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Post by graham on Oct 15, 2015 6:22:18 GMT
Thank you Peter, what a stunning shot of G-AKFP up "amongst the clouds". And thank you also for the words about the "triangular one", I'm sure others will agree that you have summed up perfectly with those words what we all feel about the passing of this aeronautical icon. I remember distinctly seeing a Vulcan for the first time although I can't pinpoint exactly when, it would have been either Farnborough or Biggin Hill air shows way back late 60s/early 70s. What logs I still have from those far off days tell me that I did see 13 of her marque at various air shows during that period so I should count myself very fortunate. The Vulcan has been the ultimate crowd pleaser at every British air show since those days and I can't help but think that such air shows will never quite be the same again without the shape and sound of such a powerful beast.
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Post by peterbrown on Oct 18, 2015 6:26:50 GMT
Another week, another snippet from Blackbushe's 'one-stop' forum....
"Photo of the Day" 13/10/15Here we are again. A lot of us truly 'Vulcanised' by the passing on Sunday of the three sided cloud. I guess the Vulcan's nearness to becoming a museum exhibit is a sign of the times and the years' rolling by. Talking of signs... As we all know, it is necessary for an airfield to convey signs to passing airmen as to the operational state of affairs. A downward glance should detect the airfield's 'signal square', from which the runway in use, and circuit direction is indicated by various symbols and arrows. Nowadays, the necessary info will hopefully have been imparted by the control tower personnel, but in the non-radio days the signal square was probably a more significant requirement... The Blackbushe signal square possibly late sixtiesOnce AVM Bennett had secured ownership of Blackbushe he constructed the first 'post-closure' signal square somewhere close to where the "Airlines of Blackbushe Airport" sign is located today. A concrete square outline with AVM built fibre glass symbols attached to metal supports. It looked the part, AND we had a windsock too. Almost an airport once more... well, that's a bit optimistic and we didn't have any aeroplanes to benefit from this advance in the airport's facilities... Our first windsock...1961..and there it is, our first signal square. We're on 08!The outlines of some previous Blackbushe infrastructure are still visible. This was a painful time as strange forces were at work destroying Blackbushe east, highly apparent from this view. Clint Gurry sent me a couple of photos yesterday from unidentified sources, photos from 1953 when Blackbushe was still in her relatively early days as a civil airport... The signals square located near the Control Tower on land now lost in the Common Land chaos....and the Blackbushe Control Tower in '53. Somewhat different to how it looked when upgraded with a new glass observation deck..The new glass top afforded excellent views of the varied Blackbushe traffic.. Looks like we must have been on 08 according the windsock of old. In 1960 the glass upper was relocated and fitted to Scotland's Edinbugh Turnhouse Airport's tower, at least one bit of old Blackbushe's ATC unit survived! The e-book "Edinburgh Airport through Time" written by Peter Brown carries the detail.Thanks to Clint for sending the pictures and prompting today's POTD!! POTD may be off the air tomorrow as the staff will again be travelling long distances away from the editorial hub... PB
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Post by graham on Oct 18, 2015 7:59:10 GMT
Some more wonderful photos from the hallowed vaults Peter. Lovely shot above of the Comet.
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Post by peterbrown on Oct 25, 2015 6:15:19 GMT
A rather fragmented week just gone by, but "Photo of the Day" managed a couple of contributions. Here's one.. "Photo of the Day" 23/10/15Here we are again..returned from duties in a rather warm north of Scotland. POTD is being transmitted from a very old lap top today, as the main PC is busy on other things. I thought retirement was going to produce endless days of relaxation, but how wrong can you be!! Off north again next week, the garden taking on its pre winter look and demanding that I get my garden tools out and work with 'the boss' on the autumnal scene... Blackbushe and aviation in general never ceases to keep me busy one way, or another, while the wonders of PC based flight simulation bring flying at home as close to the real thing as you might wish..except for the cost per hour!! If anybody has an interest in flight simulation I'd be happy to hear..... I dropped a letter to the local press before I went away and completely forgot about it. To my surprise it was printed in "The News" this week. Just a few lines following the Vulcan's demise to remind readers that the tin triangle flew into Blackbushe carrying the Prime Minister back in the fifties. I thought it was quite interesting... Today, just one photo from the wonderful collection provided by 'Flyboy'... I guess the photo dates back to 1980 something, the scrub is starting to take over the north side of the airfield. The BCA world is clear to see, including that car park right on the end of runway 25 that now has two business jets claimed plus one or two smaller aircraft entanglements. Local gravel excavation work was well under way, how many tons have been taken from around Blackbushe by now I cannot imagine. Maybe the Airport will have a moat round it in years to come? Gotta go... PB Comment... blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/2752
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Post by graham on Oct 26, 2015 9:09:51 GMT
Superb colour shot Peter, thanks to flyboy for allowing us to view it. Certainly plenty of residents and visitors on the ground. If this was the early 80s then I would have visited a few times for the drag racing.
