SHUTTLEWORTH – See century old airplanes actually fly!

There is no place on planet earth where one can readily see such a wide variety of airplanes designed and built over a century ago actually take to the air with pilots guiding them aloft and safely back to Terra Firma.  These are exceptionally skilled pilots who are but a fraction of their airplane’s age. Please bear in mind that most of the antique aircraft in the museum’s collection are quite difficult – and even dangerous to fly – especially when compared to the inherently stable airplanes of today.

Here, below, is a full length video of 60 minutes duration, in which one can enjoy this renown collection of vintage, historic and modern aircraft in action.  It is located at the Old Warden Aerodrome, Old Warden in Bedfordshire, England.  This unique collection is not just of aircraft, but also of vintage road traveling vehicles, too.  Sir John Allison, opens the film with a clear description of the Shuttleworth Collection and of its history.  Once in Great Britain, it is easy to reach the Aerodrome and even easier to find nearby onsite convenient parking, should one be traveling by or with their own or a rented auto.  The Collection’s home page is right here.

On your next visit to the British Isles, don’t forget to book a visit to this colorful collection of both vintage aircraft and motor vehicles.  Their special event Airshows are widely acclaimed as being more than worth the time and trouble to experience.  Should you be flying yourself around Great Britain, be advised that you can fly right onto the Old Warden Aerodrome, and that there isn’t even a landing fee! 

Many of the Collection’s aircraft predate the First Aero’s fabled Jennys.  If you are planning a visit to England, you might want to check the Shuttleworth Air Show schedule so that you can include one of their shows in your visit.

Enjoy!

3 thoughts on “SHUTTLEWORTH – See century old airplanes actually fly!

    1. RIC – Webmaster for FirstAeroSquadronFoundation's (FASF) website. Also the CEO of the 501C(c)(3) aviation history-oriented FASF non-profit, which is dedicated to the Birth Place of American Airpower and Rebirth Place of American Civil Aviation in 1916 & 1917 in Columbus, NM.
      FASFRIC

      Glad you enjoyed the clip, Ivan. Too bad we don’t have something akin to Shuttleworth over in the states (presuming you are stateside, too). Guess the best we have is in New York at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome on the Hudson River. I’ve been trying to get there to visit for years, but so far no luck. The Aussies also have some wonderful Vintage airplanes still flying. I did have luck in seeing some of these WWI aircraft fly at an event at the Paso Robles Municipal Airport in CA some years ago, but the owner and principal flier of these vintage machines, Javier Arango, unfortunately, lost his life in the crash of one of his fighters (An Appleby Nieuport 28 Replica) back in 2017. He was a genuinely fascinating fellow and his loss was a huge downturn for the antique aircraft community. A native of Spain, he also sat on the Board of our prestigious Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. I am not sure of what has happened to his great collection since his death, but if anyone out there knows, please let us know. Here’s a link about him and his collection you might like to visit.

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