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Post by PB on Sept 13, 2017 9:10:09 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
13/09/17Beaver. A noun with various interpretations...an aquatic furry animal, or a rugged aeroplane are examples, or 'to beaver' as an adjective describing enthusiastic application to a task... At Blackbushe Beavers have been seen for many decades, the rugged aeroplane example, that is..  United States Air Force Beaver, Blackbushe, September 1956...The above was a Farnborough Week visitor, but the presence of Aldershot and the RMA Sandhurst kept the Beaver in focus at Blackbushe long after the government closed the airfield in 1960.  More recently, attending the Blackbushe 75 preview in April this year thanks to the Army Historic Flight.. 1960's regular visits by AAC Beavers...served as 'header photo' too. New home for Beavers? Early 1960's when the Army were evaluating Blackbushe as a potential new Army Air Corp base... The hostile enemy beavers can be seen chewing away at Blackbushe 'east'..With Aldershot and Sandhurst so close, it seemed logical for the Army to adopt the airfield. Finance blocked the deal if I recall correctly, but the above photo shows - once again - the generous size of the Blackbushe apron before the 'opponents' destroyed it...not to mention the huge US Navy hangar seen in the background. Another asset destroyed that could still have been a part of Blackbushe today had the opposition not had 'other ideas'....  Army Beavers were year round visitors.. Blackbushe proved a jolly useful drop off/pick-up point for the Aldershot and Sandhurst chaps. ..a shadow of what might have been, back in the sixties.. The big, bold, beautiful Beaver was, of course, here throughout to celebrate Blackbushe's 75th back in July this year!Long may the Beaver and Blackbushe survive! PB
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Post by PB on Sept 14, 2017 6:18:53 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
14/09/17September almost at the half way point. No turning back, the 'season of mists and mellow fruitfulness' is truly upon us.. The time of year when we think of Septembers past. Farnborough Week, once every September, once the time when new British aircraft designs would enter Hampshire air space with new sounds and new shapes, a truly exciting time - and not a silicon chip to be seen! The weather could be iffy, but the memory recalls the warmer golden days of Farnborough. It also recalls the equally exciting weeks at Blackbushe. The fifties when absurd numbers of aircraft flocked from the world over to sample the Blackbushe turf or tarmac while their occupants went to the SBAC Show at Farnborough. Often ferried their by the RAF helicopter shuttle service, I well recall Whirlwinds on such duty. But, then it was quite normal, nothing 'unusual' it was just Blackbushe doing what Blackbushe did... Last evening vividly recalled our "Farnborough Week" at Blackbushe in the 70's/80's when under AVM Bennett/Doug Arnold/BCA.. By 18.30 the light was failing fast, and we would have cleared the northern runways of the day's visitors, or most of them...  The BAA at Blackbushe... Weather could be 'iffy'... Been nice for this year's 75th...the late Gerry from Blackbushe TWR with the Blackbushe bats. Farnborough Week at Blackbushe in the 1960's ..and the 1970's Weather could be 'iffy', but it was always fun playing 'Airports' for a week thanks to Farnborough. It's all changed now, Farnborough no longer produces its variety of visitors, it's just the evenings that still get shorter. PB
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Post by PB on Sept 15, 2017 6:17:36 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
15/09/17September fifteenth.... "Battle of Britain" Day. Today, for the past 77 years, has been known as the day we remember what the Royal Air Force did for our nation as they closed the door on the proposed Nazi invasion of our homeland. September 15th was described as the turning point, the height of the 'Battle' when Goering realised that his aim to finish the RAF prior to the planned Nazi invasion was not going to work. The Blitz was to come, but the Hurricanes and Spitfires flown by our young pilots has thwarted German ambitions, we were not invaded and the RAF kept flying. Blackbushe, of course, was still in the phases of construction during September, 1940. But, it does have a link with "The Battle of Britain". The famous movie, "The Battle of Britain" directed by Guy Hamilton was released in 1969. Something of a legend in its own right today, with famous one liners like, "Don't just stand there - get one up!", lodged upon the minds of many.. The film involved numerous Spitfires, Hurricanes and Spanish Merlin powered 109's and CASA 'Heinkel 1-11's. The opening moments of the film feature a long line of refugees trudging through a pine forest while a Hurricane flies overhead performing a 'victory' roll. The aerobatic manouvere receiving a caustic comment from a soldier who I think was leading the line of humanity.. The pine forest is, or rather was, the forest to the north west of Blackbushe providing a perfect set for capturing thickly forested Europe. The two Hurricanes involved were based at Blackbushe for a few days hence the Blackbushe link with "The Battle of Britain".  "Battle of Britain" Hurricanes at readiness on Blackbushe's main apron.Sadly, "The Few" are now too few, but at least we can give a moment to be grateful. The well known BoB pilot Johhny Kent who commanded Polish Hurricane pilots during the war was an instructor at Three Counties Aero Club in the 60's. Sadly he is no longer with us, but what a delight it was to know him.. A few years ago today's date and significance would have been generally remembered in the media, sadly the past years have shown far less remembrance of this highly significant day. A natural process with the passage of time, no doubt? From a very young age I found anything to do with the "the battle" profoundly moving, maybe because I caught the emotions from my Dad who was very much involved with the RAF during WW2. Attending an early Battle of Britain show at Biggin Hill, 1957 or thereabouts, I clearly remember the tears streaming down my face as the then rare Spitfire performed. The sound, the shape...whatever, it was very moving. I have to say that today the same aeroplane still leaves me a little 'red eyed'... I rewrote my few words "In Passing" for inclusion in the Blackbushe 75th Anniversary programme. The words kind of flew into my head as a Spitfire overflew home around the time of the Battle of Britain's 75th Anniversary.. I guess today might be an appropriate moment to share them one last time?  PB
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Post by PB on Sept 16, 2017 6:09:27 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
16/09/17Long ago a young lad of 18, or thereabouts, would daily ride his 49cc NSU speed machine to the desolate site once known as Blackbushe Airport in pursuit of his employment as the airfield's Operations Clerk. Blackbushe had hopes of a revival under private ownership, the Operations chap with the 49cc machine just had hopes... Hopes that the airfield would thrive, hopes that one day he might see some sign of a rennaisance and one day witness something larger than an Auster or Tiger Moth grace the remaining runways. Hope has been a key word at Blackbushe for many decades, it's still there now... But, on one cloudy morning back in 1962, might have been '63, the impossible happened. Derby Airways, later to become British Midland, were planning a charter flight to Blackbushe with a Dakota... The rennaisance had arrived! One Dakota doesn't make an 'airport', but it helped back then... I will never forget the joy of seeing the silver beast appear from t'up north, join overhead, then turn dowind for 26 while those great round Dunlops emerged confirming the impossible was about to happen. Now I know size is a relative thing, and the Dakota is no giant among aeroplanes, but it looked huge - vast - on our otherwise desserted airfield. So what? No big deal many will say, but to me, to the Blackbushe team of the day the arrival of an airline complete with Dakota was a moment of great significance. Another Blackbushe moment etched on nature's silicon chip for as long as the chip between the ears continues to function!  Dakota daze....actually back on Blackbushe, the impossible can happen!  Two or three years earlier a Dakota movement would have just been a completely normal event, not so on this day!  Same aeroplane, same airport, same apron, different year - 1958, different airport operator - HM Government. 1958...what a difference was soon to befall poor old Blackbushe..2017, and again a Dak came back! PB
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Post by PB on Sept 17, 2017 9:29:50 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
17/09/17Sometimes, just sometimes, the Editorial Team here at the One-stop forum find themselves committed to other duties, or even sleeping a little longer than usual - often as a result of those "other duties". The Editorial Team, or ET, were last night involved in writing late into the night having first emerged from the resultant dust cloud after a deep de-dusting of the desk top's interior. Amazing how these machines invite such large amounts of dust that then cling to lots of important little places... FYI, the CPU core temperatures now run at around 45-50C under load compared to 80+ previously - it was this overheat that caused recent "BSOD" events. Talking of dust settling...  After years of hope and years of offers of cash and land exchange, Hampshire County elected to destroy their end of the Terminal. Result = several hundred square feet of additional doggy doo da deposits, not much else for our money.Quite astonishing that the potential assets locked up in Blackbushe should be treated with such contempt.  The Terminal witnessed many unusual aircraft combinations from its windows, the old, the new, and the doomed...The seventies. Visiting Beech joins Warbirds of Great Britain's P-51 while the Dan-Air Comet gives the doomed east end of the Terminal her last look at a sizeable airliner. The Comet was broken up in just as brutal a fashion as the Council's portion of the Terminal. The Comet looked rather large compared to the traffic at latter day Blackbushe, although in the fifties all the Comet variants flew from Blackbushe thanks to crew training and RAF flights. Whether we see another large multi engined jet of such size at Blackbushe is unlikely, but you never know??? Time will tell....  Eternal thanks from the "ET" to the dedicated few who regularly offer a 'like' to POTD's daily offering. Your injections of support keep POTD and the "ET" churning out some kind of daily concoction... Thanks guys, not sure how much longer we can keep mincing up the Blackbushe story, or how long the grey cell will keep mashing it up, but for now the office door remains open! PB
