Sunday May 2nd dawned wet, cold and dark, with much of the United Kingdom covered by a band of low pressure that brought driving rain, strong winds and low clouds. It seemed to be something of a cruel twist of fate that the weather should be so dramatically different to the clear blue skies and mild temperatures that had blessed the UK in the month preceding the event. Having driven through torrential rain on my way up the M11 from north-east London, I was greeted at Old Warden by a brisk 18-knot wind, which was apparently gusting into the mid-20s. The temperature, according to the thermometer in my car, was a numbing five degrees centigrade, not taking into account the considerable wind chill.
Still, regardless of the prevailing weather conditions, a decent sized crowd had assembled on the airfield, many of whom had wisely chosen to remain in their cars until nearer the start of the flying display. At £20 per adult on the gate, I maintain that Old Warden is very good value for money. When you consider that you have access to an extensive collection of some 40+ aircraft and a number of vintage automobiles, a Bird of Prey centre and the Swiss Garden in addition to the flying attractions, it seems churlish to complain that the shows are overpriced.
As a member of the Shuttleworth Veteran Aeroplane Society ("SVAS"), I enjoy a 50% discount on entrance to the airshows, not to mention free entry to the museum on non-airshow days. SVAS membership is something I would highly recommend, particularly if you intend to make multiple visits to the Collection throughout the year. Personally, I try to visit the museum several times during the "off season", and generally make it to 10 or so of their airshows each year, meaning I'm saving a substantial amount of money over the course of 12 months!
The Collection had decided earlier in the day to postpone the start of the flying display to 3pm, by which time the "met men" predicted the rain and low cloud would have passed by. That gave the spectators additional time to explore the Collection's hangars, which is always a treat. One of the beauties of Old Warden is that there is often something new to see - be it the progress of an ongoing restoration, a new arrival or an aircraft sporting a new scheme. 2010 is no exception, with several recent arrivals at Old Warden being of particular interest to this vintage aircraft enthusiast. First and foremost has to be the wonderful Hawker Cygnet replica, which looks absolutely immaculate. The Cygnet is currently resident at Old Warden, awaiting air tests. One would hope that a pairing with the Collection's example of this lovely aircraft could be on the cards at an air display in the near future.
Hangar 1 is home to two of the Collection's finest deep maintenance and restoration projects. Progress is slow but rewarding with the Spitfire V, AR501's rebuild. With the fuselage and wings remaining separate at present, the close proximity of the public walk ways to the workshop allows visitors a chance to have a closer look at the quite breathtaking craftsmanship and attention to detail that has been paid to this rebuild. If the work thus far is anything to go by, it is fair to say that AR501 will eventually be one of the finest examples of R.J. Mitchell's flying legend on the display scene.
Resident in Hangar 1 alongside the Spitfire is the agricultural looking Polikarpov Po-2 Russian trainer, currently undergoing extensive maintenance to bring it back to flying condition. The Po-2 is far from the most graceful looking design, but the rarity of this machine and the meticulous work going into the maintenance makes it an aircraft to keep an eye on as the season progresses. I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that a trainer duo of, say, Hawker Tomtit and Po-2 would look rather nice going round the Old Warden 'bend'.
Before long, the clouds had parted and the deluge ceased, allowing the dedicated engineering team and volunteers to begin the arduous task of moving the display aircraft out of the hangars and onto the flight line. For me, the sight of a dozen or so men (and one dog!) literally pushing the Westland Lysander from her hangar to the allocated slot on the flight line was quite inspiring - a true testament to the "can do" spirit of the Shuttleworth Collection. Shortly before the flying display commenced, we were treated to a parade of the Collection's classic cars, motorbikes and bicycles. It appeared to be a little thin on the ground compared to the usual parades, but it was nice to see the vehicles out in the open nonetheless.
The first display of the day was a welcome return visitor to Old Warden in Plane Sailing's Catalina. Pilot Rod Brooking exhibited the Catalina's surprising manoeuvrability, keeping solidly in front of the crowd at all times with a series of close passes and tight turns, showing off the Catalina's agility that is often suppressed at larger venues where the display employs wider banking turns that span across the full length of the display line. Indeed, I don't think I've seen a more concentrated routine from the Catalina. A return appearance later in the season is an absolute must, if funds permit.
