The Shuttleworth air display season opened during the Coronation weekend with the appropriately titled and themed King and Country air display. Adverse weather in the run up to the display day meant the Shuttleworth Collection’s Spitfire, Sea Hurricane and Anson were unable to use the wet grass runway. Despite this Shuttleworth were still able to provide a good display with a patriotic feel the included aircraft from the collection along with some interesting visitors.  On the ground there were displays and performances to keep people entertained in addition to the World famous collection. Those Magnificent Men were fun and entertaining pedaling around the  site on their bicycles made to look like bi-planes and wearing full flying kit along with music and sounds to accompany them. In the hangers there was live singing from Rick Swings through the morning while IPMS Brampton ran the Airfix model building activity. Outside there was a good selection of traders, vintage bus rides and vehicle displays for people to enjoy.  One popular visitor on static display was the Navy Wings Stinson Reliant having flown in with the Swordfish. 

The air display got underway with the SVAS Piper Super Cub towing a banner which was to read ‘God Save the King’. Unfortunately the banner was being flown back-to-front leading to just a single pass. The display proper started with the collections air race trio of the DH88 Comet, Percival Mew Gull and Miles Hawk Speed Six performing formation passes before separating for solo displays. The collection’s Bristol F2b Fighter followed them with a solo display. Given the display theme one of the most significant aircraft was next up, the Chipmunk T10 WP903 standing out in its all red livery. This aircraft is significant as the aircraft that the RAF provided for King Charles III to learn to fly in 1968 along with other members of the Royal Family. As well its significant all red livery the Chipmunk also has a large anti-collision light on the canopy. Now in private hands the Chipmunk is now based at Old Warden. Making three impressive flypasts was the Lancaster from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at RAF Conningsby in Lincolnshire Flown by Flt Lt Seb Davey the flypasts were one of the days highlights.  Having taken off towed by the Super Cub before the Lancaster’s arrival the Letov LF-107 Lunak glider was released for its solo display, performing a graceful series of loops and rolls with smoke from the wingtips as it made its way back to the ground. The collections DH82 Tiger Moth then performed a solo display. 

Making its public display debut at Old Warden was the newly restored Westland Lynx AH7 XZ179. Operated by Project Lynx XZ179 from North Weald the Lynx was a popular addition to the flying performing a lively display. Returning to the 1930’s the collections Avro Tutor and DHS1 Moth ‘Miss Kenya’ performed a pairs display, at times keeping a very close formation. The pair we joined by the collections Chipmunk who performed high level aerobatics above them, keeping with the theme trailing red, white and blue streamers from wingtips and fuselage. Having been grounded for a number of years the Navy Wings Swordfish WS856 made its very popular return to public display flying in the hands of Glenn Allison. Formerly operated by the now disbanded Royal Navy Historic Flight and still based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset the aircraft has undergone extensive tests to gain full CAA certification. Speaking to the commentary team was show guest David Berry, the 99 year-old having served as a gunner in Swordfish. Displaying as a patriotic red, white and blue trio were the collections DH60X Moth and Southern Martlet joined by the DH82 Tiger Moth of David Cyster. The trio performed a number of delightful formation passes before the sky was taken over by the collections Gloster Gladiator and Westland Lysander for their solo demonstrations. The collections Bristol F2b Fighter took to the sky for a second appearance of the afternoon before the collections Sopworth Triplane performed a solo display followed by the Polikarpov Po-2.  

The second of the days glider displays was next up with the collections EON Primary, always impressive given the pilot is sat on little more than a plank of wood. The collections SE5a and Sopworth Pup then performed a display before landing to leave to skies clear for the last act of the regular display. The Parachute Regiment’s Red Devils British Army Parachute Display team were left to close the show with an impressive display of controlled formation parachuting. That closed the main display but weather conditions had allowed for three of the collections Edwardian aircraft to be flown. These were the Avro Triplane, Bristol Boxkite and the English Electric Wren who briefly got airborne. The opening display of the year was a good one that was well received with a decent crowd given the weather in the run-up to the event. Next up would be the Around the World air display in June. 

Further information on the Shutlleworth Collection and events can be found by visiting https://www.shuttleworth.org/

A full photo album can be found by visiting out Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1002906208504005&type=3

Gary Malkin