PHOTO of the DAY...

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
04/03/15

Four more photos from Barry today...



Taken on Tuesday 2nd September 1958.
Pictured on the tarmac outside the Eagle hangar & still in the basic green and white colours of previous owner Aer Lingus, Tanganyika registered DC3A VR-TBT of Williamsons Diamond Mines awaits sale. Built as USAAF C47A-90-DL serial number 43-15987, she flew post WW2 with DDL/SAS as OY-DDI & OY-DDO and then Aer Lingus as EI-AFB. Sold in October ’58 she became G-APPO & was eventually withdrawn from use at Luton in 1970 and used for spares,




Taken on Tuesday 8th September 1959.
On the grass just south of the taxiway to 08, RAF Devon C1 serial number VP976 came from the Technical Training Command Communications Flight at Wyton. Its last operational role was with 207 squadron, flying from Northolt during the 1970s where it was eventually written off in 1977 following a ground towing accident.




Taken on Thursday September 10th 1959.
USAF C47D 0-348310 taxiing out from the terminal area, with an Anson in the background and various machinery outside the USN Hangar including at least some R4Ds and a Samaritan. According to the lettering on the nose, it was operated by MAAG (Military Assistance Advisory Group) France and I bet that covered a multitude of sins. In later years it flew with the Moroccan Army Air Force with call-sign CNA-LN, subsequently becoming N54604, F-WZII and RP-C-1353, ending its days with Avia Filipinas International at Manila.




Taken on Thursday 10th September 1959.
Pegasus V610 Viking 1B G-AHPL on a hard standing south of the A30. It first flew in April ’47 and became BEA’s ‘Verdant’, later flying with Eagle & then CAA as VP-YKK ‘Lundi’. Pegasus, who had started operations earlier in 1958, bought it on December 22nd ’58 and flew it until they closed down in 1961. Subsequently flown by Autair and then Invicta, it was damaged beyond repair on take off from Manston on August 2nd 1965.

Plenty more to come from Barry over the coming days...stay tuned!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
05/03/15

Morning all devoted followers of the daily word according to Blackbushe..Another easy one for me, just put the photos through the process to get them here and let Barry do the talking.

So, another four from BB at BB..



Taken on Tuesday 8th September 1959
Parked out on the grass, a lighter visitor during Farnborough week of 1959 was Glamorgan Aviation’s Auster 5D G-ANHX – the former RAF AOP5 TW519. It crashed in 1970 and is believed to have been in storage ever since.



Taken on Thursday 10th September 1959.
Hermes IV G-ALDA, dispersed on one of the hard standings to the South of the A30, had been stripped of her Airwork livery with the exception of the green cheat line. 3 weeks later on the1st of October it was officially registered to Falcon and subsequently went on to fly with several other independents as well, wearing the liveries of Skyways, Air Safaris & Air Links. Believed to be the last Hermes to fly, she was retired on 13 December 1964 and scrapped shortly afterwards.




Taken on Thursday September 10th 1959.
Resident Falcon Airways V614 Viking 1 G-AHPG under outside maintenance by the hangar, south of the A30. She first flew in November 1946 and became CAA’s VP-YHJ ‘Sabi’, flying as such for ten years apart from a six-month period as ZS-DDO with Suidair. Returning to the UK, it joined Independent Air Travel for two years before being sold to Falcon on start up in March 1959. They sold her on in 1960 and it subsequently flew with Luxembourg Intercontinental Airlines, Air Sud Kasai and Spiros Kalipolitis before ending her days as a snack bar at Blantyre, Malawi. Falcon ceased operations in 1961.



Taken on Thursday 10th September 1959.
Resident Orion Viking 1A G-AGRS in its attractive two tone green livery with sister ship G-AHOS in the background – must have been a quiet day for the airline with only G-APAT not present. ‘GRS first flew in June 1946 and was delivered to BEA shortly thereafter, subsequently flying with BSAA, BWIA & Eagle prior to joining Orion in July ’59. She flew with Orion until their closure in November 1960 – the airline had lasted just three and a quarter years.





