Memories, and logs, from the 70's and 80's

[rj]

Yesterday was a typical, grey, blustery winters day, and I was going to be passing the 'bushe. I had to come from the Reading direction and it took me back to childhood visits to the bushe. We lived in Reading and my dad was/is a spotter. We didn't have a car, dad was a biker, so my visits to airfields were non existent. However I do remember my first visit on 30 March 1977. My dad had a old school friend with a car and it was suggested both families went out for a spring walk and picnic at Blackbushe. Thus I got my first visit to the hallowed tarmac. I well remember that first visit and seeing one of the CASA 352's parked up on spot 1, almost close enough to touch, and I was hooked!

The airport is not that different today as it was forty years ago. Obviously the tower has changed, gone is Reg's rickety, leaky contraction. Gone too the original 1953 glass fronted staircase next to it. The terminal then contained the cafe on the ground floor that seemed enormous as a kid. There was the open ended storage shed, around where Phoenix is now, that provided a rain shelter. The Three Counties Flying club was housed in the building where the cafe now. The US navy hangar stood in splendid isolation on the north side. All three runways were still in use when required. The BCA area was still years away. That end contained the semi derelict lock up hangars and a couple of small hangars used for maintenance. Doug Arnolds collection was housed in a couple of larger hangars behind them. That area was always accessible on Sundays due to the market.
The late 70's was a interesting time at the 'bushe. Apart from DA's warbirds Jeff Hawk was also an active dealer in aircraft and the T-28's and there were the Belgian Pembrokes. Anyway lets make a start on the logs

20/3/1977 basic types only straight from the log book

4X-AYC BN-2
4X-AYF BN-2
D-IAHS C421
G-AHAY Auster
G-AMVP Tipsy S1 (camoflarged IIRC)
G-AOHZ Auster
G-ARGW AC500
G-ARLV C172
G-ARWO C172
G-ASCC Auster
G-ASHO C180
G-ASRK Airdale
G-ATOP PA28
G-AVIN Rallye
G-AVLH PA28
G-AWFG C172
G-AWFO Condor
G-AWFP Condor (the 'flying banana', was bright yellow)
G-AWMI airtourer
G-AWTR BE23
G-AWWF Pup
G-AXGC Rallye
G-AXMP PA28
G-AXNI Jungmiester
G-AXSZ PA28
G-AYIJ SV4C
G-AYYT Jodel
G-AYZS Condor
G-AZBK PA23
G-AZGB PA23
G-AZXH PA34
G-BBDR PA31
G-BBIM C310
G-BBKB C180
G-BBNH PA34
G-BBNX C150
G-BBNY C150
G-BBSU C421
G-BBXG PA34
G-BBXL C310
G-BCKH Sea fury
G-BCOV Sea Fury
G-BCRA C150
G-BDTV C150
G-BCZP C210
G-BDOW C150
G-BDSZ BN-2
G-BDUK RC695
G-BDUM C150
G-BDUN PA34
G-BDUO C150
G-BDVK C337
G-BDYA CASA 2-111
G-BDZC C150
G-BDZD C150
G-BECK CASA 252

The C150's were almost all the Three Counties fleet. The UK register was so simple back then, not a single out of sequence aircraft in sight....
Rob

[rj]

Slow work day so time for some more. The 30/7/77 was the famed Blackbushe air show. I had broken my air show duck the moth before at Greenham common so this was only my second show. Lacking transport we took the bus from Reading to Yateley and walked the rest of the way. I have some memories of the event like the two Varsitys arriving in formation as we walked across the common. The Herald doing pleasure flights, the 'Ju52' doing a paradrop, the WW1 replicas, and the 747 flypast. I wish I could remember the Carvair as it was the only one I ever saw!
This is a list of the airshow participants, will deal with the many visiting aircraft later.
flypast only
G-ASHZ Carvair BAF
G-BDHA DC8 IAS
G-BDXC 747 BA
VR-HHC CL44 

on the ground, most flew
N16JL Beech mentor
N81AC Akrostar
TF956 Seafury RNHF
VP959 Devon RAE static
WB271 Firefly RNHF
WM167 Meteor static
WZ672 Auster AAC static
XM330 Wessex RAE static
G-AFWI DH82
G-AIST/AR213 Spitfire
G-ALND DH82
G-AOBX DH82
G-APIG DH82
G-APUP/n5182 sopwith Pup
G-APWA Herald BAF pleasure flights
G-ATAX/NJ916 Auster
G-ATBG Nord 1101
G-AVHT/WZ711 Auster
G-AVOR LDA1
G-AVJO Fokker EIII
G-AWYO sopwith Camel
G-AWYY/C1701 Sopwith Camel
G-AYUX DH82
G-AZMH Storch
G-BAUP/SL721 Spitfire
G-BBOH Pitts
G-BDFT/WJ897 Varsity
G-BDYA CASA 211
G-BECL CASA 252
G-BEDV/WJ945 Varsity
G-BENO Enstrom pleasure flights
G-BEYR Enstrom pleasure flights
G-BEFR Fokker Triplane

that was a hell of a line up for a show of that period...

[PB]

Wow, thanks Rob, comments are often few and far between, but really appreciate your comments on the 1977 Air Festival. Shows what can be done with limited resources, and they were limited... Hope current efforts in respect of July 2017 will yield similar positive feedback? Working on it!! The reports of movements back in 70's bring back many memories!

Thanks
PeterB

[rj]

Peter civil airshow of the late 70's were almost a non event. With only 3-4 airworthy private Spitfires shows were pretty much restricted to The Tiger Club, Leisure Sport WW1 replicas and those based at Booker.



Anyway work has failed to provide me with anything so here are the visitors,and others on that day in 1977
LN-LMR PA28
G-AHAY Auster
G-AIBX Auster
G-AIXA Auster
G-AMUF DHC1
G-AMVP Tipsy S1
G-AOHZ Auster
G-AOTY DHC1
G-APPL Prentice
G-ARDB PA24
G-ARED PA23
G-ARIW Emaurade
G-ARKS PA22
G-ARLV C172
G-ARMC DHC1
G-AROF Meta Sokol
G-ARRH C175
G-ASAK Terrier
G-ASAT Rallye
G-ASDL Terrier
G-ASHT Turbilent
G-ASHV PA23
G-ASNN C172
G-ASSS C172
G-ASST C150
G-ASWE Bolkow 208
G-ATEG C172
G-ATLM C172
G-ATOS PA28
G-ATPM C150
G-ATRI Bolkow 208
G-ATWZ Rallye
G-AVBT PA28
G-AVBK SF25
G-AVCD C172
G-AVCM PA24
G-AVGK PA28
G-AVGT PA30
G-AVIA C172
G-AVLH PA28
G-AVRC BN2
G-AVSC PA28
G-AVTC Nipper
G-AVUZ PA28
G-AVWE PA28
G-AVYO PA28
G-AVZW EAA Biplane
G-AWFP Condor
G-AWKW PA24
G-AWTR BE23
G-AXAK Rallye
G-AXDH BN2
G-AXSC PUP
G-AXTC PA28
G-AXUK Jodel
G-AXYC PA31
G-AYEJ Jodel
G-AYFF Condor
G-AYHX Jodel
G-AYHY RF4
G-AYMA Starduster
G-AYYO Jodel
G-AYYT Jodel
G-AYYU BE23
G-AYZX RF5
G-AZBK PA23
G-AZGB PA23
G-AZIH Auster
G-AZIL SF25
G-AZJC RF5
G-AZPF RF5
G-AZRU Bell 206
G-AZSX PUP
G-AZVC Bolkow 209
G-AZWD PA28
G-AZXH PA34
G-AZZW RF4
G-BAAP PA28
G-BAEE jodel
G-BAKR Jodel
G-BALF DR400
G-BAMT DR400
G-BAUE C310
G-BAZF AA5
G-BAZM Jodel
G-BBDR PA31
G-BBIM C310
G-BBLM RALLYE
G-BBOR BELL 206
G-BBRC FA200
G-BBRY C210
G-BBXG PA34
G-BBXL C310
G-BCFY luton Minor
G-BCIW DHC1
G-BCKN DHC1
G-BCKS FA200
G-BCLS C170
G-BCML Sipa 903
G-BCPV PA28
G-BCRA C150
G-BCRR AA5
G-BCSM Citabria
G-BCTV C150
G-BCVV PA28
G-BCXD Pitts
G-BCYL DHC1
G-BCZP PA32
G-BDAH VP-1
G-BDAI C150
G-BDCM C177
G-BDDF Jodel
G-BDKH Emaurade
G-BDOL PA18
G-BDOW C172
G-BDSN WA52
G-BDSZ BN2
G-BDTS Trislander
G-BDUK RC895
G-BDUM C150
G-BDUN PA34
G-BDUO C150
G-BDVK C177
G-BDYD RC112
G-BDYN BN2
G-BDZC C172
G-BDZD C150
G-BEBN C177
G-BECA Rallye
G-BECW Jungmann
G-BEDJ PA18
G-BEEU PA28
G-BEIB C172
G-BEIP PA28
G-BEOE C150
G-BERM AA5

phew time for a cuppa...

[rj]

after yesterdays marathon some more mundane logs. Having reached my 8th birthday and now being able to reach the foot rests on my dads motorbike I was now taken on trips. Of course the heath and safety people now would have a fit! The bushe was only a 20 min journey.

