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Shuttleworth Festival of Flight

Part 1

Text:	Michael E. Fader
Pictures:	Urs Schnyder & Michael E. Fader

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Old Warden is an insider tip for aircraft enthusiasts who want to see older planes. It is surprising that it is still an insider tip, as the Shuttleworth Collection meeting is well advertised. The editors enjoy the rather informal atmosphere at this meeting. The show on Sunday, 29 June 2025 must be ranked as one of the best air shows of all time. The conditions were ideal (no wind) and the programme was brilliantly put together, featuring several ‘firsts’ from aircraft dating back to 1909 to the Red Arrows jets.

A chronology of the air show cannot be provided as the programme differed on each of the two days. A relatively new feature is the division of the flight programme into an afternoon section (2 p.m. to 6 p.m.) and an evening section (8 p.m. to approx. 9.30 p.m.). As the weather conditions were ideal, taking photographs in the evening was not a major problem.

Oldtimer on the Street

In addition to vintage aircraft, Shuttleworth also displays vintage road vehicles. As aircraft experts, we unfortunately do not know the exact types of vehicles, but the whole display is a feast for the eyes. It is particularly interesting that some vehicles are used as service vehicles for the ground crew during the air show, meaning they are used in a manner befitting their style.

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Pitts Special & Cap 10

Aerobatic aircraft often kick off air shows. This year in Shuttleworth was no exception, but it was a little different than usual. The show opened with a French Mudry CAP-10B G-CCXC flying solo. The second aerobatic display was a pair of Pitts Specials, although on closer inspection it became apparent that they were two different types. The G-SWON was a single-seater Pitts S-1S Special, while the G-STUI was a two-seater Pitts S-2AE Special, which was larger and heavier. The two pilots, Stuart Goldspink and Jean-Michel Munn, impressively demonstrated that even with different aircraft, it is possible to fly a synchronised programme.

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Mudry CAP-10B G-CCXC (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Mudry CAP-10B G-CCXC (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Mudry CAP-10B G-CCXC (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Mudry CAP-10B G-CCXC (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Mudry CAP-10B G-CCXC (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Mudry CAP-10B G-CCXC (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Trainer

Several training aircraft were on display in Shuttleworth. Some of them were iconic, such as the De Havilland Canada Chipmunk, which was used until the 1980s, while others, such as the Focke-Wulf FW-44 Stieglitz, disappeared quite quickly after the end of the war.

The Miles M.14 Magister, often referred to as ‘Maggie’, is very well known in England. As a low-wing aircraft, it was ideal for preparing new pilots for missions with the Spitfire and Hurricane. 1,293 aircraft were produced by 1941. The G-AKPF is owned by Ultimate Warbird Flights, while the G-AJRS belongs to the Shuttleworth Collection.

The Shuttleworth Collection also owns the De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk G-BNZC. Stu Goldspink flew his SNCAN Stampe SV.4A G-JJGI. He is usually seen in the Stampe Formation Display Team. Stu Goldspink is also a pilot on Spitfire and Mustang and can often be seen in Old Warden. At the Shuttleworth Festival of Flight, he flew alongside a Ryan STM-2 from the Shuttleworth Veteran Aeroplane Society.

The Ryan STM-2 was built in the USA in 1,568 units and was equipped with an inline engine or radial engine. The N7779 aircraft is a version with an inline engine and is painted in the colours of the Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force. The Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force was one of the largest users of the Ryan STM-2 alongside the United States Army Air Forces.