That's today's gathering of old Blackbushe traffic. Seeing these aircraft again is rather like visiting old friends you haven't seen for many years. They look much as you remember them, you remember how good it was to see them all those years ago, but sadly they are all now just memories. However, that's the very purpose of the forum - to keep alive some memories of long ago when Blackbushe was home to so much of our independent airline world and the 'spirit', or whatever it was, that made Blackbushe a very special airport.

It still is a very special airport, if only her potential could be set free...

Back tomorrow, today is scheduled for the RAF Museum to spend time with some more old friends.

PB

[PB]

Photo of the Day
06/03/15

Returned to base after yesterday's re-visit to the RAF Museum..having not been there for many years the changes were impressive, and the WW1 collection a magnificent addition to these wonders of the past.

Talking of wonders of the past, I've just finished today's juggling act to line up some more from Barry. E-mail still amazes me, the fact that I can actually take the photographic content of one of these new fangled messages, unzip it, transport it to a storage medium where it is converted into code before I further transport it and drop said code into here truly amaze me...especially when you look at it and see pictures! I must admit to getting the photos mixed up some mornings during the initial writing phase requiring some rapid editing before anybody looks at it and think my marbles have rolled down the stairs.

Sadly, we seem to have lost a large number of our daily hitters on the old "Blackbushe Pictures from the Past" thread that lived elsewhere until the landlord threw away the key to the front door..we are getting about 1/5th of the visits of the past. Not sure if that is because we're in a new abode and many have not found us, or simply we were once part of something bigger and it was easy for a casual click on our old thread while looking at other things aviation?

However, it is clear that we are now left with the cream of fellow Blackbushe 'supporters'..and it remains a pleasure to continue broadcasting the Blackbushe message for YOU!

Onwards then, and over to Barry for another batch of his Blackbushe memorabilia..





Taken in September 1980
Fairoaks Aviation Islander G-BESX – it was exported to Taiwan in 1981.





Taken in September 1980
Just one year old and locally operated at the time, PA31 Navajo Chieftan G-JONS loads up outside the terminal. It was sold in America in 1993.




Taken in the Spring of 1983
One of Doug Arnold’s CASA 352s parked by his hangars – note construction in the background



Taken in January 1989
18 year old PA23-250 Aztec G-AZBK was based at Blackbushe for some time and was eventually sold in Ireland in 1995.





Taken in April 1989
Whitbread’s PA31 Navajo Chieftan G-BREW at rest on the ramp. The company flew this aircraft from November 1978 to June 1989 before selling her on, when she became G-BRFA. In 1999 she was sold in the ‘States.





Great collection again from Barry. Two things strike me from looking at today's batch. First, how days that seem like the recent past - the 1980's in this case - are in fact sliding into the almost forgotten past as the veils of time relentlessly engulf our days. Second point that hits home is how the fleets of piston twins that droned their way around our skies, and kept Blackbushe busy, have largely left us having most likely returned to life in the USA. The VLJ has made inroads into the small capacity business market with its obvious passenger appeal over the piston twin, and with such operations demand on airport facilities will be that much greater..for both passenger and aircraft performance. Further elaboration is perhaps unnecessary?

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
07/03/15

The weekend! During the 'working years' the word "weekend" suggested a break from the work based cycle of activity..although weekends were historically used for admin/planning/reports/hatching devious plots to confound the competition/...you get the picture. The beauty of being engaged in retirement and working on an ad hoc 'charter' basis was - I thought - going to bring a greater air of freedom and time to do what I want, when I want. I suppose it's true, except that I'm finding too many things to do, and this week's been a perfect example of the 'blue arsed fly' syndrome where one has buzzed from point to point with hardly a moment to attach yourself to something juicy before your off again elsewhere. That is where Barry's photos have been such a boon as he has taken the grey cell factor out of the POTD presentations having also provided the script to accompany his pictures. What a hero! Today his services are continued...and I have just settled the financial demands from Photobucket to ensure that viewers of POTD and other bits of the forum continue to receive the daily service..with pictures!! So, onwards and upwards, back to Blackbushe with Barry!



Taken on Tuesday 2nd September 1958.
USAF C130A 60529 in red ‘arctic’ markings lowers the ramp outside the terminal building area. It came from the 322nd Air Division based at Évreux, France.