The published flying programme had been completely altered due to the uncompromising wind, meaning that many of the lighter vintage types had been scrubbed altogether, leaving it to the more robust Collection aircraft to dominate the revised programme. The first of these to take to the skies was the de Havilland Chipmunk, with pilot Chris Huckstep battling with the wind to perform the popular "ribbon" cutting routine, before bringing the Chipmunk down to lower level to demonstrate the Chipmunk's spritely performance.
Continuing the training theme was the Chipmunk's predecessor, the de Havilland Tiger Moth, flown by Jim Schofield. Jim, the son of legendary British airshow pilot Carl Schofield, was making his first public display for the Collection, putting on a fine showing of aerobatics before bringing the Moth down to lower level, employing Old Warden's famous 'dog leg' crowd line to good effect.
Braving the winds after the Tiger Moth was the wonderful Blackburn B2, owned by BAe Systems and operated by the Shuttleworth Collection. Test pilot John Hurrell showed off the B2's stunning reflective chrome finish in a lovely routine; despite the lack of sun at this point in the day, the B2 still managed the reflect what light there was. The training theme continued, with Paul Shakespeare displaying the Piston Provost in an excellent performance that captured the Provost's chaste power and aggression, whilst maintaining the precision and grace that is synonymous with the way the Collection's aircraft are displayed. Following the Provost was the lovely Gloster Gladiator, flown with typical panache by Sir John Allison.
The announcement of Peter Teichman's imminent arrival in the gorgeous Hurricane IIb was cause for much excitement amongst those who witnessed Peter's fantastic display in this machine at the Collection's Autumn Airshow in 2009. Peter's display in Pegs was, once again, a show-stealing turn, which showed off both the manoeuvrability and rugged purposefulness of the 'Hurribomber'. I've often felt that Hurricane displays have been rather tame compared to those performed in other warbirds of a similar ilk, with the aircraft's agility rarely demonstrated in the same style as you would see in, say, a Spitfire display.
Peter's Hurricane displays certainly go against the grain in that respect; he seems at home in the Hurricane, flying a polished routine of loops, half-cubans, top-side passes and immaculate barrel rolls, often transitioning between display axis to present the aircraft from unusual angles. Peter has evolved in only a matter of years into one of the finest display pilots on the British airshow circuit and whilst you're always guaranteed a quality display from 'PT', he is never better than when 'driving' his Hurricane.
In 2010, Peter is quite possibly the most prolific warbird pilot in Europe, with airshow bookings scheduled almost every weekend between May and October, sometimes involving multiple appearances on the same day. This season should be a particularly busy one for Peter's Hangar 11 Collection, with the Hurricane and Spitfire XI in demand as many shows celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
The third visiting item on the list comprised the two Silence Twisters of the Twister Duo, a new act for 2010 flown on this occasion by Guy Westgate and Peter Wells. Their routine consists of a number of loose formation barrel rolls and fast passes, supplemented by some excellently choreographed aerobatic sequences where Guy and Peter appeared to repeatedly switch position as formation leader following simultaneous loops, cubans and flick rolls. The team certainly has a lot of potential and, if first impressions are anything to go by, I'm sure they will be a popular addition to the circuit this year.
Later in the day, the crowds were treated to the Swift Team's full display, which was quite a surprise, given the winds. Taking over Guy Westgate's mantle in the Swift glider was Mike Newman, who put in a strong showing at Old Warden as Guy provided expert commentary for the sequence. I always enjoy the Swift Team's display. The combination of low "on tow" passes between the Piper Pawnee, Silence Twister and Swift glider, the aerobatic styling of the 'Twister and the breathtaking glider solo make for a unique stand-out act at many shows, which has gained a huge amount of popularity with both seasoned enthusiasts and casual spectators alike. It is a testament to their skill and popularity that the act has developed into something of an airshow institution in just a few years.