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Post by peterbrown on Nov 1, 2015 8:04:22 GMT
Here's this week's contribution from Blackbushe's 'One-stop' forum..
"Photo of the Day" 25/10/15 06.00, evidence that I managed to put the family clock back an hour creeps through the neighbouring trees in the form of freshly produced daylight. Where did those summer days go? I suppose one tends to look back longingly at those long summer days, or what one can remember of them. We didn't have our fly-in at Blackbushe, maybe next year, but the old aerodrome carries on in an uncertain light as to what her future will be... "Photo of the Day" tries to look back at all the aspects of Blackbushe. War time, civil and the last decades of private ownership. To me, and the true devotee of Blackbushe, there is one period alone that stands out, and that is when the Airport carried thousands of passengers to far off places and the sound of heavy multi engined machinery was an everyday occurence. Crew training by our state airlines BEA and BOAC was a routine activity, the sounds of large P&W radials or RR turbo props were a part of life. Although silent now, one of those magnificent machines lives out her retirement at Duxford, and I offered her my usual respects during this years Battle of Britain Anniversary event. BEA Viscount G-ALWFWhisky Foxtrot looks as good as ever, but standing alongside her it now seems to hard to believe those wings once carried her in and out of dear old Blackbushe. But they did. From April 1954 to May 1959, in fact. Not without incident, however.... 12/12/54 undercarriage damaged on training flight. January 1955 under repair at Eagle. Taste the irony...The government powered state carriers fought hard to block the independent's emergence into the air transport business. 21/05/56 Burst tyre on landing. She landed at Blackbushe on numerous occasions without incident on both crew training and necessary diversions from fog obstructed Heathrow. Not quite sure which Viscount this is, but it's just how "WF" would have looked at EGLK! ..a bit more evidence of times long gone. A surviving remnant of glorious days and bright nights! Blackbushe once enjoyed superb night lighting, today little evidence remains, but some does...Blackbushe was bestowed by various trial lighting systems which lead to a real spectacle for the passing motorists as they travelled the A30. ..and finally, it is now two years since we unveiled the "Airlines of Blackbushe Airport" sign. No one less than Harold Bamberg, Chairman and Founder of Eagle Airways, unveiled the sign on a wet and windy October day... Happily our sign remains proudly on duty. Hopefully it will carry the Blackbushe story to visiting eyes long into the future...PB
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Post by graham on Nov 1, 2015 13:33:40 GMT
Thanks as always Peter, I always nip through the gap into Vigo Lane whenever I make it to Blackbushe, even if there's nothing of particular note on the apron alongside the fence, and always have a good look at your "Airlines of Blackbushe" sign. I always think to myself what a shame it is to see all the blue on there to the south and east of the field. It served such a great need back in those days, and seeing the state of the once "east end" of the airport, makes me wonder whether it is actually better off for being covered in dog crap, weeds and rubbish rather than tarmac.
