|
Text: |
Urs Schnyder & Michael E. Fader |
|
Pictures: |
Urs Schnyder & Michael E. Fader |
Richard Ormond Shuttleworth was born in 1909 and became a motor sport and aviation enthusiast. His wealth made it possible for him to acquire an impressive collection of cars and aircraft. Richard Shuttleworth was killed on the 2nd of August 1940 in a flying accident while being trained as a pilot in the RAF. His Fairey Battle flew into a hill near Elmware (South Oxfordshire). In the same year, his mother founded the Shuttleworth trust in remembrance of her son. The trust takes care of the collection and was also able to expand it.
The Shuttleworth Collection is unique and fascinating. It is based at Old Warden Aerodrome and houses a big number of aircraft from the earliest days of aviation and the great war to a Spitfire and Sea Hurricane. Most of the aircraft are airworthy. Many of them are the only examples existing in the world that are in flying condition.
The Red Arrows (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Havilland Dh60X Hermes Moth (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Piper L-4J Grasshoppers (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Westland Merlin (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
More than an Air Show
Richard Shuttleworth was not only interested in aircraft, but also in cars and especially racing cars. He took part in the 1928 “London to Brighton Veteran Car Run”. In 1934 he won the „Brighton Speed Trials“ with a Bugatti Typ 51 and again in 1935 with a Alfa-Romeo P3 Tipo B. This is also the reason that more than 35 cars and motorcycles are part of the Shuttleworth Collection. Before the airshow they are usually paraded along the crowdline.
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Arrol-Johnston 1901 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Wellingborough Leyland ST (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Arrol-Johnston 1901 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Panhard Levaseur 1898 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Dorothy - Steam Traction Engine (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
De Dietrich 1903 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Wolseley M5 1912 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Railton 1936 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Norton Big 4 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Dodge WC54 Ambulance(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Dodge W57 Command-Car(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
M3 Halftrack (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
The Red Arrows
The Red Arrows don’t fly very often at Shuttleworth. The Shuttleworth displays are normally not associated with fast, noisy and modern jets. They rather exhume the spirit of a garden party without any hectic action which indeed befits the environment. Since 1980 the Red Arrows are flying the BAE Hawk T.1 and they did their usual perfect show.
During summer 2019 the team will be on a tour of North America and will take part in several American and Canadian airshows. After their participation at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) they will cross the Atlantic.
The Red Arrows (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
The Red Arrows (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
The Red Arrows (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
The Red Arrows (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
The Red Arrows (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
The Red Arrows (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
The Red Arrows (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
The Red Arrows (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Racer
The Miles Hawk Speed Six was developed as a racer from the already popular Miles Hawk series of sporting aeroplanes. Since 2018 the machine (G-ADGP) is owned by the Shuttleworth Collection. Together with the two Percival Mew Gulls (G-AEKL G-AEXF) and the De Havilland DH.88 Comet (G-ACSS) they form a racing team. This year was the first time since 1937 that all four aircraft were flying together.
Percival Mew Gull (G-AEKL) and De Havilland DH.88 Comet (G-ACSS) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Havilland DH.88 Comet (G-ACSS) and Percival Mew Gull (G-AEXF) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Miles Hawk Speed Six (G-ADGP) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Miles Hawk Speed Six (G-ADGP) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Percival Mew Gull (G-AEXF)(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Percival Mew Gull (G-AEXF) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Percival Mew Gull (G-AEKL)(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Havilland DH.88 Comet (G-ACSS) and Miles Hawk Speed Six (G-ADGP) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Havilland DH.88 Comet (G-ACSS) and Miles Hawk Speed Six (G-ADGP) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Havilland DH.88 Comet (G-ACSS) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Havilland DH.88 Comet (G-ACSS) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
De Havilland DH.88 Comet (G-ACSS)(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
D Day
The airfield of Old Warden is rather small and only has grass runways. It is however possible for bigger aircraft to land there. Seven DC-3 (C-47 Dakota) or Skytrain, as it is called by the Americans landed at Old Warden. The commemoration of D-day, the allied landing in France could be felt everywhere. The Dakotas were not actually a part of the airshow program, but they were an added attraction. Besides the aircraft that were camouflaged and wore the distinctive markings, there were also civilian DC-3 in various schemes.
Douglas C-53D Skytrooper, N8336C (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Flightline of the Dakotas (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Douglas C-47-DL Skytrain, N150D (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Douglas C-53D Skytrooper, N8336C (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Douglas C-47A Skytrain, N103NA (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Douglas C-47B Skytrain, N47SJ,(Pi cture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Piper L-4J Grasshoppers (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Piper L-4J Grasshoppers (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Warbirds
Besides the warbirds from the great War there were also several from the second World War. The flying program at Shuttleworth contains machines from the beginning of aviation until today. An interesting aspect is the fact that also helicopters from the 60’s and 70’s are appearing as warbirds in the airshow calendars.
The excellent flying program which was well organised and supported by the volunteers of the SVAS (Shuttleworth Veteran Aeroplane Society) was under the control of the new chief pilot Paul Stone.
For me Shuttleworth is one of the best airshows, not least because of all the different activities around it.
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Havilland Dh60 Cirrus Moth (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Havilland Dh60 Cirrus Moth (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Havilland Dh51 "Miss Kenya" (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Havilland Dh51 "Miss Ken ya"(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Havilland Dh60X Hermes Moth (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Havilland Dh60X Hermes Moth (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Bristol Blenheim G-BPIV(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Avro C19 Anson & Bristol Blenheim G-BPIV (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Westland Lysander (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Avro C19 Anson (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Gloster Gladiator (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Gloster Gladiator & Supermarine Spitfire (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Supermarine Spitfire (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Percival Provost (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Westland Wasp HAS.1 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Westland Gazelle (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Westland Gazelle (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)