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Post by PB on Oct 19, 2017 9:07:30 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
19/10/17It has been reported with dismay that Captain Birds-Eye has recently been demoted to a 'two ringer'! A soft toy version of the well known captain clearly shows just two rings on his sleeves, whether this is due to fishy behaviour has not been disclosed.  Cap'n Birds Eye has visited Blackbushe in the past, four rings on his sleeve to be sure...Such demotion must be hard to swallow, the fishy finger of fate...has he had his chips? PB
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Post by PB on Oct 20, 2017 8:39:07 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
20/10/17While Blackbushe endures the uncertainty of current efforts to enhance her chances of becoming economically viable the future is somewhat uncertain. In today's world the future is increasingly uncertain in many ways, but we have the past to look back on - at least that won't change? Looking back at Blackbushe airfield there are very few aircraft types still flying that have been a part of her past through the 75 years. The Dakota naturally, the Rapide and Proctor also remain flying while having played their part in the airfield's past. The Anson to my mind is an evocative type, two handsome radials, retracts, something of a small big aeroplane. For POTD this morning a few recallls of the Annie at Blackbushe...  September, 1953.. 63 Group Comms Flight.
 G-AHIJ, 1950, Ministry of Civil Aviation. Treffield Aviation, the sixties.. Farnborough Week, EKCO Electronics, the sixties.. EKCO Electronics, early sixties.. G-AWML intent on Biafra relief work..not sure where she ended up?
 Shuttleworth/BAe Systems Blackbushe Air Day 2016.. ..and faithful Annie right up to the end, arriving for Blackbushe's 75th Anniversary celebrations this year.
Stuart's detailed account of the Anson at Blackbushe may be found elsewhere on the forum.. Dear old Annie, she looks good, and with her pair of Cheetahs purring she sounds good too...just some of the memories of Blackbushe that cannot be rubbed out. PB
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Post by PB on Oct 21, 2017 6:49:31 GMT
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Post by PB on Oct 22, 2017 8:49:22 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
22/10/17Nothing much in the way of news at the moment, today's POTD comes from a Messenger having found the ground back in 1971.. One of the trusty Blackbushe goose necks stands on duty at the runway's edge. A Jetstream and a couple of para Rapides parked on the apron with Symon Biddulph's resident Proctor G-AGTC, and a couple of Colts no doubt home based.. The Terminal shows its original length. Still seems a shame that Hampshire County preferred to demolish their half rather than see it put to good use...  KBO..winner of the Kings Cup Air Race in 1954, also appeared in the movie, "633 Squadron"...Just one of the many memories Blackbushe has given... PB
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Post by PB on Oct 23, 2017 9:16:25 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
23/10/17Just a fleeting memory from a long ago and distant fly-in...  Taylor Titch and a Tiger...The smoke rising from behind the distant Dakota came from the Blackbushe car scrap yard. The photo's view east indicates the size of the airfield before the 'Common' was allowed to become overgrown, shrouding the east end in trees and scrub. Does the car scrap yard still produce clouds of smoke? Don't recall seeing it lately, maybe because the 'common' has grown so many trees and screens the familiar black clouds that used to feature on finals to 25? PB
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Post by PB on Oct 24, 2017 9:57:43 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
24/10/17POTD seems to running late nowadays..becoming more the 'elevenses excitement' than the 'corn flake companion'. Apologies to early risers. There will be no POTD tomorrow as the editorial team will be going to Grimsby. Yes, I know, some people have all the fun! So, POTD today...ummm, oh yes!  Blackbushe Airport's 50th Birthday celebrations, way back in '92... Blackbushe Airport's 75th Birthday celebrations, just a few weeks ago...A rare aeroplane that to me epitomises Blackbushe past. Both events required extended negotiations getting the Pembroke to the party... Very lucky in both instances, especially this year's Blackbushe birthday where her CofA was renewed just days before the show, and dear Mike Biddulph generously sponsored the aircraft's attendance. Life seems very pleasantly stress free now compared to this time last year when it became inceasingly apparent how many headaches were instore for that crazy person who suggested Blackbushe celebrates her 75th. (As if he didn't know....). PB
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Post by PB on Oct 26, 2017 12:18:34 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
26/10/17POTD Editorial Team back from beyond...here's a quick one..  Night scene back in the days when the BCA lion ruled..PB
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Post by PB on Oct 27, 2017 6:48:53 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
27/10/17As we live in hopes that the messenger will bring good news about Blackbushe's future, a look back at a Messenger from some years ago..  "Monty's Messenger"... Field Marshal Montgomery of WW2 fame was no stranger to Blackbushe during the war, primarily aboard his Dakota.A quote below from Aviation Safety Network that includes a photo of the 'real' RG333 with Monty... aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=46077Written off (damaged beyond repair) 22/8/1945: Forced landing at Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany after engine failure. Passengers on the airplane were Field Marshal Montgomery and his Aide-de-Camp Capt. Noel Chavasse. The pilot was Flight Lieutenant T. Martin. Chavasse and Martin were uninjured in the accident but Montgomery suffered two cracked vertebrae.
Note that the aircraft that currently (2015) flies as "RG333" is not the original aircraft (which was written off as described above) but another Miles Messenger, a.k.a. G-AIEK (c/no 6339 first registered 27/8/1946) which is painted to resemble RG333.Three fins on the back might look a bit much, but they look great to my mind, memories of the mighty Avro Yorks that once frequented Blackbushe.. The generous supply of rudders did retain rudder authority down to very low airspeeds, handy for getting in and out of tight places...nice and slow and still being in control! PB
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Post by PB on Oct 28, 2017 7:48:20 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
28/10/17Not sure how today's POTD is going to sound..but it comes courtesy of a dream that was playing in the POTD Editorial head about three hours ago! Don't worry, nothing that might upset the purists, but last night's DOTN, or Dream of the Night, featured the return of large twin booms with what sounded like a nice pair of P&W engines providing the power. The 'dream' aircraft, a Noratlas or perhaps a Packet, obviously reflected the golden days of the fifties, but it was painted in the same drab olive colours as the five B-25s we had based here in the 1970's. Annoyingly I missed taking a flight in this aeroplane of the night, the sad realisation dawning as she departed overhead with the characteristic blattering noise I recall from the B-25 days.. After this unexpected dream activity Blackbushe seemed strangely empty, hopefully not a premonition of the future.. THAT remains in the hands of 'others'.  A theme for a dream? Reality reflected in this Blackbushe Airport scene during a Farnborough of the fifties. Long gone days that some still dream about!Reality digs in, it's Saturday, much to be done including a letter to the Secretary of State for Transport...not about last night's dream - that's between you and me, but certain other 'matters arising'... Have a great Saturday, and an extra hour tonight. By the way, I rarely dream of Blackbushe nocturnally, it's usually more a daytime occupation. PB
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Post by PB on Oct 29, 2017 8:27:12 GMT
"Photo of the Day"
29/10/17The end of October looms, ghosts and spirits apparently get their liberation, fireworks fly, seasonal 'end of year' festivities follow closely behind.. Time continues to fly although last night's "extra hour" after the clocks "change" seemed to stretch time too far.. A simple old photo today that catches something of the spirit of the fifties at Blackbushe..  Viscount days! An unmarked Viscount carries the spirit of British aviation across an airfield whose spirit was severely dented a few years later.Vickers Viscount flight trials, and customer training involved considerable use of Blackbushe's once long runway and facilities due to the closeness of the Wisley and Brooklands works. The Viscount epitomised great British designs from those days, now unknown to many, when our nation had a booming aircraft industry not to mention a few more airports... The spirit of our aviation past is sorely missing. PB
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