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Post by peterbrown on Nov 8, 2015 6:27:32 GMT
Every year we all have a birthday, some of us would rather not. Blackbushe has just had hers..."Photo of the Day" 04/11/15Somewhere there must be photographic evidence. It was this week in 1942 that Royal Air Force Hartford Bridge was officially opened. It was a time when airfields were being opened across the land as we steeled ourselves to take on the Nazi threat, but few were to survive as long as RAF Hartford Bridge - which became Blackbushe Airport - to become London's second airport before sliding into the somewhat smaller concern we see today. Photographs must have been taken during the opening ceremony, if so I'm sure we'd all like to see them...one can imagine the scene amid much new construction, new hangars, the whole infrastructure of an air base on what was the perfect location, Hartford Bridge Flats. Forum members will have read the contents of the link I placed in the Forum "News" section last night. It give full details of BCA's successful planning bid to further develop the west of the old airfield for the marketing of pre-owned motor vehicles. Interesting reading for our members, whereby we read that the last hangars on Blackbushe are now officially assigned to the world of car selling. Poor old Blackbushe. Since the dreaded closure in 1960 hangars and facilities for aviation have been crushed by the planners and officials of the area. The Hampshire and Hart powers of the 60's declared that anything built on Blackbushe would be detrimental to the visual amenities of the area. Every attempt to apply for new hangars, a fire station, anything, was automatically turned down. "They" ripped down every road sign in the area that dared to include "Blackbushe" or "Airport", and were fervent that never would traffic be allowed to enter the site of the old Blackbushe Airport from the A30. Obviously, they have changed their attitude by permitting the massive development that car auctioning is responsible for and accessed from the A30. We have to thank BCA for taking Blackbushe on when they bought the site from Doug Arnold, but today's latest planning permission approval for extra auctioneering facilities and the transfer of the hangars from aviation to automobiles does nothing to warm my heart. Some hangars from the past... Eagle Airways Blackbushe base..A bit of the Silver City, Falcon Airways, Britavia hangar ..and againThe United States Navy's Blackbushe base...US Navy hangar while used by heavy machinery companies during the sixties..Airwork's Blackbushe base...Bye bye Airwork...Bye bye United States Navy.....and so it was in a very short time after closure, Blackbushe was raised to the ground. The US Navy hangar did hang on for a few more years before the inevitable destruction of their premises, and the Terminal survived by the skin of its teeth although it too was supposed to be demolished. The Terminal in its 1960's magnificence before Hampshire County Council allowed their part to become a local/national disgrace which had to be demolished...The first 'new' hangars under the AVM's wing..My blood, sweat and tears literally spilled during the construction of these, but had to be done! Around 1962/3.Another AVM hangar, the first reasonable looking new structure - temporary, of course.Doug Arnold built the first "real" new hangars...Little did we know what their future was. They witnessed the rebirth of numerous warbirds, before becoming filled with used motors...As Blackbushe quietly celebrates her 73rd birthday we can but hope for better things.... Today's POTD has not enhanced my mood too much, but rather than cry over what we've lost, it's better to smile and be grateful for what we've known. PB
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Post by graham on Nov 14, 2015 8:08:03 GMT
Stirring words Peter and as ever, a poignant look at the "death" of the airport in 1960 and then the gradual renaissance over the years. Superb photos too, so few owned a camera in the early 60's let alone afford to buy and develop colour film!
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Post by peterbrown on Nov 15, 2015 6:10:51 GMT
A few words from a week of remembrance and terrible deeds...
"Photo of the Day 11th November, 2015The Eleventh day of the eleventh month... In an ever changing and increasingly turbulent world, one thing remains permanent and unchanging. That one unchanging thing is the debt we owe to the many who gave their lives for the freedom we continue to enjoy today.. Today at 11am we will remember in particular the Hartford Bridge crews, and their sacrifices as we lay a wreath in their memory. "Thank you, we will always remember what you gave for us and our freedom". Enough said? PB
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Post by graham on Nov 15, 2015 19:05:44 GMT
Enough indeed Peter. As the years roll by, we have fewer and fewer brave souls who risked everything so that we all enjoy the life we possibly take somewhat for granted in these early years of the 21st century. All the WW1 heroes have now passed on, and in a few years' time, it's so sad to think that that will be the situation with all the brave boys and girls from WW11. Soon, there will be no one left to "tell the story" and these two dreadful conflicts will be consigned to the history books for all time.