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Post by PB on Sept 18, 2017 6:16:14 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
18/09/17Twelve months ago the nightmare was evolving. Last night's degree of sleeplessness brought it back quite sharply. Waking at 03.00 with an air event on your shoulders, a 75th Anniversary, was a far heavier load than expected. In some kind of impossible Alice in Wonderland situation I found myself putting together an event, an event that apparently had so many obstacles ahead it was not possible... We were going to celebrate Blackbushe's 75 years come what may, but new restrictions, and particularly car parking proved to be the conundrum..there wasn't any..well, there could have been but objections were raised from outside bodies as to harm parking on old runways would do to wildlife. I was at the event cross roads, sitting at traffic lights that were both green and red, nights turned into hell and I still have trouble sleeping thanks to the 'damage' inflicted by circumstances leading up to the 75th.. Thank the Lord I have no more to worry about than what to put in POTD each morning, and perhaps the odd bit with the aerodrome operator..... Moving on, some of the things Blackbushe is currently noted for are the dramatic lack of hangarage, engineeering facilities, or 'permanent' buildings. Maybe these failings will be resolved as the year progresses - once the fundamental and current legal processes have been wrapped up. Maybe. Some of the Blackbushe irony may easily be felt when looking back at the hangars the airfield once had...  Nice hangar...."JCE" first flew into BB in 1951 serving with BEA. Arrived at Eagle in 1953 marked Svenska Aero. Joined Independent Air Transport and flew with Independent from here until 1959..joined Blue Air in August '59. Another classic Blackbushe hangar and Viking shot. This was Silver City's hangar, also Falcon, and Britavia... Vikings and hangars....must be Blackbushe!! No Vikings anymore..no anything, welcome to 1960. Aeronautical engineering at Blackbushe... Wasn't all Vikings!! G-APOM joins Eagle Lots of Dakotas too... Blackbushe's largest and last hangar before 1960.. The United Sates Navy's UK land base...Let's hope the coming months see the way ahead open up for some new hangars, the legal work's in progress. PB Comments of the Day... blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/7940blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/7941blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/7942
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Post by PB on Sept 19, 2017 5:23:24 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
19/09/17Just one image for your edification this morning...Main apron, Terminal Building still at full length with all that office space going begging.. taken during Farnborough Week late 60's, early 70's, time obscures the detail.  Life's a Beech.....and then you fly.
Have a nice day. PB
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Post by PB on Sept 20, 2017 6:26:42 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
20/09/17Back in July 1978 the Bob Dylan concert, "The Picnic" was at Blackbushe, so was a vast crowd of Dylan fans who wanted to take in the atmosphere of this unique concert..Many thousands attended, while I had the fun of assisting with the VIP helipad. Lots of big names landed, each time marked by a huge dust storm from the old north eastern car park area being used as the event helipad. Flying over the crowd in an Air Hanson Long Ranger revealed the most extraordinary view. What was an airfield had vanished under a sea of blue denim, or that's how it appeared, a sea a with cloud of 'smoke' arising. I don't think the smoke was necessarily emrging from just the catering suppliers. It was certainly a very happy occasion for many.. Hopefully I'll find the photos I took above the bash and add them to the POTD collection in due course.. Dylan, along with Joan Armour Trading, and Eric Clapton made quite a line up. The month before I had the pleasure of flying with the late Jeff Hawke in one of the five resident B-25s, my seat being a bar stool in the nose turret with no seat belts, just a dummy gun to hang onto in case one needed to hang on.. With Jeff that was a distinct possibility. My dear and close friend, the late Roger Russell was riding in the cockpit a few feet behind. The noise was incredible as those big radials dragged us off the ground, the creaking of the ancient perspex was nontheless apparent as the airspeed built up - especially during our high speed daisy trimmer fly past.  Running in for the "daisy trimmer" look at the airfield, the common still relatively sparse, and Doug's Dakotas adding to the scenery. Sorry about the fuzzy foto.. Sounded rough on the ground, but the old engines seemed to do the business when airborne.. The sticky tape did not give great confidence in the B-25's overall integrity.....but what a great flight. Especially the steep wing-over that was pretty much inverted at the top following the "daisy trimmer" run! Finished at RAF Odiham via Farnborough for another fly-past. Left the old aeroplane there for forthcoming movie work. Never forget the expressions on the numerous RAF faces tha emerged to view this ancient oil dripping beast that had just discarded its occupants on their apron! Just one of the memories I can thank Blackbushe for. PB blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/7953
