July saw the third display in the Shuttleworth season, the ever popular Military Air Display. As usual the event attracted some good visiting participants along with the Collection’s aircraft to display. Though the weather was not wet there was cloud along with gusty winds which did unfortunately effect the flying display. Despite this the organisers still managed to put on a full afternoon of flying displays.  As well as the flying display there was plenty to see and do on the ground too. A display of military vehicles in front of the hangers were also paraded along the crowd-line ahead of the flying, Brampton IPMS were running the Airfix build activity, an anti-aircraft gun display, period singers and flight simulators along with the usual trade stands and other activities were also available. 

   

It as a visiting aircraft operating from its East Midlands Airport base which opened the display, the rarely seen P-51 Mustang which is owned and operated by Rolls Royce and flown by Alistair Williams. The former Scandinavian Historic Flight aircraft now has the markings of Mustang Ace Col Don Blakeslee of the 4th Fighter Group Debden. With the Mustang returning to it’s operating base it was the first of the Collections aircraft next up, the Avro 19 / Anson. The twin engine aircraft in its RAF livery representing transport and liaison role in military aviation. Next up was the visiting EON Olympia 2B glider  in its Empire Test Pilots School livery to represent military gliders. Changing the pace next was the visiting Gazelle Squadron performing as a four ship team in their ex military Gazelle helicopters. Each Gazelle has a different livery depicting the types British military service. As the Gazelle Squadron landed back at Old Warden it was back to the Collection’s aircraft with a group display of training aircraft. With the Avro Tutor representing the 1930’s and moving through to the 1950’s with the Chipmunk, the pair joined by a Tiger Moth and Miles Magister. The group performed flypasts as a four-ship before breaking into pairs and solo displays. Next it was another collection aircraft performing a solo display the Sea Hurricane. A popular visitor next was the big B-17 four-engine bomber ‘Sally B’ from World War Two operating from its Duxford base. Following a number of passes its final pass with smoke trailing from one engine as a tribute to all the American bomber crews that were lost operating from England during the war. In what may seem an unusual aircraft for a military themed display the Collection’s DH88 Comet Racer took to the skies for a solo display. Having won the famous MacRobertson Air Race in the 1934 the aircraft was assessed for military use by the RAF prior to the war. 

In the hands of John Gowdy the IWM owned Spitfire 1 from Duxford gave a solo display, it should have been displaying with the Collection’s Gladiator but wind conditions kept the Gladiator on the ground. A scheduled display from a pair of Spitfires had to be cancelled as the Collections MkV was grounded, also due to the wind, while the MkIX that should have joined it had mechanical issues. An unusual and rare pair were next to display representing the cold war era. The ex Yugoslav Air Force Soko J-20 Krajug (Sparrowhawk), a light attack and observation aircraft flown by Richard Ellingworth was joined by Ryan NA-154 Navion in US military markings. As a replacement for their Seafire that has technical issues the Navy Wings Harvard gave a solo display before returning to its Yeovilton base. Back to the collection’s aircraft with solo displays from the Lysander, Piston Provast trainer and the Polikarpov Po-2 before the skies were cleared for the penultimate display. Representing the RAF The Falcons parachute display team jumped in tricky conditions but performed a great display, the team all landing in front of the crowd. While The Falcons concluded the main display the Lancaster of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight was still on route to display having been delayed by winds and  appearances at Headcorn and Swansea. For the crowd that stayed when the Lancaster arrived it performed a number of impressive flypasts before departing for its base at RAF Conningsby. In all another good show despite the tricky weather conditions.  

Further details about the Shuttleworth Collection and its air displays can be found by visiting https://www.shuttleworth.org/

Event gallery – https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1072994311495194&type=3

Gary Malkin