BLACKBUSHE
Blackbushe Airport in Surrey was considered London's second airport. Generally all UK independent airlines with a London base would choose Blackbushe. The airport handled thousands of movements every year. By the 1950s when Dan-Air appeared on the scene, they were in good company. British Eagle, Airwork, Britavia, Silver City,Hunting Clan and many others had their main base at the airport. The airport's close proximity to the main A20 road meant that drivers would have to wait as aircraft crossed the road to access the runway. The terminal was small, with passengers using the ground floor and airlines had office space on the first floor. Dan-Air operated several cargo and passenger charters from Blackbushe, by 1956 two DC 3 'Dakota' aircraft and four Avro Yorks were largely based there. Dan-Air's first scheduled service was launched in 1956 with a weekly flight to Jersey. The DC3 (G-AMSU) flew the service with 36 passengers on Saturdays at 7am, taking a little over one hour to arrive at its destination. The return flight departed Jersey at 1015, arriving at Blackbushe 1130. By 1959 the flights had increased to twice weekly (Saturday/Sunday)
The Ministry for Civil Aviation made the decision to close Blackbushe in 1959. Airlines were instructed to move to the newly built London Gatwick. Which would be Dan-Air's main base for the next thirty two years.In the final year at Blackbushe Dan-Air were operating two DC3, two Airspeed Ambassadors, four Avro York, three Bristol Freighters, Two De Havilland Herons and a De Havilland Dove. That year saw several charters from Blackbush including an Avro York flight to Izmir via Brindisi.
There is no doubt that Blackbushe had potential. The runway was long and the size of airfield was enormous. Despite this, Dan-Air could not obtain hanger space and instead purchased Lasham Airfield in nearby Hampshire for its maintenence requirements. By 1960 Blackbushe was a civil airfield no more.
Above: DC3 G-AMSS at Blackbushe. The aircraft was known to the staff at Blackbushe as 'two lumps' taken from the phonetic alphabet - 'Sugar' was used long before 'Sierra'.
Above: G-ALPH, a company Bristol Freighter undergoing maintenance at Blackbushe.