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

Miles M.14A Magister (G-AKPF)(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Miles M.14 Magister (G-AJRS) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Miles M.14 Magister (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

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

De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk (G-BNZC) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

SNCAN Stampe SV.4A (G-JJGI) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

SNCAN Stampe SV.4A (G-JJGI) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Stampe & Ryan (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Stampe & Ryan (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Stampe & Ryan (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Ryan STM-2 (N-7779) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Ryan STM-2 (N-7779) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Polikarpov PO-2 (G-BSSY) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

The Polikarpov Po-2 G-BSSY is a Soviet biplane from 1944, which was given to Yugoslavia as part of a gift after the Second World War and was used there for a long time by flying clubs and the military. After the end of its active service, the aircraft came to the United Kingdom, where it was registered as G-BSSY in 1990. Following restoration in the United States and New Zealand, the Po-2 has been airworthy again since 10 January 2011 and now belongs to the Shuttleworth Collection in the United Kingdom.

Only the trained observer noticed that the Messerschmitt Bf.108 Taifun had a false engine cowling that concealed the Lycoming O540 E4A5. The Nord 1002 Pingouin G-ETME, built in 1951, looks strikingly similar to a Messerschmitt Bf.108 Taifun.

The Focke-Wulf FW-44 Stieglitz, serial number 1904, was built for the Swedish Air Force and acquired by Richard Menage in 2011. The aircraft was completely restored in Paderborn by Quax-Flieger. In Old Waden, it flew alongside the Spanish-built Bücker (CASA) 1.133C Jungmeister.

Polikarpov PO-2 (G-BSSY) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Nord 1002 Pingouin (G-ETME) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Focke-Wulf FW-44 Stieglitz (G-EMNN) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Jungmeister and Stieglitz (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Jungmeister and Stieglitz (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Jungmeister and Stieglitz (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

CASA 1.133C Jungmeister (G-RPAX) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

CASA 1.133C Jungmeister (G-RPAX) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

CASA 1.133C Jungmeister (G-RPAX) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Battle of Britain

The tribute to the Battle of Britain is a feature of every air show in England. This was naturally also the case at the Festival of Flight in Shuttleworth.

The story of the Bristol Blenheim G-BPIV is one of restoration and rebirth. Originally built as an Mk.IV(F) night fighter with the serial number Z5722 and the codes WM-Z, it was named ‘Spirit of Britain First’ in honour of the first Blenheim flight. It spent ten successful years on the British air show scene before being severely damaged in a landing accident in 2003. A second, extensive restoration transformed the aircraft into a Blenheim Mk.I with a shorter nose, taken from the Blenheim L6739. Today, it is the only airworthy Bristol Blenheim in the world and is operated by the Aircraft Restoration Company in Duxford.

The Supermarine Spitfire LF.Vc (G-AWII) has been part of the Shuttleworth Collection since 1961. From 1942 onwards, the aircraft belonged to No. 312 (Czech) Squadron based at RAF Duxford. After the Second World War, the AR501 was used as a training aircraft at Loughborough College. In 1968, the aircraft was restored and made airworthy again for the film ‘Battle of Britain’. After a 10-year restoration by Shuttleworth's full-time engineering team and the collection's experienced volunteers, the Spitfire MK Vc AR501 made its first flight after restoration on 20 March 2018 and bears the original livery of No. 312 (Czech) Squadron, with which it served on the front lines from 1942 to 1943.

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Supermarine Spitfire LF.Vc (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

BBMF is an abbreviation that is quite common in England. It stands for Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which was founded on 11 July 1957 at RAF Biggin Hill. Eleven historic aircraft are operated by the BBMF, which is a regular RAF squadron. These include an Avro Lancaster, a Douglas C-47 Dakota, five Spitfires, two Hurricanes and two de Havilland Canada Chipmunk training aircraft used to train pilots on the old aircraft.

The Avro Lancaster PA474, one of two aircraft still capable of flying, was present in Old Warden. The aircraft was completed on 31 May 1945 and handed over to the RAF, making it 80 years old.

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

CAC Boomerang

One new addition, a machine we had never had the opportunity to admire in flight before, was the Commonwealth Aircraft CA-13 Boomerang (NX32CS). The aircraft was rebuilt using original parts from the Boomerang (A46-139) and a North American T-6, making it a unique aircraft. Originally stationed in the United States, it was later transferred to Europe and is currently stationed in Antwerp.

