Blackbushe Airport, BBS

Blackbushe Airport (IATA: BBS, ICAO: EGLK), in the civil parish of Yateley in the north-east corner of the English county of Hampshire, comprises an airfield, much reduced in size since its heyday, a British Car Auctions site, a kart track owned by Camberley Kart Club, and a small business park. Blackbushe Sunday Market is held on the car auction site.

History

The airport started life in 1942 as RAF Hartfordbridge, and it was used throughout the second world war for reconnaissance and defence operations using Spitfires and Mosquitos. It was also the home of the Free French Squadron (Lorraine). A number of important people landed at the airport including King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, Supreme Allied Commander General Eisenhower and Field Marshal Montgomery.

The airport was renamed to RAF Blackbushe at the end of the war and became a base for the Dakotas of RAF Transport Command during the 1948 airlift during the Berlin Blockade. The airport was also used for training and one of its successful students was HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.

In 1960, Blackbushe Airport passed into civilian ownership as a base for a large collection of historic World War II aircraft, including four Junkers Ju 52s, six Douglas DC-3s and a number of smaller planes, such as Spitfires, which were rarely seen on the tarmac. The finest was, perhaps, a Heinkel bomber which, unfortunately, was sold in order to purchase a replacement which then crashed soon afterwards.

Later, British Car Auctions took over the airport and developed it as a centre of private, business and executive aviation.

Description

Blackbushe is situated alongside the A30 road between Camberley and Hook. It used to straddle both sides of the A30, with road traffic having to wait whilst airliners made their way across this busy road. The traditional name for the flat piece of land it's sited on is Hartford Bridge Flats. The nearest towns are Yateley and Fleet.

Unless looking at aerial views or maps, it is hard to visualise that this was once a significant airport for scheduled flights for London.

It is one of several airfields eclipsed since 1958 by the growth of London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport. Based aircraft include several corporate helicopters and a dealership for Beechcraft is established here. From 1st April 1998 The Queen's Helicopter has been based there.

On 15 July 1978, the airfield was the location for an open-air concert, the Picnic at Blackbushe, which was attended by some 200,000 people. Bob Dylan headlined, with support from Eric Clapton, Joan Armatrading, Graham Parker and the Rumour, Lake, and Merger.

Summary

Airport Code : BBS
Airport Name : Blackbushe
Runway Length : 4436 ft.
Runway Elevation : 329 ft.

City : Yateley
Country : United Kingdom
Country Abbrev. : GB
World Area Code : 493
GMT Offset : +0.0

Telephone : +44 (0) 1252 879449
Fax : +44 (0) 1252 874444
Email : blackbusheairport@bca-group.com
Website :http://www.blackbusheairport.co.uk