Taken on Wednesday 3rd September 1958
Aero-Transport Viking 1 OE-FAE on the hard standing to the left of the terminal, very close to the A30. Delivered new to BEA in1946 as G-AHPF ‘Vedette’, she later became BWIA’s VP-TBC ‘British Guiana’ and the CAA’s VP-YJB ‘Luapula’. Restored to the UK register in September ‘57 she was sold on to Aero-Transport in April ’58. Re-registered OE-HAE in November ’61, she was scrapped the following month.




Taken on Tuesday September 8th 1959.
Aeronavale Flotilla 11.S Lockheed PV2 Harpoon 37311/11.S 5 in a well worn ex USN ‘midnite’ blue finish parked on the grass right up alongside the A30. Auster, Coastal Command Varsity and RCAF Dakota in the background.




Taken on Tuesday 8th September 1959.
Rare beasts at the best of times, Canberra B(I)6s were only ever flown by one RAF unit – 213 squadron at Bruggen. Here WT310 complete with that unit’s yellow and black wasp markings on nose & fin sits alongside the A30 with a background of two Belgian C119s. First delivered in November 1955, she met a tragic end in January 1962 colliding and crashing with fellow 213 Squadron B(I)6 WT315 near Elbergen West Germany with the loss of three crew.




Taken on Thursday 10th September 1959.
All right if I park my nuclear bomber here for the day unattended? Sure, there’s no real security and that’s the public A30 but it shouldn’t be a problem. (How times have changed!). From RAF Laabruch’s 16 Squadron, Canberra B(I)8 XM268 complete with the unit’s yellow/black fuselage band and crossed keys under the cockpit, sits out the day beside the A30. The B(I)8 version was the third generation of the Canberra & performed the low level interdictor & tactical nuclear strike role with the RAF's Squadrons in Germany.





Thank you Barry!! Another group of memory jerkers. Funnily enough the USAF C-130 (first photo) was parked on the apron as I went past the Airport as a passenger with my Dad at the wheel. I was 12 at the time - my interest in Blackbushe was significantly aroused by that age - and that large day-glo fin left a fleeting, but lasting, impression scored on the grey cell. Just 'one of those moments', but the mind's eye can still see it although at the time it was 'simply Blackbushe' and nothing particularly extraordinary for the time to my twelve year old senses. But it did look good, if only I'd realised how good it would seem in the years to follow!! I did all I could to acquire a C-130 for a couple of my past ventures at Blackbushe, but none were available - maybe next time??

Time to go, must buzz off to the next venture in waiting...

PB

[flyboy]

Keeping you updated, proboards are now saying its a Virgin problem and down to them to fix. Afraid we are in their hands and we will have to wait on them sorting it.Very sorry if you are having withdrawal symptoms - we are too! Will be back just as soon as possible. Stuart

[PB]

The Good News is that ProBoards/Virgin have fixed the problem of the last few days..the bad news is I have a hospital appointment and have got to go now...but just to show willing..



We're still in business...

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
12/03/15

Hopefully resuming the POTD operation for a little longer..providing the PC's electronic components keep firing and my biological bits and pieces keep sparking we should be OK for a while yet. Thus, borne on the winds of optimism here we are at 06.00, keyboard spread before me, eyes a sort of Martian red, and taking the easy route again by tuning in to the collection sent over from Barry B..

Collection number 8..



Taken on Tuesday 2nd September 1958.
Armee de l’Air So30p Bretagne number 18 parked south of 08 with a pair of C119s over on the North. This aircraft belonged to the French test & evaluation unit – CEV and was the former civil airliner F-BAYU flying with both Air Algerie and Air Maroc.




Taken on Tuesday 2nd September 1958.
Close enough to the A30 then! Italian Air Force C47 serial MM61777, coded SM:19.




Taken on Wednesday 3rd September 1958
Resident USN R4D-6 17226/FT:226 taxis across the main apron on the way out. It belonged to Fleet Aircraft Service Squadron (FASRON) 200 which was Blackbushe based from October ’56 until May ’60 – this aircraft actually left the squadron during 1959, prior to their 1960 move to West Malling.




