Blackbushe Memories (Merged)
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Mr Grubby mentioned a Tim Merritt. I met a chap of that name running a club at Cranfield in 1989. Converted my SLMG PPL to a full Group A with his club. He had an Auster which was forever being broken. I got the impression he was ex-AAC.
The same guy perhaps?
His club - Kestrel I think it was called - has gone now.
P
The same guy perhaps?
His club - Kestrel I think it was called - has gone now.
P
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Dont remember Don Andrews I'm afraid.
Remember Doug Arnold tearing out of his hangar ina twin, miss me in the Auster and get airbourne in any way that he fancied!
Do have lots of childhood memories of the Bushe though.
My old man worked for Airwork in the 50's. Remember a fabric winged Viking in beautiful nick owned by the Guinness family. My dad flew asa flying spanner on the Vikings and then as a F/E on the Hermes.
Independant Airlines that became "Blue Air" overnight when one of their planes went in. A Hermes that hit the trees at the western end (bit vague that one as I was very young).
Used to go with the crews up to Heathrow and fly back with them bringing back the odd Viking that diverted there. Seemed to remember being allowed to raise the U/C out of LHR.
Remember the Seahawk hitting the concrete outside Silver City's hangar on the North side.
Airwork became BUA and disappeared. The US Navy arrived with a brand new hangar.
Enough already-happy daze
Remember Doug Arnold tearing out of his hangar ina twin, miss me in the Auster and get airbourne in any way that he fancied!
Do have lots of childhood memories of the Bushe though.
My old man worked for Airwork in the 50's. Remember a fabric winged Viking in beautiful nick owned by the Guinness family. My dad flew asa flying spanner on the Vikings and then as a F/E on the Hermes.
Independant Airlines that became "Blue Air" overnight when one of their planes went in. A Hermes that hit the trees at the western end (bit vague that one as I was very young).
Used to go with the crews up to Heathrow and fly back with them bringing back the odd Viking that diverted there. Seemed to remember being allowed to raise the U/C out of LHR.
Remember the Seahawk hitting the concrete outside Silver City's hangar on the North side.
Airwork became BUA and disappeared. The US Navy arrived with a brand new hangar.
Enough already-happy daze
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Originally Posted by bean
Can any of you remember why Blackbushe closed to the larger airliners in the late fifties?
Was it competition from the newly reopened Gatwick?
I've seen loads of pictured of Vikings Hermes etc. Theres even a commercially available DVD with about a thirty second clip in colour of the same types in 1957.
Was it competition from the newly reopened Gatwick?
I've seen loads of pictured of Vikings Hermes etc. Theres even a commercially available DVD with about a thirty second clip in colour of the same types in 1957.
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ATC encroaching on expanding LHR. Dan went to LGW. Britavia merged into BUA. Eagle, Hunting Clan to LHR. USNavy to W.Malling, then Mildenhall. Lydd was never other than Silver City Freighters. Manston, nothing till Invicta Vikings.
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Blackbushe Memories
As a new member I've just been reading an old thread about Blackbushe Aero Club etc.
I spent a lot of time at Blackbushe between the late sixties and circa 1980 when I had to cease flying due to domestic pressures. I flew with several of the clubs including BAC, Aeromart and Three Counties.
Names that come to mind are most of those on the earlier thread plus Graham Smith(ex BOAC) Steve Potter(ran the Gaucho Flying Group) Frank Herridge, Dick Kingsmill, Mike Graham(originated Aeromart)
I also used to fly for the parachutists(Red Devils)
I spent a lot of time at Blackbushe between the late sixties and circa 1980 when I had to cease flying due to domestic pressures. I flew with several of the clubs including BAC, Aeromart and Three Counties.
Names that come to mind are most of those on the earlier thread plus Graham Smith(ex BOAC) Steve Potter(ran the Gaucho Flying Group) Frank Herridge, Dick Kingsmill, Mike Graham(originated Aeromart)
I also used to fly for the parachutists(Red Devils)
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Hi Mypyrex. I believe this subject has been discussed elsewhere, but my search attempts didn't bring results!