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Post by PB on Sept 21, 2017 7:34:59 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
21/09/17Sadly, we all have to die, but for some of us that time comes too early... Today, 21st September, brings back the same date in 1980. It was on this day that one of the Blackbushe band of brothers fell to Earth in a shocking and spectacular way. My dear friend, almost a brother, Roger Russell, was aboard the Invader that crashed during the Biggin Hill Battle of Britain Air Show. I'll make no comment on the accident and its causes, but losing Roger was a huge blow to Blackbushe and many of us who knew him well. Roger seemed to catch the Blackbushe bug very badly, and like others similarly afflicted, did all he could to 'help the cause'. The Blackbushe Air Festivals were areas where his help was invaluable, as was working with Doug Arnold to generate Blackbushe Farnborough Week visitors many years back.. He manned the Blackbushe Tower on Reg's days off, gained his PPL, I was his first passenger (while ago, we used runway 01), and we had an ongoing rivalry as to who could log the most warbird flights. The Invader was to be his next conquest... not sure who won, but we had fun most of the time.  Roger Russell. Died at Biggin Hill, 21st September, 1980... Never forgotten.
We all have enduring memories of friends no longer with us. Of Roger there are many. The fateful morning when he rode in the boot of a Ford Granada as a human towhook to drag the trolley acc to our waiting B-25, or more happily (for him) how he laughed like a drain when I disappeared into a ditch during nocturnal 'distribution' of Blackbushe Air Festival posters back in 1977. Fun days. Roger, unforgettable friend...
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Post by PB on Sept 22, 2017 5:42:55 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
22/09/17POTD having rather amazingly exceeded 90,000 visits has achieved one thing....she's reached the stage where the "Mark One" version was destroyed. We got to over 90,000 on the 'other' forum where the Blackbushe photos/memories idea was launched as an 'added service'. That was until the kind souls who ran 'the other forum' took a dislike to Blackbushe, or me - or us, and decided at the press of a button to delete our entire Blackbushe works.. I guess I was not best pleased to see a couple of years work written off, but he/they did us a favour in that Blackbushe now has a dedicated forum that nobody can get their mits on and press that 'delete' button.. Hopefully! It's great that Blackbushe can still generate such interest, and that our forum has provided some form of catalyst for that interest. Thanks to all who have signed up and all who visit as guests, and especially the devoted crew who religously report back on aircraft movements with their fantastic photos. A BIG thank you. For today's POTD though a quick return to the short time we actually had hangars back on Blackbushe for aeroplanes to live in.. Of course, we don't have them anymore as British Car Auctions have taken over the Premiair hangars and stuffed them full of 'pre-owned' cars/vans, while flying machines are again vanquished to the outside - or have left the area completely. Don't forget - if we want new hangars to be built - as is the plan - there is still time to lodge your support for the "Common deregistration" without which building is going to be hampered/impossible. Details elsewhere on the Forum, but I would urge all who have any feeling for Blackbushe's continued operation to write to Hampshire County Council before 8th October.. Full details under the heading "A long awaited moment - have your say". I cannot over emphasise the importance that underlines this. The importance for Blackbushe to survive as an airport and be permitted to develop an infrastructure from which she can become viable. If not, she will disappear from the aviation charts and become no more than the waste land or gravel pits that now surround it.. Believe me, every voice in support is vital...
[/b] Moving onto POTD....  Blackbushe and her new hangars, that are no longer hangars... That's what the Blackbushe scene could be/should be, hopefully will be again.. Compared to the aircraft of the 1950's for which Blackbushe was once home, today's cockpits/aircraft would be like science fiction! Will Blackbushe ever be the place to find an aviation pot of gold? It's about time she showed off her true colours..!
PB
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