Taken on Wednesday 3rd September 1958
From the Portuguese Air Force, C54E Skymaster serial 6601 is parked up South of the A30. Transferred from the USAF to the Portuguese in 1952, it was reportedly withdrawn from use at Alverca in 1976.


More from Barry tomorrow, meanwhile wishing a pleasant day to our loyal followers..

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
13/03/15

It's another Friday 13th. So what, luck happens, sometimes it doesn't, but no room for superstition on this forum...fingers crossed.

Well, lost all internet connection for starters but having rebooted, reset, resented, and reacted we seem to be on the air again. The last time we celebrated a Friday dated "13th" it was but a month ago, and I did a piece on here relating to pre 1960 Blackbushe movements that happened upon such a date so rather than run that idea again I'll slip back in time to post 1960's and some more shots from Barry.



Taken in January 1989
Former resident Bulldog 104, G-AXIG, was already 18 years old at the time and was a Compton Abbas based aircraft by now. She was the production prototype of the Scottish Aviation Bulldog and in 2011 was permanently withdrawn from use and placed on display in the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh.




Taken in August 1989
B200 Super KingAir G-BMVY was visiting from her base at Gamston. After a later period of ownership by JJB Sports, she returned to the US in 1997.




Taken in August 1989
BE200 Super KingAir G-MOAT moving off the ramp belonged to Queens Moat Houses, who I believe, operated it out of Stansted. It went back to the ‘States in 1994.




Taken in August 1989
PA31 Navajo G-JAKY parked by the ramp fence with Quantel’s Aero Commander behind. ‘JAKY was owned by Ace Aviation and they sold it in the USA in December ’92.



Taken in October 1989
Visiting B200 Super KingAir G-BPPM sits out in the autumn sun. These days she flies as G-SYGA out of Fairoaks.





Thanks to Barry once again for more memory aids from a slightly more recent past - the 80's. The demise of the propeller driven business aeroplane would appear to have made a significant impact on the traffic using Blackbushe, here today and in a blink it's gone... Blackbushe still sits upon her potential, but will she ever get up and realise what it is she sits upon? Apart from gravel? Funny world, Heathrow boasts of 120 company HQ's within 15 miles and states that many of these are based west of London. London City with a runway similar to Blackbushe plans huge traffic growth, 8 million passengers a year, yet Blackbushe with its perfect approaches sits and slowly gets eaten by the vegetation, ancient laws, and wide spread use of blinkers. That's all I'm saying..

Have a happy Friday 13th, and good luck!!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
14/03/15

The weekend has dawned. Cold and grey, a start typical of many a March day when devious winds blow in from the east temporarily putting on ice ideas that spring is forthcoming.

Such days bring back what are becoming ancient recollections of the early days when Blackbushe was 'fighting for her life' as the media would describe some comatose person who would have no idea that they were actually 'fighting' for anything, including their life! For today, we'll give Barry a rest and return to his sequence of photos tomorrow, but with a chill March day outside I thought I'd gather a few memories together of the early sixties - and how Blackbushe appeared to those of us who helped in her 'fight' for life..

Still at school, sixth form time, and Blackbushe had been laid desolate. With GCE studies flying between the ears one's time had to be allocated with care. But, I was one of those who felt bereaved at the loss of Blackbushe, and from the moment her runways became a playground for one and all post closure I was drawn uncontrollably to her mortal remains. Probably not a safe place as those runways now served as a mecca for cars of all kinds driven by drivers of all kinds. Early radio control aeroplanes would bring a bit of dignity to the runways as they flew around with their elementary clunking equipment keeping them under control. Motor bikes, dogs, humans, all were drawn to the corpse of Blackbushe.

The local 'powers' decided to rip up the east end of the airfield to protect it from aeroplanes ever returning, and to create a 'public open space'. That as we know is a joke, and the mess they created - which still stands today - was sufficient to drive visitors onto the area which remains as an airfield today.



(The work of the 'powers' fifty five years on).

These words I captured yesterday from my new phone...(something that science fiction might have dreamed up in the sixties)..I give you, "Yateley Common's rules and regulations..."