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Post by peterbrown on Nov 22, 2015 6:09:47 GMT
Hi all..Another serving from the Blackbushe forum!"Photo of the Day" 20/11/15As long as aeroplanes fly the need to learn how to fly them will not go away. Blackbushe has played its role in the cause of pilot training over the years, today ab initio training is a prime function of the old place, in earlier times it was more advanced and multi engined excitement that felt its way down the approach path... Eagle Airways cross winding training sortie enters short finals for 26 across the acres of Yateley Common"If only they'd get on and invent damned flight simulators"BEA's Viking G-AHPP shows the advantages and economic factors flight simulation would bring..9th November, 1949Some arrivals would not have benefited from simulator training..Ooops, Eagle training mishap. Simulator training might not have helped prevent this one..Crew training was big business at Blackbushe, usually without mishap! Comets 1 to 4, Stratocruisers, Constellations, Hermes, Argonaut, Viscounts, Yorks, Ambassadors, Britannias, Vanguards, Daks and Vikings, they all shared the circuit that today is the domain of somewhat smaller flying machines involved with pilot training. Things have changed since those training sorties of the fifties, you can even fly in the comfort of home with today's flight simulators. Chocks away! PB
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Post by graham on Nov 22, 2015 17:07:03 GMT
Thanks as always Peter, what's the story behind shot #4?
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Post by peterbrown on Nov 29, 2015 8:25:10 GMT
Graham.. Shot #4.. The end of a Sea Hawk. Farnborough Week. It's all here in newspaper speak... www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10978986/Rear-Admiral-Roger-Dimmock-obituary.htmlThe pilot passed away not so long ago. The accident happened as the Sea Hawk broke away from the SBAC routine with technical issues, heading for Blackbushe which was the official emergency airfield. As it turned out she arrived at Blackbushe but in a rather more exciting angle of approach than would have been appreciated. Nearly took out Flyboy and Gordon Wilmer. Flyboy being Stuart, ex manager of BB, and Gordon the taker of many photos used on the Blackbushe forum...
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Post by peterbrown on Nov 29, 2015 8:28:58 GMT
...and here's this week's extract from the Blackbushe "One-Stop" Forum..."Photo of the Day" 28/11/1505.30 and the nasal department exits front door and soon retracts. It's rather chilly, cars frozen but what a fabulous morning, the stars like frozen jewels casting a soft but slight glow upon the surrounding countryside. And not a bleedin' badger to be seen, yet still they churn up the lawn every night in search of the wild life that slithers beneath my turf.. But you don't want to know about that, however, if you've got a solution to stopping brock's nightly raids do let me know. Talking of turf....Below you will see the tail of a Miles Messenger with some famous turf beneath. The turf of Blackbushe east, well, there WAS turf once...When not being outsmarted by local wild life I sometimes take a constitutional walk along the currently disused acres of Blackbushe Airport as illustrated above. Two things are achieved by this activity. One. The exercise is prescribed by my heart surgeon as being beneficial toward hope for future life as one's blood borne 'gunk' is persuaded to move beyond the already screwed up heart vessels... Two. I achieve what the heart surgeon says I must avoid... Yes, high blood pressure!! Walking the disused acres does nothing but raise high levels of distress at seeing such a waste of a great airfield, 'what was and what could be' images wrap themselves around me with such negativity that I probably counteract any benefits achieved by brisk walking on old runways. In the summer one needs to be wary of snakes in the bushes while negotiating the now wild parts of the aerodrome, you sometimes meet interesting people and their dogs, and you sometimes see an aeroplane use the one remaining bit of runway that they may still operate from. The snakes have yet to get me, although a Yateley Common wasp managed to get into my collar this summer. I soon told him what I thought of Yateley Common wasps...and he failed to sting me! The dogs can sometimes be a bit intimidating as Fido starts his run toward you from 100 yards out while the owner bellows instructions which go quite unheeded. A slobbering mut approaching at speed requires the recipient to remain calm and welcome the inbound with a friendly, "Oooh nice