This aircraft was used by the 83rd Squadron of the RAAF from September 1943 to August 1944, until it was severely damaged during an emergency landing in Blackhall, Queensland. Remko Sijben acquired the Boomerang in 2013 and stationed the aircraft in Antwerp-Deurne (Belgium), as the ownership of former fighter aircraft is prohibited in the Netherlands.

Together with his friend Rick van der Graaf, who owns a Yak-3U (F-AZZK), the two pilots have been appearing at European air shows for several years. Although the aircraft are quite different, they are displayed both as a pair and individually.

CAC CA-13 Boomerang (NX32CS) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Boomerang & Yak-3U (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Boomerang & Yak-3U (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

CAC CA-13 Boomerang (NX32CS) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

CAC CA-13 Boomerang (NX32CS) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

CAC CA-13 Boomerang (NX32CS) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

CAC CA-13 Boomerang (NX32CS) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Yakovlev Yak-3U (F-AZZK) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Yakovlev Yak-3U (F-AZZK) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

The great war

When it broke out in 1914, the First World War was referred to as "the Great War". Aviation and the development of aeroplanes made enormous strides during these four years. Initially simple and rather fragile machines were replaced by more complex machines designed for performance.

In Old Warden, the Shuttleworth Collection displays some of the aircraft in its possession. The Bristol F.2b Fighter (G-AEPH) was built in 1981 for the Royal Flying Corps and then used by 208 Squadron. The aircraft was subsequently sold to the Bristol Aircraft Company and made its second maiden flight after restoration on 14 February 1951. The aircraft has been part of the Shuttleworth Collection for many years.

The second Bristol aircraft is the Bristol M.1C (G-BWJM). The aircraft is a replica built by Northern Aeroplane Workshop and joined the Shuttleworth Collection in November 1995.

The Sopwith Triplane (G-BOCK) is also a replica. The Triplane provided the blueprint for the Fokker triplane developed by Forrer when the first Sopwith Triplanes appeared above the trenches.

G-EBIA is the registration number of the Royal Aircraft Factory SE-5A, which was taken over by the new RAF in 1918. The S.E.5 was one of the first British aircraft to be armed with a synchronised machine gun. The S.E.5 was one of the fastest aircraft of its time, reaching speeds of 222 km/h.

The Sopwith Dove G-EAGA does not really belong in this group, as it is a civilian aircraft that was developed after the war. The aircraft on display was built in 1989 on behalf of Roger Howard Reeves and is a two-seater version of the military Sopwith Pub. The aircraft is now on loan and privately owned.

Bristol F.2b Fighter (G-AEPH) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Bristol F.2b Fighter (G-AEPH) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Bristol F.2b Fighter (G-AEPH) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Bristol M.1C (G-BWJM) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Bristol M.1C (G-BWJM) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Sopwith Triplane (G-BOCK) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Sopwith Triplane (G-BOCK) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Sopwith Triplane (G-BOCK) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Sopwith Triplane (G-BOCK) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Sopwith Dove G-EAGA (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Sopwith Dove G-EAGA (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Royal Aircraft Factory SE-5A (G-EBIA) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Royal Aircraft Factory SE-5A (G-EBIA) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Red Arrows

It began just like the week before at the Duxford Summer Air Show, with Red 10 Squadron Leader Graeme Muscat arriving in a Eurocopter. But this time, the Reds were able to take off, and above all, the weather was considerably better. In bright sunshine, the Red Arrows were able to perform their show in the skies above Bedfordshire.

Founded in 1964, the Red Arrows have been flying since 1980 using the BAE Hawk T.1. The Red Arrows, led by Squadron Leader Jon Bond, demonstrated their skills in a total of 25 formations.

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Diamond (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Concorde (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Concord (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Typhoon (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Circus (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Twister (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Break (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

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