One of the most popular routines at Old Warden shows over the past few years has been the barnstorming sequence, featuring the Tiger Moth, Miles Magister, Miles Hawk Trainer and Chipmunk, with commentary provided by charismatic Collection engineer Kevin Panter. The Spring air display saw Pete 'Willy' Hackett, Roger 'Dodge' Bailey, Peter Holloway and Jim Schofield take to the skies for some traditional flour bombing and balloon bursting - unfortunately, the limbo routine had to be scrubbed (wisely, I might add!) given the conditions. Winner of this fun segment, with two balloons "downed", was Jim Schofield in the Chipmunk.
The training theme that had been established earlier in the display made a return in the second half of the day, with the Avro Tutor and Hawker Tomtit taking to the skies for the first formation routine of the day, piloted by Chris Huckstep and Frank Chapman respectively. The Tutor and Tomtit were blessed with the best light of the day, allowing them to tail chase around the Bedfordshire skies with the sun glinting off their bare-metal cowlings and silver schemes. Representing the United States Army Air Force were the Ryan PT-22 Recruit pair, flown by owners Steve Roberts and Tracey Curtiss-Taylor. The PT-22s may lack the aesthetic appeal of their RAF contemporaries, but they are always a head-turning duo, thanks to the distinctive rattle of their Kinner engines. The Collection's Bucker Jungmann was due to add some Germanic flavour to the proceedings, but 'Willy' Hackett aborted his display after a couple of aerobatic manoeuvres, possibly due to the wind speed.
With the show drawing to a close, the final acts of the day began running up on the ground. Firstly, Keith Dennison took up the Hawker Sea Hurricane for a solo routine, followed by Frank Chapman in the Westland Lysander. Keith's Sea Hurricane display was, as always, utterly sublime, full of emotive fast passes and high, arcing wingovers. The penultimate display of the day, performed by the Lysander, was one of the finest routines I've seen from that aircraft. The Shuttleworth Collection has a philosophy in the way in which they display their aircraft and that was certainly evident here, as Frank Chapman positioned the Lysander for close passes on multiple display axis, showing off this unique looking machine from a variety of angles, the large Bristol Mercury engine lending an air of restrained power to the routine.
In the absence of the Collection's Spitfire V, the Sea Hurricane and Lysander have stepped up into the "main event" of the display, taking centre stage where they would, in the presence of the former, be relegated somewhat to the warm up act for the Spitfire's closing majesty. It is particularly fitting in this anniversary year that these often forgotten heroes of the Battle of Britain are taking centre stage at Old Warden, putting on scintillating displays to round off the day's flying in style.
The final act of the day saw Keith Dennison hop from the Sea Hurricane to the Collection's Piper Super Cub to demonstrate a banner pick-up and tow, with commentary provided by the Collection's Chief Pilot, Trevor Roche. After an aborted pick-up attempt, Keith successfully hooked the banner, which advertised the date of the Collection's next air display, and flew a number of high circuits, before jettisoning the banner at lower level. This is an interesting addition to the displays at Old Warden, allowing visitors to see a particular practice that often takes place away from the public eye. Additionally, the banner towing also drives forward part of the Collection's new marketing campaign by advertising the next air display to the local area.
Despite the numerous cancellations, including a trio of early de Havilland Moths, the World War One aircraft and the visiting Nanchang CJ-6, the Spring Air Display delivered a full three hours of excellent flying. It is unfortunate that the show will most likely be remembered by those who were there not for the flying content, but for the terribly cold temperature and wind chill factor. That shouldn't take away from the fact that Old Warden once again put on a top notch afternoon of flying, with some memorable displays and exceptional routines. However, credit must be given to those working behind the scenes - the engineers, volunteers, pilots, commentators, car park marshallers, ticket vendors and emergency services, without whose dedication the show simply could not go on. They epitomise the spirit of Old Warden, equally as much as the flying machines do. For their ongoing efforts, we thank them.
GAR wants to interact with its readers so if you have a question for the author or a comment to make on this feature, please click on the button below. The best comments will appear right here on GAR.
If you would like to discuss using any of our imagery or feature content please contact us.