.

Having leaned back into these cranial recesses something is missing. As yet little mention has been made in the still very new 'Photo of the Day' presentations of a major and highly significant Blackbushe Airport tenant.

I give you, the United Sates Navy!!!

US Navy moved into Blackbushe due to the fact that their previous base at RAF Hendon was no longer large enough for their needs. The US Navy's presence was due to the fact that their London Command required a communications squadron, and this had to be at an airfield that offered rapid and easy access to London. Because of that and the fact that Blackbushe offered more than adequate space for their needs, the United States Navy arrived in 1955. The construction work that ensued was not complete until 1956 after which time Blackbushe hosted the only US Navy base in the UK. The Blackbushe squadron was known as FASRON 200, the Fleet Air Service Squadron.

Blackbushe had again shown its remarkable suitability to serving the capital while causing the minimum of local disturbance.

The US Navy years ensured a regular flow of US military aircraft either based at Blackbushe or in transit between the USA and bases in Europe, particularly Naples.
They operated a number of R4D-8, or C-117D Super Dakotas to carry out communication sorties between these various US military bases. The variety of US military types in and out of Blackbushe became a major feature on the Blackbushe skyline, these will be covered in a future POTD.

As with US bases on other airfields, the Blackbushe US Navy centre grew into a veritable community that lived, and worked, on or close to the Airport..

A bit of the US Navy infrastructure.


US Navy personnel accommodation built adjacent to the Airport.



Main entrance to the US Navy offices




The hangar..


US Navy complex - birds eye view


US Navy Hangar and its taxiways





Tomorrow's 'POTD' will carry more views involving the US Navy at Blackbushe. Aircraft like this Lockheed WV-2, the militarised Super Constellation, where Blackbushe played a vital role in their long haul operations.. "145936" was photographed outside the hangar in June, 1958. I'm told that two of these beautiful aeroplanes would fit in the hangar together..it was an impressive structure!

The Government's decision to close the south-east's most strategically suitable place for an airport, especially such a busy one, was no less disastrous for the United States Navy.



It has been reported that our governing body forgot to tell the Americans that their base was to close...it is also reported that the Americans threatened to dynamite the building rather than have it fall into 'new' hands..

The Navy waved goodbye to their much liked Hampshire base, moving to West Malling before going north to RAF Mildenhall where they are to this day.

The hangar remained in situ for a number of years, being occupied by "All Wheel Drive" and "Clarke Equipment" before being condemned as unsafe once those heavy plant manufacturers had moved on. Some kind of 'night life' had been removing parts of the hangar until it was deemed unsafe, and finally demolished.

Sadly, AVM Bennett's efforts to acquire the hangar and eventually see the airfield boundary once again incorporate this majestic structure were thwarted by local opposition. Another story for another day...

PB

[rj]

Good evening Peter very interesting photos above. A few years ago I was in contact with a ex USN guy and he sent me the same photos as 1,3,5,6 above, sadly I lost contact with him just as it was getting interesting. If its the same guy ask him about the U-2 at Blackbushe, yes seriously!

Rob

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
19/02/15

Thanks to rj for enriching the forum with a veritable flood of photos from the US Navy days at Blackbushe. I see rj, that 'you too' have heard the U-2 story..about how this elusive machine appeared one night..Perhaps it could be discussed in the POTD 'Comments & Questions' as necessary IF anybody has concrete evidence?

Moving along, yesterday's POTD included a promise of more US Navy movements at Blackbushe for today's POTD adventure...this in addition to the weight of material given to us yesterday by 'rj' , (see "YOUR Comments & Photos 1946-1960), I will maintain my threat and dig out one or two additional examples of when Blackbushe was a base for the Navy.... minus boats.



R5D-3, 56358, of Blackbushe based VR-24 Squadron, a regular sight at our Hampshire airfield from 1956 through to 1958. With the US Navy hangar visible on the distant north side of the Airport, the apron gives a good impression of the buzz of daily life that Blackbushe enjoyed before Government politics and local pressures took the life out of her sails.



