 The Shuttleworth Collection's Discovery Hub in December 2021, with its Southern Martlet outside. | |
  Location within Bedfordshire | |
| Established | 1928 |
|---|---|
| Location | Old Warden, Bedfordshire |
| Coordinates | 52°05′22″N00°19′21″W / 52.08944°N 0.32250°W |
| Type | Aviation museum |
| Website | www |
The Shuttleworth Collection is a working aviation, automotive and agricultural collection located at Old Warden Aerodrome in Bedfordshire, England.
The collection was founded in 1928 by aviator Richard Ormonde Shuttleworth. While flying a Fairey Battle at night on 2 August 1940, Shuttleworth fatally crashed. His mother, in 1944, formed the Richard Ormonde Shuttleworth Remembrance Trust "for the teaching of the science and practice of aviation and of afforestation and agriculture." [1]
Restoration and maintenance work is carried out by a staff of 12 full-time and many volunteer engineers. These volunteers are all members of the 3,000-strong Shuttleworth Veteran Aeroplane Society (SVAS). [2] These dedicated enthusiasts are crucial to the preservation and restoration of the collection.
In addition to the aircraft, the collection houses a number of vintage and veteran cars. Events include model-flying days, flying proms and events dedicated to British engineering.
The Shuttleworth Collection puts an emphasis on restoring as many aircraft as possible to flying condition, in line with the founder's original intention. [3] There are typically about seven air shows per year, including evening displays and an annual Flying Proms event.
Some of the most notable aircraft in the collection are the five Edwardian aeroplanes, of which one is the oldest British aeroplane still in flying condition. The oldest, with British civil registration G-AANG, is the Bleriot XI (still with original engine), which dates back to 1909; six years after the Wright brothers' aircraft and the world's oldest airworthy aeroplane, the next oldest being, at only three weeks newer by date of manufacture, the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome's own restored original Bleriot XI (Bleriot factory serial number 56, with civil registration N60094) in the United States.
| Type | Date | Identity | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANEC II | 1924 | G-EBJO | Built for 1924 Lympne Trials | |
| Avro 504K | 1918 | G-ADEV | Converted from Avro 504K painted as 'E3273' | |
| Roe IV Triplane | 1964 | G-ARSG | Replica for Mag Men film | |
| Avro Tutor | 1933 | G-AHSA | Painted as RAF 'K3241' | |
| Avro 19 Anson | 1946 | G-AHKX | Restored by BAE Systems and donated to the Collection in 2022 after a period of temporary lease. [4] | |
| Blackburn Type D | 1912 | G-AANI | Oldest airworthy British aeroplane | |
| Blackburn B-2 | 1936 | G-AEBJ | Formerly part of the BAE Systems heritage flight based at Old Warden. Donated to the Collection in 2022. | |
| Blériot XI | 1909 | G-AANG | World's oldest airworthy aircraft | |
| Bristol Boxkite | 1964 | G-ASPP | Replica for Mag Men film | |
| Bristol F.2b Fighter | 1918 | G-AEPH | Painted as RAF 'B1162' | |
| Bristol M.1C | 2000 | G-BWJM | Repro built by Northern Aeroplane Workshops, completed 2000 painted as RFC 'C4918' | |
| Comper Swift | 1932 | G-ACTF | ||
| de Havilland DH.51 | 1924 | G-EBIR | 'Miss Kenya' | |
| de Havilland DH.53 Humming Bird | 1923 | G-EBHX | Crashed on 1 July 2012 killing pilot. [5] Currently awaiting completion of rebuild. | |
| de Havilland DH.60 Cirrus Moth | 1925 | G-EBLV | Formerly owned and leased to the Collection by BAE Systems. Donated to the Collection circa 2022. [6] | |
| de Havilland DH.60X Hermes Moth | 1928 | G-EBWD | This Moth was originally Richard Shuttleworth's own private plane and during its career was extensively modified with an original Cirrus Hermes engine but an x-legged undercarriage and different windshields on the front and rear cockpit. | |
| de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth II | 1942 | G-ANKT | Painted as RAF 'K2585' | |
| de Havilland DH.88 Comet | 1934 | G-ACSS | 'Grosvenor House' Winner of 1934 England-Australia Race | |
| De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk 22 | 1952 | G-BNZC | Painted as RCAF 671 | |
| Deperdussin Type A monoplane | 1910 | G-AANH | ||
| Desoutter I | 1930 | G-AAPZ | ||
| English Electric Wren | 1923 | G-EBNV | First equal in 1923 Lympne Trials | |
| Fauvel AV-36 | 1955 | BGA1999 | By Wassmer in France, languished in a barn for c.40 years before restoration | |
| Gloster Gladiator I | 1937 | G-AMRK | Painted as RAF 'K7985' | |
| Hawker Cygnet | 1992 | G-CAMM | Replica built by Don Cashmore | |
| Hawker Hind | 1935 | G-AENP | Painted as RAF 'K5414', rebuild completion expected in 2026 | |
| Hawker Hurricane Mk.Ib | 1939 | G-BKTH | Converted to Sea Hurricane in 1941, painted as RN 'Z7015' | |
| Hawker Tomtit | 1931 | G-AFTA | Painted as RAF 'K1786' | |
| Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet | '191454' | Fuselage mockup with original engine - not currently on display. | ||
| Mignet HM.14 'Flying Flea' | 1939 | G-AEBB | Unairworthy, suspended from hangar roof | |
| Miles Hawk Speed Six | 1935 | G-ADGP | A prominent 30s racer | |
| Miles Magister | 1939 | G-AJRS | Painted as RAF 'P6382' | |
| Parnall Elf | 1932 | G-AAIN | Sole survivor of three built | |
| Percival Mew Gull | 1934 | G-AEXF | Alex Henshaw's England - Cape Town racer | |
| Percival Provost T1 | 1955 | G-KAPW | Painted as RAF 'XF603' | |
| Polikarpov Po-2 | 1924 | G-BSSY | Painted as Soviet Air Force '28' | |
| [[Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a | 1918 | G-EBIA | Serial 'F904' now in its original 84 Squadron colours | |
| Schneider Eon Primary | 1938 | BGA580 | Primary glider by Elliots of Newbury, based on German SG38 | |
| Slingsby Kirby Kite | 1937 | BGA310 | Sport and training glider | |
| Sopwith Camel | 2017 | G-BZSC | Repro by Northern Aeroplane Workshops completed in 2017 | |
| Sopwith Pup | 1920 | G-EBKY | Converted from Dove by Richard Shuttleworth, Painted as RFC '9917' | |
| Sopwith Triplane | 1990 | G-BOCK | Repro by Northern Aero Workshops, completed 1990 painted as RNAS 'N6290' | |
| Southern Martlet | 1930 | G-AAYX | ||
| Supermarine Spitfire LF.Mk.Vc | 1942 | G-AWII | Serial 'AR501' | |
| Westland Lysander Mk.IIIa | 1942 | G-AZWT | Painted as RAF 'V9367' |
Also resident, but privately owned:
Aircraft of the BAE Systems heritage collection were formerly resident at Old Warden, however the last three aircraft were donated to Shuttleworth in March 2022, becoming part of the collection proper. [8]
There is also a collection of tractors.
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |