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  Old Warden 2024
  Shuttleworth Military Weekend
      .

Text:

Michael E. Fader

Pictures:

Urs Schnyder & Michael E. Fader


 

 

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

Two air shows on two consecutive days and they couldn't be more different. Like day and night or rain and sunshine to be more precise. While the air show in Duxford was characterised by windy weather with lots of clouds and some rain, Old Warden was characterised by was the complete opposite with sunshine and no wind. Even more astonishing when when you consider that Monday was another day of bad weather in England.

Old Warden is the name of the airfield of the Shuttleworth Collection, which is operated by the Cambridge Flying Group and is owned by the Shuttleworth Trust. This airfield is known above all for its countless vintage aircraft, some of which are replicas. Aircraft and car events are held here several times a year, including the Military Weekend on the weekend of 2. June 2024.

   

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

Oldtimer Parade

   
 

In addition to vintage aeroplanes, vintage cars will also be on display at the Military Weekend. The vehicles are not only shown in a static exhibition but also in a parade in front of the flight line. The entire range of historic vehicles was presented, from historic four-wheeled bicycles and Norten motorbikes to the Citoen TA from the 1930s

 

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

Military Vehicels Parade

   
 

As it was the Military Weekend, military vehicles were also on display. Here, too, the enormous range was striking, from simple Land Rovers to lorries and tractors with 40 mm cannons. It is amazing what is in private hands.

 

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

 
   

G-ACCS

   

The first aircraft that was shown in the sky over Old Warden did not actually belong in the programme, but flew to IWM Duxford. Nevertheless, the pilot did not miss the opportunity to show off his extraordinary aircraft. The De Havilland DH.88 Comet was an aircraft specially designed and built by Geoffrey de Havilland for the 1934 Victorian Centenary Air Race, an air race from Mildenhall, England to Melbourne, Australia. Although the aircraft had two engines with a relatively low output of only 234 hp each, it won the race in 71 hours. The race was held from 20. October to 5. November 1934 and covered a distance of 18,200 km. In addition to the G-ACCS "Grosvenor House", the G-ACSR and the G-ACSP "Black Magic" from de Havilland also took part in the race, although the last aircraft did not reach the finish line.

   

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

   

The Great War

   

With the Fokker Dr.1 triplane and the Sopwith Triplne, two very well-known aircraft from the First World War were represented. Also flying were a Royal Air Factory SE-5a, Sopwith Pub and an Avro 504 to represent the First World War, which was actually called the Great War. On the Avro 504 it was noticeable that it had the livery of a night fighter with the other roundel then in use without the white centre ring.

The only downer was that the Albatross D Va, a replica that had come to Shuttleworth from New Zealand, was unable to fly due to engine problems.

   

Sopwith Triplane G-BOCK (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Sopwith Triplane G-BOCK (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Sopwith Triplane G-BOCK (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Fokker Dr.1 G-CFHY (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Fokker Dr.1 G-CFHY (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

   

Fokker Dr.1 G-CFHY (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Fokker Dr.1 G-CFHY (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

RAF SE-5a G-EBIA (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

RAF SE-5a G-EBIA (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

RAF SE-5a G-EBIA (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

   

RAF SE-5a G-EBIA (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Sopwith Pup G-EBKY (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Sopwith Pup G-EBKY (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Sopwith Pup G-EBKY (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Sopwith Pup G-EBKY (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

   

Avro 504K G-ADEV (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Avro 504K G-ADEV (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Avro 504K G-ADEV (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Avro 504K G-ADEV (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Albatross D Va G-WAHT  (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

Sailplanes

   

As the air was quite calm, some gliders could also be flown. A German Zöglin SG-38 and an American Swiss TG-3A. The Zöglin, a beginner glider built in 1938, is usually winch-launched from the ground. It was therefore surprising to see this fragile aircraft being towed to an unusually high altitude. Compliments to the pilot of the Gliding Heritage Centre for daring to reach such heights in this aircraft. The Schweizer TG-3A was built in 1942 by Schweizer Aircraft in Elmira, New York and is a conventional glider design.

   

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

   

Between the wars

   

The period between the wars was represented by two aircraft. The Hawker Cygnet was the first aircraft designed by Sidney Camm for Hawker (then H. G. Hawker Engineering Company). Only two aircraft were built. With its rather short undercarriage, the aircraft looks somewhat peculiar. The aircraft in the Shuttleworth Collection is a replica.

The Hawker Tomtit was a two-seater military training aircraft whose first flight took place in 1928. The Royal Air Force ordered 25 including the prototype to equip the No. 3 Flying Training School in Grantham, the Central Flying School in Wittering. The aircraft was withdrawn from service as early as 1932.