I worked at Blackbushe under AVM Bennett as a "trainee air traffic controller" around 1965-66 until he ferociously sacked me for refusing to weed the runway! Bill Freeman was the Manager, Denis Cooper the SATCO with Lin Elgeti, Pat Curtis and me working in the "tower". Reg Gregory and Mike Sheehy worked in "Ground Control". The McCarthy's ran an aero club from a caravan... Capt Varley flew the Blackbushe Aero Club Auster.. 3 Counties was run by Derek Johnston with Hamish Hamilton, Ben Cartwright (?) and Vic ? (with a gammy leg). I remember Frank Herridge.. and Doug Arnold!
What days, eh?
Brendan McCartney
I worked at Blackbushe under AVM Bennett as a "trainee air traffic controller" around 1965-66 until he ferociously sacked me for refusing to weed the runway! Bill Freeman was the Manager, Denis Cooper the SATCO with Lin Elgeti, Pat Curtis and me working in the "tower". Reg Gregory and Mike Sheehy worked in "Ground Control". The McCarthy's ran an aero club from a caravan... Capt Varley flew the Blackbushe Aero Club Auster.. 3 Counties was run by Derek Johnston with Hamish Hamilton, Ben Cartwright (?) and Vic ? (with a gammy leg). I remember Frank Herridge.. and Doug Arnold!
What days, eh?
Brendan McCartney
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Hi Brendan,
As you say what days. I got my PPL circa 1968 on a Tiger Moth - think it was blue. I'll have to dig my log book out and see what the reg was. I was thinking about Reg Gregory this morning and I remembered flying back from Alderney once and I'd just passed 50 North and tuned to London FIR just in time to hear London say to somebody(obviously going into Blackbushe) "Call Reg. now on 122.3" Me and my mate had a good laugh about that to think that he had that sort of fame - or notoriety!
I see you were at West Drayton. Did you know anyone in London Airways name of Mike Blackband?
Best wishes
Mike Hobby
As you say what days. I got my PPL circa 1968 on a Tiger Moth - think it was blue. I'll have to dig my log book out and see what the reg was. I was thinking about Reg Gregory this morning and I remembered flying back from Alderney once and I'd just passed 50 North and tuned to London FIR just in time to hear London say to somebody(obviously going into Blackbushe) "Call Reg. now on 122.3" Me and my mate had a good laugh about that to think that he had that sort of fame - or notoriety!
I see you were at West Drayton. Did you know anyone in London Airways name of Mike Blackband?
Best wishes
Mike Hobby
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I read the previous thread with fond memories - and with this one felt the need to add my tuppence.
I think I was about 6 when I flew for the first time in Auster G-APCY (I was bloody terrified) flown by my Dad who was then an F/O with British Eagle and one of the founders of the 'Airlines Flying Club' which had the Auster and a magnificent Hornet Moth.
Other memories of Blackbush ....
Teaching myself to gallop on the horse belonging to AVM Bennet's daughter (it used to live on airfield and my training involved galloping freely around the airfield).
Hunting around much of the unused 'terminal' building.
Fetching (or at least getting under the feet of those big people who were fetching) the the Rapides that were littered around the airfield aftera stormy night.
'Helping' to pack the parachutes - anyone who let a 6-8 year old do that was certifiably mad !
Getting my toungue stuck in a coke bottle and having my head covered by a bar cloth (some bloody protection that was) as various responsible adults gathered round and tried to smash the thing off !!
An airshow (details are vague)
Brgds
Tim
I think I was about 6 when I flew for the first time in Auster G-APCY (I was bloody terrified) flown by my Dad who was then an F/O with British Eagle and one of the founders of the 'Airlines Flying Club' which had the Auster and a magnificent Hornet Moth.
Other memories of Blackbush ....
Teaching myself to gallop on the horse belonging to AVM Bennet's daughter (it used to live on airfield and my training involved galloping freely around the airfield).
Hunting around much of the unused 'terminal' building.
Fetching (or at least getting under the feet of those big people who were fetching) the the Rapides that were littered around the airfield aftera stormy night.
'Helping' to pack the parachutes - anyone who let a 6-8 year old do that was certifiably mad !
Getting my toungue stuck in a coke bottle and having my head covered by a bar cloth (some bloody protection that was) as various responsible adults gathered round and tried to smash the thing off !!
An airshow (details are vague)
Brgds
Tim
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I remember countless times as a kid in the family car, stopped forever, waiting for those huuuuuge airliners (!) to be towed back and forth across the A30.
Can anyone post any photos of the 'big' stuff from the late 50s? I need another nostalgia implant.
Can anyone post any photos of the 'big' stuff from the late 50s? I need another nostalgia implant.