Interesting requirements when scanning the surrounding 'common', its awful state and how dogs are allowed to pollute what is supposed to be a 'public' area.. Five decades on and this part of Blackbushe still looks like a war zone.



All very depressing. Going back to the early sixties while the sight and sound of the recently departed military and commercial Blackbushe traffic still occupied my mind, seeing the airfield suffer such desecration was hard to take.

So it was that with great fortitude 350 acres of Blackbushe freehold were acquired by AVM Don Bennett. This huge purchase was accompanied by the concept of a major general aviation centre to serve south west London and the home counties, a necessary facility in a perfect location.

Today's cold bleak March morning revived clearly this time of year in 1961/2 when aeroplanes started to show up perhaps on a Sunday or for our occasional fly-ins. The procedure for me every Sunday was clear. Bike out of shed by 7am. Check list of camera, binocs, etc etc ticked off and loaded..and by 07.30 I was pedalling my 8 miles to Blackbushe for another day in paradise. Well, maybe paradise is a bit strong but it had the makings of something like that..we hoped!

It was great fun working with the greats of the time, Ken Gray, Holly Birkett, Ken Barker, Gordon Wilmer, Maurice Gosling, Jonnie Walker, Jo Meggeson, Dave Cottrell, Dave Inman et al..The atmosphere was truly wonderful as this body of like minded souls gathered every weekend to work on the airfield with the AVM, establish the first Blackbushe Aero Club and witness occasional aircraft movements. Very occasional.

These are typical of the 'occasional' visitor during those far off cold weekends..













Such sights on a cold morning warmed the inner man! A real aeroplane back on Blackbushe! They may not look much today in beautiful low def black and white, but you must take it from me they were worth their weight in gold when it came to lifting our spirits! The years dragged on, and I guess today Blackbushe still lives on the horns of uncertainty, but at least she is still here..

Here's the view from the Terminal 1961...





..and a view taken from the 'common' yesterday..



..more than one dared to hope for in the sixties, Blackbushe has taken on the appearance of an airfield!!

The 'common' speaks for itself..





I know which way I prefer to look!!

Finally, I noted that 14/32 has been swept and looks almost in good condition..



until you look closer..



At least it gave me some exercise and apparently the metal bits in the heart are working very nicely. It still ticks, and we still have an airfield called "Blackbushe"..

Life could be worse!!

PB

[PB]

"Photo of the Day"
15/03/15

Morning all..back to Barry's collection today with another look at Blackbushe of old!



Taken on Tuesday 2nd September 1958.
Israel Defence Force Air Force C47B Navigation trainer 4X-FAK/030 had been present here at Blackbushe earlier in the year as well and was reportedly back for attention by Eagle. A long serving IDFAF aircraft, she was eventually sold off as N60214 in July 2000.




Taken on Wednesday 3rd September 1958.
Aeronavale So30p Bretagne No.33 code 31.S.8, with under-wing booster jets, parked on the grass by the taxiway to 08. It came from 31 Escadrilles de Servitude at Le Bourget and was the one time civil airliner F-DABC of Air Maroc.



Taken on Tuesday 8th September 1959
Most unusual for a Varsity to be seen in anything other than the normal Training colours, Coastal Command’s WF330, taxis out after the Farnborough show had finished for the day. The 7th production Varsity, the records show her as belonging to 42 Squadron at the time just prior to being officially transferred to the St Mawgan Station Flight. She finished her flying days with 5 FTS in 1970 and was finally struck off charge in March 1975.



Taken on Tuesday 8th September 1959
Valetta C2 VW197 rumbles along the taxiway after the day’s events at nearby Farnborough. As her roof titling shows, she was on the strength of the RAF Flying College based at Manby & later transferred to the Metropolitan Communications Squadron at Northolt. On retirement it went to the West Midlands Air Scouts at Elmdon, but was eventually broken up in late 1970.


Four more to either take you back to the road side recollections should you be old enough...otherwise another taste of what you missed when Blackbushe was truly "Blackbushe"...

The last contribution from Barry follows tomorrow.

PB