🛩️ Shuttleworth Air Shows – Old Warden Aerodrome, Bedfordshire UK
Overview
The Shuttleworth Air Shows are an intimate series of themed flying days staged at the historic Old Warden Aerodrome, home of the world-famous Shuttleworth Collection. Unlike large military airshows, Shuttleworth focuses on authenticity and nostalgia: almost every aircraft you see in the sky is part of the museum’s own air-worthy fleet, lovingly maintained by engineers and volunteers. From Edwardian pioneers and First-World-War biplanes to inter-war racers and early WWII fighters, these are some of the rarest operational aeroplanes on the planet.
✈️ Flying-Day Highlights
| Feature | What you’ll see |
|---|---|
| Oldest air-worthy aircraft | 1909 Blériot XI, 1910 Deperdussin, 1912 Blackburn Monoplane (flown only in perfect evening calm). |
| WWI & inter-war dogfights | Sopwith Pup, SE5a, Avro 504, Bristol F2B; often flown in mock combats with smoke & commentary. |
| Golden-Age racers | DH.88 Comet, Percival Mew Gull, Miles Hawk Speed Six in high-speed passes down the crowd-line. |
| WWII classics | Hawker Hurricane I, Supermarine Spitfire V, Lysander, Gladiator (subject to serviceability). |
| Guest acts | RAF BBMF, Great War Display Team, civilian aerobatic pairs, autogyros, and visiting warbirds. |
👨👩👧👦 Ground & Visitor Experience
Living-history paddock – pilots and ground crew in period dress talk you through pre-flight checks.
Vehicle parades – vintage cars, motorcycles, steam tractors, all from the Collection’s land-vehicle fleet.
Picnic-style crowd-line – bring rugs or folding chairs; no grandstands required.
Vintage fairground & playground – traditional helter-skelter, swingboats, and 1920s gallopers.
Museum access – hangars and workshops open all day; cockpit-tour sessions of selected aircraft.
Evening finales – “golden-hour” flights and balloon ascents on selected dates.
📆 2025 Season at a Glance*
| Date | Theme |
|---|---|
| 4 May 2025 | Premier & Press Day (mixed Shuttleworth fleet preview) |
| 1 June | Military Aircraft Air Show |
| 6 July | Flying for Fun – Vintage & Homebuilt Special |
| 3 August | Family Air Show & Classic Vehicle Rally |
| 7 September | Shuttleworth Heritage Day |
| 5 October (Twilight) | Race Day with dusk Edwardian flights |
* Provisional schedule released by Shuttleworth in November 2024; always check https://www.shuttleworth.org/events/airshows/.
📝 Why Shuttleworth Is Unique
Authenticity: The only place where genuine 1900-1910 aircraft still fly in public display.
Intimacy: Crowd-line just metres from grass runway; hear radial engines starting, smell castor oil.
Atmosphere: Edwardian fairground, live jazz, period dress, and picnic hampers create a 1930s garden-party vibe.
Education: Free talks, engineer Q&A sessions, and conservation workshops at each show.
Whether you’re an aviation historian, photographer after golden-hour prop blur, or a family looking for a relaxed country-air-show day out, Shuttleworth Air Shows deliver an unmatched journey through aviation’s first half-century.