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A couple of not very inspiring pictures of Blackbushe taken in 1970.
Taken from the main terminal building from the office of ICL Flying Services.
Landing on runway 01.
Clint.
Taken from the main terminal building from the office of ICL Flying Services.
Landing on runway 01.
Clint.
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I had regularly seen the Lancaster parked and maintained by Airwork during the early and mid 1950's on holiday trips down to the West Country.
Later on a spotting trip I noted this Lincoln, seeming to perform the same function, circa 1957/8. They uncovered it, towed it across the road, and off it went.
PeterA
Later on a spotting trip I noted this Lincoln, seeming to perform the same function, circa 1957/8. They uncovered it, towed it across the road, and off it went.
PeterA
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The other guy I knew at 3 Counties was Ben Simons, not Cartwright (I'm thinking of Bonanza!!!). Wonder what ever happened to them all?
I didn't know Mike Blackband as I managed to avoid LATCC until the last few years. Back in '66 Bill Dacombe-Bird and John Ditmas flew from Balckbushe and they were both London Airways men as far as I know. John went into serious flying and I met him out in Tripoli in the late '60s when he was flying biz jest for McAlpines.
I also remember Mrs Judd and her daughter who ran the canteen. On the subject of horses, there was a gentleman who took delight in exercising his rights to ride a horse across the runway, much to the extreme consternation of the SATCO Denis Cooper!!
I didn't know Mike Blackband as I managed to avoid LATCC until the last few years. Back in '66 Bill Dacombe-Bird and John Ditmas flew from Balckbushe and they were both London Airways men as far as I know. John went into serious flying and I met him out in Tripoli in the late '60s when he was flying biz jest for McAlpines.
I also remember Mrs Judd and her daughter who ran the canteen. On the subject of horses, there was a gentleman who took delight in exercising his rights to ride a horse across the runway, much to the extreme consternation of the SATCO Denis Cooper!!
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I knew Bill Dacombe-Bird briefly at Denham circa 1967 before I got my PPL. We met at an outfit called the Biplane Club run by Tony Cheshire. Also met Mike Stapp there and later at Blackbushe. I think he went to Australia.
Also remember Mrs Judd at the cafe.
Also remember Mrs Judd at the cafe.
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A few more memories filtering through my age and JD addled brain ....
Airline's Flying Club -Johnny Tice or Tyce (British Eagle,as was my dad and I think they were the two main committee members in forming it). A vet who was a keen member but died crashing an Auster when he flew deteriorating weather (coming back from Jersey I think).
I think Dick Emery did some flying there - or was it his son ?
Its all coming back slowly !
TimS
Airline's Flying Club -Johnny Tice or Tyce (British Eagle,as was my dad and I think they were the two main committee members in forming it). A vet who was a keen member but died crashing an Auster when he flew deteriorating weather (coming back from Jersey I think).
I think Dick Emery did some flying there - or was it his son ?
Its all coming back slowly !
TimS
Last edited by TimS; 12th Dec 2006 at 13:59.
Death Cruiser Flight Crew
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Dick Emery certainly did some flying! The previously mentioned Hamish Hamilton used to regale us with the time when Mr Emery crashed his Tiger Moth at a Wisley Garden Party, fortunately walking away unscathed!
Capt J D (Ginger Tom) Varley went on to be CFI at the Airways Flying Club at Booker, with Hamish as his deputy. For complicated reasons, which I can't rightly remember, Capt Varley then returned to Blackbushe, where he remained until his eventual retirement from flying as an Instructors' Panel Examiner. (In May 1971, in an unguarded moment, he let me loose on the unsuspecting public as an AFI.)
Graham Smith, sometime BOAC Boeing 707 first officer and proprietor of the ... 'Steam Chicken Line' wasn't it? An Aztec with a feathered paint scheme IIRC.
Capt J D (Ginger Tom) Varley went on to be CFI at the Airways Flying Club at Booker, with Hamish as his deputy. For complicated reasons, which I can't rightly remember, Capt Varley then returned to Blackbushe, where he remained until his eventual retirement from flying as an Instructors' Panel Examiner. (In May 1971, in an unguarded moment, he let me loose on the unsuspecting public as an AFI.)
Graham Smith, sometime BOAC Boeing 707 first officer and proprietor of the ... 'Steam Chicken Line' wasn't it? An Aztec with a feathered paint scheme IIRC.