doggy" while hoping that ones nether regions remain intact during the next few minutes. So far so good, Doug Arnold's "rotty" Jumble being the only Blackbushe based canine to draw your scribes blood to date! So, if you should be looking for a walk on the aerodrome to promote your health try my route. Starting from the civilisation of the Terminal area, you skirt along Vigo Lane across the 25 threshold and via the new entanglement of trees, gorse bushes (careful), and other growing stuff you make it to 32, ie the nice runway that spans from two o'clock to eight o'clock on the photo. Take the first right onto crumbling 01 until you reach the northern taxiway. Hang a left and walk until you reach 14. Head south until you reach 19 where you pick that heading and follow as far as the main runway. Do a "180" and reciprocate your heading until reaching 14 again whereby you turn right and continue on the heading of 140. Travel to the end of dear old 14 and return to the undergrowth and hopefully make your way back to the Terminal. There we have the first chapter of the Blackbushe walkers guide. And probably the last, but you can do the above two plus miles in half an hour plus stop for photo taking, and think how much fitter you are..once the blood pressure has subsided!!! My "Photo of the Day" above also serves to illustrate the wonders of Blackbushe east, aka Yateley Common. The dug up end of the main runway is plain to see, although the area has now become thick with scrub and trees that tend to mask some of the rubble that still remains from the destruction of London's Blackbushe Airport...as it was. Also easy to see is the still remaining clear and unobstructed approach to the operational runway 25. Still pretty unique for a civil airfield in such a developed part of south-east England and on London's door step.... The frustration continues.. Blackbushe Rambling Association - your free guide.Best you don't smoke on the airfield side...1942 when the facility was constructed for us..And finally for today.... Well, can you spot the difference??Rather sad, wouldn't you agree? PB
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Post by graham on Nov 29, 2015 18:52:19 GMT
Very sad indeed Peter
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Post by peterbrown on Dec 6, 2015 7:42:17 GMT
A few more words from Hartford bridge Flats...
"Photo of the Day" 04/12/15
Friday morning, once the great bridge to be crossed leading to that strange state known as the 'weekend'.. now a more peaceful affair where all I need to do is think "Blackbushe" and see what tumbles out of the cerebral ether. POTD awaits.. Looking back, as we tend to do more than look forward on POTD, aircraft movements on 4th December 'pre-1960' included Pakistan International's L-1049 AP-AFR diversion from Heathrow in 1959, Dr Tigges-Fahrten's Viking D-AFIX in 1955, Aer Lingus Viscount EI-AFV diverted from Heathrow in 1957, BEA Viking G-AHPP arrived with Eagle Airways for conversion in 1955 as did similar Viking G-AJBN and G-AJBP, BOAC arrived on 4/12/57 with G-ALAN one of their Constellations again diverting from hard to find Heathrow. BEA DC-3, G-ALPN, Viscount G-AMOP and Ambassador G-ALZP arrived on this day for the same reasons... I could go on and on, but you get the idea. 4th December, 2015, will probably be a little less interesting? The United Sates Navy would have added their traffic to the list as would the home based airlines... 2015. Passengers still fly from Blackbushe although in lesser numbers than they did prior to 1960. Sitting in a PA-28 on the apron today while glancing at the Terminal, or what is left of it, one can but imagine how it must have looked to the regular passenger once seated and ready to fly... Eagle's DC-6 returned in 2008. The windows offered very different views to those enjoyed when G-APSA was just one of the many heavy metal residents. The Blackbushe apron. 1950's style... ..but, bye and bye, time took all away... Should you be passing Blackbushe today, December 4th, spare a thought for the sights and sounds that once were a part of her on this day - and every day - when once she was truly London's Blackbushe Airport. Have a good day. PB
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Post by graham on Dec 6, 2015 9:57:38 GMT
Thanks as always Peter for your thought provoking words and wonderful photographs. The subject content may be somewhat sad but it has brightened up an overcast and blustery Sunday morning.
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Post by peterbrown on Dec 13, 2015 10:07:30 GMT
The year may be getting short but the Blackbushe forum still has plenty to give..here's this week's snippet..