   

Hawker Cygnet G-EBJI (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Hawker Cygnet G-EBJI (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Hawker Cygnet G-EBJI (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Hawker Cygnet G-EBJI (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Hawker Cygnet G-EBJI (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

   

Hawker Tomtit F-AFTA (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Hawker Tomtit F-AFTA (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Hawker Tomtit F-AFTA (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Hawker Tomtit F-AFTA (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Hawker Tomtit F-AFTA (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

   

Gazelle Squadron Display Team

   

The Gazelle Squadron Display Team was founded in 2014 and initially carried out flight demonstrations with two helicopters. In the course of 2021, the capabilities were expanded and since 2022 the team has been flying with four Gazelle aircraft. The Aerospatiale Gazelle is a five-seater helicopter designed for light transport, training and light attack missions. It is powered by a single turbine engine and was the first helicopter to feature a Fenestron tail instead of a conventional tail rotor. The aircraft were manufactured under licence by Westland. The four machines in the team have different liveries for Army Air Corps Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

   

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

World War 2

   
 

The Second World War was represented by the most important fighters of the time. The Gloster Gladitor, Hawker Hurricane (but it was in fact a Royal Navy Sea Hurricane), the Supermarine Spitfire and the US. North American P-51D Mustang and the Republic P-47D Thunderbolt.

Two other interesting aircraft were also on display. One was the Westland Lysander, which was used to transport spies and resistance fighters in the occupied territories, and the Polikarpov PO-2, which was a training aircraft but was used for night raids on the Eastern Front. A task it also performed during the Korean War.

   

Gloster Gladiator I G-AMRK (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Gloster Gladiator I G-AMRK (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Gloster Gladiator I G-AMRK (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Gloster Gladiator I G-AMRK (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Hawker Sea Hurricame IB G-BKTH (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

Hawker Sea Hurricame IB G-BKTH (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Hawker Sea Hurricame IB G-BKTH (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Hawker Sea Hurricame IB G-BKTH (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Hawker Sea Hurricame IB G-BKTH (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Hawker Sea Hurricame & Supermarine Spitfire (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

Supermarine Spitfire Vc G-AWII (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Supermarine Spitfire Vc G-AWII (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Supermarine Spitfire Vc G-AWII (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

North American P-51D Mustang G-JERK (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

North American P-51D Mustang G-JERK (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

   

North American P-51D Mustang G-JERK (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt N47DD (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt N47DD (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt N47DD (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt N47DD (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

   

Polikarpov PO-2 G-BSSY (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Polikarpov PO-2 G-BSSY (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Polikarpov PO-2 G-BSSY (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Polikarpov PO-2 G-BSSY (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Polikarpov PO-2 G-BSSY (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

   

Westland Lysander III G-AZWT (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Westland Lysander III G-AZWT (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Westland Lysander III G-AZWT (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Westland Lysander III G-AZWT (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

Post War

   

The period after the Second World War was represented by two very different aircraft. One was the Avro Anson, which flew before the Second World War, but was represented by a late variant from the post-war period, at which time the aircraft was mainly used as a transport aircraft. The Avro Anson 19 was donated by BaE to the Shuttleworth Collection. The aircraft’s current livery was painted in 2018 as part of RAF 100 commemorations and the aircraft represents TX176, an aircraft flown by the RAF until 1968.

The second aircraft was the Percival Provost, a light training aircraft. It had two side-by-side seats with dual controls and a sliding roof. The Provost was developed into the Jet Provost, which replaced it in the Royal Air Force. A total of 461 aircraft were built.

   

Avro Anson C.19, G-AHKX (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Avro Anson C.19, G-AHKX (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Avro Anson C.19, G-AHKX (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Avro Anson & Percival Provost (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Avro Anson & Percival Provost (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

   

Avro Anson & Percival Provost (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Percival P.56 Provost T.1 G-KAPW (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Percival P.56 Provost T.1 G-KAPW (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Percival P.56 Provost T.1 G-KAPW (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Percival P.56 Provost T.1 G-KAPW (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

   

Trainer & Liaison

   

The British had developed a number of training aircraft. The most famous was certainly the De Havilland DH-82a Tiger Moth. The Miles Magister is not so well known today, but was also one of the most important training aircraft of the Royal Air Force. Two aircraft flew together with the Havilland DH. 82a Tiger Moth. Another training aircraft was the De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk, which was built by the Canadian branch of De Havilland.

Auster aeroplanes were widely used as reconnaissance aircraft in the 1950s. Two aircraft were represented at the Military Weekend - an AOP-6 and an early Taylorcraft Plus D.

   

Miles M.14 Magister G-AJRS  (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Miles M.14a Magister G-AKPF (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Havilland DH. 82a Tiger Moth G-ANKT (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk G-BNZC (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Havilland DH. 82a Tiger Moth G-ANKT (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

   

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Auster AOP.6 G-BNGE (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

   

Taylorcraft Plus D/Auster 1 G-AHGW (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Taylorcraft Plus D/Auster 1 G-AHGW (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Auster AOP.6 G-BNGE (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

The end of the air show was a "Balbo", well only the attempt, it was not entirely successful. At the Flying Legends this was done with the Mustang, Spitfire, Tomahawk and Hurricane, but even there the different flight performances of the machines were a problem. The Spitfite, Hurricane and Mustang were three roughly equivalent aircraft, but the Gladiator, Lysander and Tomtit, which were also used, had considerable difficulty in reaching and maintaining their positions. It was a well-intentioned attempt that in no way diminished the success of the air show.


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last update 21. July 2024

Written 20. July 2024

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