2/10/77
the T-28's were Sed Fenec conversions modified for a armed role. They were former Moroccan Air Force and were on their way to Honduras
N9857A T-28 ex 51-7330
N54612 T-28 ex 51-3690
N54613 T-28 ex 51-3554

N99230 CASA 2-111
G-BAUP Spitfire, BESR BN2, BESW BN2, BEKP BN2, BBIM C310, BDAJ EC112, ASOF Beagle 206, BBXG PA34, G-BDOW C172

8/1/1978
ST-ADJ BN-2
N16JL Beech Mentor
D-IAHS C401
XP825 Beaver AAC
G-AYSO BN2, BEBN C177, BEXS C150, BELW C421, BDZC C150, ARIE, PA24, BBXS PA18, BBOR Jet Ranger, AZCP PUP, AYYT Jodel

22/2/78  a bit of a Islander fest
N8224 DH82 EX G-AHUR
BN-2's G-BESX,BESW,BEOC,BESR,BEXA,BEXP,BDJY
AIGD Auster, ASOI Terier, AWPG Zlin, BBSL PA23, AXGC Rallye, BBXL C310, BDVI DH82

25/3/78 my first bizjet at the 'bushe, and a dak
D-GAGE C336
XT505 Sioux AAC
G-ANAF DC3, BESW BN2,AVRC BN2, BFAR C500, MADI C310, BFFI PA31, BDBW zenith, AXGC Rallye, ASPA Dove, BFIS C310

15/4 EX Spanish Daks start to arrive
G-BFHC c-47 EX T.3-51
G-ASSU Emaurade, ASPA Dove, ARCC PA22, ARUR PA28, BBIX PA28, BEBN C177, BCBK C421, BEJY H369

22/4 more daks
G-BFPT C-47 EX T.3-65
G-BFHC C47 EX T.3-66
G-BFHB C-47 T.3-51
G-BDAJ RC112, BDWX Jodel, AORR DHC1, BDAL RC500, BFLK C150, BEAC PA28, G-ASSU Emaurade

Sadly my dad only took slides at the time and disposed of them, still have the odd photo though that i will try and dig out.

[rocky14]

I remember many of the aircraft on your lists Rob - thanks for the memory. It doesn't seem long ago but that's due to age I guess! Anyhow, greetings to all from Tasmaniia - it's 22.10 here.

[rj]

It does indeed seem not that long ago.A few photos from.the 70's. The airport closed most Sundays for drag racing




The CASA 352 pretty much as it was on my first ever visit

[flyboy]

rj

I agree with rocky and it's great to have these records posted on here for posterity. Stuart.

[rj]

Always happy to share, so here are a few more from the era of long hair, tank tops and flares, and my mum has the school photos to prove it .LOL!
7/5/78
By now the ex Belgian Air Force Pembrokes had arrive for fitment of long range tanks to cross the pond. All were initially registered to Air America. Some were eventually used for drug running and met a violent end. I have vivid memories of a couple parked on the loop by the A30.
N51964 Pembroke ex RM-9
N51966 Pembroke ex RM-10
N51970 Pembroke ex RM-11
HB-LGA PA-31
D-EHDA SF260
G-AOHZ Auster, BFIS Minicab, ARJR PA23

13/5 more Pembrokes and more Daks and the first of those nasty out of sequence LOL!
N51951 Pembroke Ex RM-3
N51963 Pembroke EX RM8
G-BFPU C47 EX T.3-49
G-BFPW C-47 EX T.3-40
G-BFPV C-47 EX T.3-45

G-BFAR C500, BEKW BN2, BFKT C172, AZLK C150, BEBZ PA28, AZYX PA28, AXYC PA31, JOHN PA31, AXXA PA31

31/5
N51962 Pembroke ex RM-6
D-ILCU Beech 60
G-BFOG C150, BFBG PA28, AXSZ PA28, AYUX DH82
This may have been the occasion that there were two BFOG's present. Presumably there was a paint shop cock ip, never did find out what happened?

Next time the B-25's arrive....

[rj]

Morning, this is the sort of day for going back into the past. This morning we will look at July-September 78, before I tackle Farnborough week later. In those far off days of the 70's Blackbushe was a magical place you simply had no idea what each visit would bring. So by my calculations the late summer of 1978 would have seen 5 B-25's, 5 C-47,s 4 CASA 352, and the odd stray Pembroke, god knows what the hangars contained!

20/6/78

B-25's
N7818C/151790
N9115Z/151645
N94557/151863
N9494Z/151362
N86427
The military serials were all false and changed during films

N51962 Pembroke ex RM-6
G-BFHG C47 ex T.3-262

9/7/78 more 'Junkers'
HB-LGH C310
N9990Q PA23
G-BFHD CASA 352 EX T.2B-275
G-BFHF CASA 352 EX T.2B-275
G-ARLV C175, BAOB C172

1/8/78 just some more boring Daks!
G-BFXA C47 EX T.3-58
G-BFXB C47 EX T.3-42

G-AXDH BN2, BCDE C172

by this time my teacher was bored of Blackbushe as most Mondays we had to write about what we did at the weekend! When I get to the end of 78 I will look at the fates of the 'warbirds'.