"Photo of the Day" 07/12/15Isn't it just amazing? Monday. Monday morning, another Monday morning under the tranquil carpet of 'retirement' where life is exactly what you make it to be. Well, not entirely I suppose. The mirror reveals that all is not well in the war on wrinkles and the third week of the second course of topical chemo has turned my head into a zone that resembles some alien place recently attacked by an army of angry wasps. Trouble with mirrors is they are hard to avoid and curiosity wins.. Nothing too seriously life threatening I'm assured, just picturesque and painful, and one of the consequences of enjoying life amid the airlines where the sun had so many opportunities to claw its way toward the grey cell!! Beware the sun's bite should your follicles be challenged.. Must not loiter here too long, the daily encounter with home pharmacy beckons..and the daily squeezing of tubes and popping of pharmaceutical wonders from their metallic bubbles all designed to prolong the time that one can propel "POTD" into the great 'wherever' once I've hit the 'create post' button. Where does it go once I've hit that well worn button? Very strange, 'cos wherever I am in the world, POTD is sure to follow - as does everything else from our silicon chip powered world.. Yes, retirement's a wonderful thing, if it wasn't for mirrors. Today's look into that great mirror seems to have the word 'retirement' written across it.. Enough, perhaps, to make me think of all the aircraft that made Blackbushe such an aviation mecca between war's end and 1960, and their sad retirement. Most of them have fared a far worse deal than your scribe has so far..the scrap heap, the oxy cutting torch, and oblivion. Some may have morphed into new aeroplanes, others, teaspoons perhaps, who knows? Today then, a respectful look at those who are now retired having once played a major role on the great stage known as 'Blackbushe'...pure theatre it was too. Just some of the once familiar faces who have taken their retirement and moved on.... It was indeed a sad day when the stage curtains finally closed, and the theatre known as Blackbushe ceased to play. Happily the dramatics have continued, but the cast is very different. PB
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Post by graham on Dec 13, 2015 10:13:37 GMT
Superb as always Peter, and best wishes regarding your health.
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Post by peterbrown on Dec 20, 2015 6:17:59 GMT
Nearly staggered through our first year of ops on the Blackbushe forum.. Here's this week's cutting from "Photo of the Day"..."Photo of the Day" 18/12/15Here we are again..6am. Leaping around before the crack of dawn fuelled by the tenderised nature of my head following a month of topical chemo. I do indeed resemble the red planet (one with a very unstable surface..) as the stuff takes its vengeance on the sun induced cranial critters. There you are, a nice vision to start your day, I could post the official photos but they might spoil your cornflakes! Moving on, apologies for the self indulgence in para 1. Para 2 and we get back to where we should be, dear old Blackbushe. I was back on dear old Blackbushe again yesterday for my therapeutic speed walk along the disused runways. On that I would add that my cracking pace was slowed by trying to remain upright when faced by the large numbers of black gooey puddles that had formed over the so called pathways through the scrubland prior to reaching the open airfield. The black of Blackbushe returned home attached to my shoes and trouser bottoms. My average speed according to the technology I carry for tracking my performance was seriously hampered by puddle jumping and trying to remain vertical..that mud is VERY slippery!! One final word related to yesterday's walk. DOGS!!!!!!!!!!! Puddles and now poodles.. Uggghhhh, oh why oh why do dog owners let their pride and joy deface the common land quite so liberally? Their local authority squandered hundreds of thousands of pounds of their money destroying the east end of Blackbushe so as they would have a so called 'open space' to enjoy and relax on --- so why do they let the hounds of the locality leave their stinking disgusting dollops all over the wretched place??? Luckily I avoided the canine land mines, but the evil forces of darkness who wanted Blackbushe dug up have certainly got the s**t heap they deserve. Thank you so much. Moving on. Apologies for further self indulgence in para 2. Lets try para 3.... Here we go... It's para 4. Having discussed the power of poo, let's move on and look at the power of two. In this case two engines and an airframe to support them. Back in the sixties light aeroplane design took a quantum leap when Cessna and Piper started bending metal into attractive shapes. Examples quite often arrived at Blackbushe, especially from the Cessna stable thanks to their European demo pilot Joe Tysko who lived in Yateley. Joe was a dashing character, and the nicest of people who regularly came home in the latest twin engined offering from Cessna.. Sadly he was killed in a mystery crash in Europe and left yet another gap in the list of people Blackbushe badly needed. The beautiful Cessna 310and the 320..designs that shaped the future. Not forgetting the contribution from Piper and the sleek "Twin Com"..The above is G-ASWW, another aircraft affiliated to Three Counties Aero Club, and the first twin your scribe was given the controls of! What a great feeling it was with those beautiful engine cowls either side, but you could not help but wonder at the real man's twin, the DH Mosquito and imagine... The power of two had many forms... they came from all over the place..long ago.some even brought an extra set of wings..We had beagle's on the airfield as well as on the common land..I could go on all day, but enough...... Sometimes the power of two was a bit suspect.. ..and the designers wisely added a spare!PB