Another R5D graces the main Blackbushe apron... Clearly, this is one of the ANACOSTIA fleet. Anacostia was a US Navy base located at Anacostia, Washington DC..home of the Naval Support Facility, clearly this was an aeroplane a long way from home!

The Navy had begun seaplane trials at Anocostia in 1918 prior it becoming a naval air station where conventional aircraft were also supported. It remained in service until 1962 when its traffic conflicted with that of nearby Washington National Airport. Aircraft from Anacostia were not infrequent visitors to Blackbushe up to 1960...

Another wonderful shape synonymous with Blackbushe is the Lockheed Neptune..



Neptune, 141247, being a Navy aircraft obviously finds water hard to resist With a splash she makes her way to the hold for runway 08. Assigned to VP-18, The Flying Phantoms, a US Navy patrol squadron she was photographed on 30 March, 1958. The LG tail codes were applied from mid 1957, and the squadron disbanded October, 1968. Home bases were NAS Jacksonville, Florida and NAS Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.

The funny, (sad) thing is that in those distant days when aircraft such as these offerings from the US Navy were routine fixtures in our little bit of airspace is was too easy to take then for granted. Almost routine...

Just goes to show, I guess, the importance of not taking things for granted, even the current existence of what was the US Navy's only UK base...Blackbushe!

Of course, it wasn't just the Navy that represented US military might at Blackbushe, the USAF were regular and welcome visitors too..





More of them anon...

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
20/02/15

Tonight, well actually around 0200 on Saturday, our new forum will be three weeks old! Obviously, huge celebrations will be going on as I gather round the PC , swallow the scheduled statin and consider the merits of a celebratory extra cup of tea. Such rather OTT behaviour cannot be done in too gung-ho a fashion, one needs to consider the tiresome need to get up halfway through the night...

I'm sure you'll all join me in an extra cuppa come the early hours of tomorrow, to hell with the consequences, but do remember, not too much sugar, and best you use skimmed milk...

Meanwhile, as the big hand skims round the bottom of the clock it will soon be daylight, 0600 is behind me, and the need to descend into the vaults is becoming overwhelming.

Today I think we'll return to Blackbushe in her most glorious days, the days when she was second only to Heathrow so far as London's airports went, the days when package holidays first took to the air, the days when Blackbushe was the market leader in package holidays, independent scheduled and charter flying, and probably the most interesting airport in the country. One machine in particular was prominent at Blackbushe from the earliest of civil days right up to the end in 1960 when the departure of two Vickers Vikings signalled the last take-off ever at London Blackbushe.

I'm not going to indulge in a history of this descendent of the Wellington bomber, just reflect on one or two examples as they helped make the Blackbushe picture of the fifties...

Without doubt, Eagle were the most prolific users of the old workhorse...they owned at least sixteen of these delightful old ladies. Eagle and Airwork purchased many of the retired BEA Viking fleet, refurbished them and sold them onto the global Viking market. Sadly, the Viking did not have the economics of the Dakota and I think it's fair to say that it wasn't the best proposition from the accountant's way of viewing things. However, she was a charming character, and despite her slightly rotund figure was always a delight to the eye.



At one time there were in excess of thirty Vikings based at Blackbushe bearing names such as Continental, Falcon, Independent, Orion, Airwork, Hunting-Clan, Tradair, Pegasus, Universal, and apologies to those whose names got caught in the cerebral arrester gear - early morning not the most flexible time for engaging gear in the between ears system.





Eagle went through a variety of colour schemes..





The classic road side pose adopted by so many airliners! The view that made Blackbushe stand out as the easiest possible airfield to get close-up to the hardware - without a policeman chasing you!



All in a day's work at Blackbushe... EasyProp, you saw it here first, the dawning of today's unimaginable number of human beings involved in flying from somewhere to somewhere else.

Ahh, yes...the ubiquitous Vickers Viking..If you're ever at Brooklands Museum, go see her, and just for a moment try and see Blackbushe in your mind as the Viking's dominated the scene..




The Viking. Loved by her passengers most of the time, loved by her crew quite a lot of the time, and loved by those who could but stand and stare by the road side - all the time.

PB