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Post by peterbrown on Dec 23, 2015 8:45:16 GMT
Hi Graham and all at AFA.. "Photo of the Day" is taking a couple of days off for Christmas, but the Blackbushe forum remains a 24 hour service... Here's today's edition of "POTD"... "Photo of the Day" 23/12/15This would seem to be the last POTD until after Christmas, and in a short while after the festive spirit has subsided the staff at POTD will reconvene in the vaults in search of material to continue our daily journey around Blackbushe past, present and future.. Future? Thereby hangs the eternal question mark... I just wish the answers would become a little clearer, but where there's hope there's... Seeing as its Christmas and the season where many still celebrate its true spirit, I thought about writing a 'spirit' related story for the forum at Christmas. All part of the excellent value we offer for your annual subscription. Well, the tale of strange goings on on an aerodrome not far from where I am is still in production.. Time has played its hand and the spirited saga has yet to be completed. No doubt in an age when it's hard to please all it's reviews from our members might have been less enjoyable than writing it, who knows? Maybe another year from now? Some people have told me I should write a book, but maybe I've already done it over the past four years here or on the "other" forum who threw us out with the bathwater.. "Happy Christmas", to all of them, by the way... To wind up before Christmas as the story is far from complete, a look back at Blackbushe on winter's days long ago... In the bleak mid winter, frosty wind made moan....earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow, in the bleak midwinter, long ago. At Christmas our aircrews lived ..and died.Some of the avid supporters of POTD may recall I wrote some words that came to me as a passing Spitfire flew over home earlier this year. I named the collection of words, "In Passing" as an appreciation of the spirit of the Battle of Britain as we marked its 75th Anniversary back in September. This morning I decided to join "In Passing" with my photo of a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire at Blackbushe as it saluted the opening of Aerobility's new hangar in August. Thus I'll leave you to enjoy Christmas while embracing the spirit that in 1940 saved our nation from a new dark age and a damnation totally opposite to the Christmas spirit that lies around the corner.. Merry Christmas to each and everyone - and may the 'spirit' be with you...As always
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Post by graham on Dec 23, 2015 8:51:09 GMT
Thanks so much Peter, such beautiful and poignant words as always. A very Merry Christmas to all at "Blackbushe" from all at AFA.
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Post by peterbrown on Jan 3, 2016 7:40:36 GMT
Returned from festive hibernation, here's today's bit from the One-Stop forum. Happy New year to all at AFA!! "Photo of the Day" 03/01/16The year is reaching out into its third day. Easter eggs are on the shelves, daffodils are blooming, and I'm still staring at the same old screen wondering how much longer my grey cell will manage to fire up suitable thoughts on Blackbushe past, present and future - if I dare. The festive period has seen my traditional hibernation with the odd emergence for fresh air, and exercise to support the dicky ticker. The last day of 2015 witnessed your scribe taking a briefer than usual walk across the hallowed turf of London's once second airport. Brief due to social commitments, not physical impairment, my travels taking me across the area perfectly described by Malcolm yesterday as, "The East gone West". Namely, the eastern end of Blackbushe Airport currently in the hands of the "authorities". Obviously, my first duty on such precious land is to pay homage to how it looked in the 1950's.... An Eagle Viking departs Blackbushe's full length 08. As seen from the now 'common land' over on the north-east of the 'airport' ..Homage duly paid. The area from whence the photo was taken is now a squelchy entanglement of scrub, decorated with the odd bits of rubble still remaining from 1960, canine land mines, and the rudest cyclist in the land. Another story. All rather depressing when recalling the neat land it once was, and the sound of those Bristol radials pulling their Vikings into the blue yonder. However, I did not leave entirely brow beaten. Having not been on the old Blackbushe east for a couple of weeks, or so, I was pleased to observe continued clearance of the Blackbushe East scrub land with what you might describe as an 'overrun' for runway 07 (was 08). Photos below. Had last year's unfortunate Phenom event been landing from the west it's occupants might still be with us today with no earth barrier to crash into? The eyes of imagination could see the clearance extending further, but at least it's starting to look tidier.. PB
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Post by graham on Jan 3, 2016 15:24:11 GMT
Thanks very much Peter for your first Blackbushe chapter of the new year. New Year wishes to you and to all your followers and contributors on your marvellous forum.
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Post by peterbrown on Jan 10, 2016 7:06:29 GMT
Another taste of the past from the One-Stop forum..."Photo of the Day" 08/01/16 The Lockheed Super Constellation has been discussed recently with various suggestions coming forth after my photo of a QANTAS Super Connie on the Blackbushe apron as to the means of disembarking..rope ladders? Regardless of the suggestions about the facilities at Blackbushe, the Super Connie was seen at Blackbushe in a number of colours.. Air Ceylon, Air India, Pakistan International and BOAC. Some were fog diversions escaping the routine blanket across Heathrow, others were crew training or on delivery flights to their new homes in Asia. The most frequent of such wonderful aeroplanes was the United States Navy version whose massive proportions could hardly be missed... Blackbushe in better times.. Means of access of concern to vertigo sufferers?The extract below is from Wikipedia to save time..but indicates why Blackbushe was often blessed with these mysterious visitors, the amazing "Willie Victor" as the WV-2 was affectionately known. The US Navy were very busy at their Blackbushe base. The resident Neptunes were kept active tracking Russian submarines as they slinked around our waterways, while the WV-2s swept a greater expanse of water.. "WV-2s served from 1956 to 1965 in two "barrier" forces, one off each coast of the North American continent. These barrier forces consisted of five surface picket stations each manned by radar destroyer escorts and an air wing of WV-2s that patrolled the picket lines at 1,000-4,000 m (3,000-12,000 ft) altitude in six- to 20-hour missions. Their objective was to extend early warning coverage against surprise Soviet bomber and missile attack as an extension of the DEW Line.
An Atlantic barrier WV-2 of VW-15 overflies USS Sellstrom off Newfoundland in 1957. The Atlantic Barrier (BarLant) consisted of two rotating squadron detachments, VW-13 and VW-15 home based at NAS Patuxent River, MD. and one squadron, VW-11, permanently based at Naval Station Argentia, Newfoundland. The mission was to fly orbits to the Azores and back. There was an AEW Training Unit based at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. BarLant began operations on 1 July 1956, and flew continuous coverage until early 1965. The Barrier was shifted to cover the approaches between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom (GIUK) barrier in June 1961. Aircraft from Argentia were staged through NAS Keflavik, Iceland, to extend coverage times."The cross runway at Blackbushe quite often had a WV-2 taking a rest. From the vantage point of the A30 they made an impressive sight...US spyder-plane at Blackbushe, complete with bug. Some kind of android arachnid long before the web had been invented..?The observant in our midst will have noted that your scribe has survived the recent massive surges in blood pressure to bring you yet another edition of "POTD"... An odd situation when facing the silent killer face to face, you do appreciate every day, and I will endeavour to bring POTD as a part of each day, just means that my value of the time involved is going up in price every day!! Obviously time for my next round of pills? PB blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/3222 comment of the day. blackbusheairport.proboards.com/post/3223
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Post by graham on Jan 10, 2016 15:37:46 GMT
Stunning shots of a wonderful machine Peter. How many jaws must have dropped as those motorists plied their ways along the A30 to see such a beast sat there in all her splendour. The Connies must have had the longest nose wheel struts ( if that's the correct term..) of any plane ever made.
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Post by peterbrown on Jan 17, 2016 7:38:12 GMT
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Post by graham on Jan 17, 2016 9:49:09 GMT
What a stunning set of nostalgic shots Peter, glad to see from your cracking photo that the Sea Hawk's pilot got out OK.
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Post by billsamuels on Jan 18, 2016 9:42:42 GMT
Hi Pierre,
The T-33 looks beautiful.... Would have loved to see some of these at the Bushe, in the day!!! Your collection of shots are as good now, in fact I think they are better, than those you loaded on the old site... Keep it all coming Pete... Always welcome your posts when we can all reflect on much happier times for the old place....
Hope you are well, we really should organise another gathering at BBS.... Are you up for it?
Bill
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