As a first timer to this show, which has been rebranded from ‘Meet the Pilots’, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with what I found. Shuttleworth Uncovered, for those who may not know, does not adhere to the usual airshow structure at Old Warden. Based around an evening show starting at 4pm, many aircraft are pulled out into the crowd side (or ‘paddock’) where visitors can get a close up look at these wonderful machines whilst talking to the pilots, engineers and other volunteers. At this time of the year the evening show starting at 4pm is perfect for that late light, unlike the ones held in mid-summer.
The paddock was well laid out with the plethora of aircraft set out in a curve following the crowdline including the F2.B, SE5a, DH.51, Tutor, Hind, Demon, Lysander, Storch, Sea Hurricane, Po-2, Chilton and Colin Essex’s Cygnet. It was nice to see the Avro 504K fuselage pulled out into the sunshine too, which is currently undergoing a total re-skin in Hangar 1. Many of the Collection's volunteers had come in period dress for the day, adding another dimension to the atmosphere.
Other nice touches included the traction engines that were kept turning over all afternoon, with the distinctive smelling steam drifting across the showground. Andrew Lloyd’s fabulous Napier Lion aero engine was conducting ferocious run ups throughout the afternoon – always one to gather a crowd - and Brooklands' immaculate 1933 Napier-Railton racing car was in attendance, firing up every now and then to go for short runs around the grass. Also on view was Brooklands' Demoiselle replica. This incredibly fragile looking machine performed an engine run and a bit of taxying.
One aircraft I just couldn’t seem to pull myself away from was Colin Essex’s immaculate Hawker Cygnet replica. With the afternoon sunlight illuminating the fabric skin covering the wooden frame of the aircraft it caused the whole aircraft to glow – especially noticeable when peering into the cockpit. A nice little touch was the leather flying helmet placed on the cowling; a great subject for photos. Just down from the Cygnet was the Chilton DW.1, an aircraft I have a real soft spot for. It will never fail to surprise me just how tiny this airframe is! It looks like it would be a joy to fly on a calm summer's evening...
It was a chance for the public to see the DH.51 in temporary Aircraft Transport and Travel Ltd (ATT) paint scheme after the aircraft featured in the recently released British Airways television advert featuring the different ages of passenger air travel. I must commend the airline for this monumental ad campaign, taking the time, money and effort to do justice to the idea. The use of CGI effects were balanced well I felt, not overtly contributing to the finished product, just how it should be utilised.
The flying began in earnest with some glider action from the Kirby Kite and the Falcon, the latter of which is an incredibly pretty vintage glider. John Knight did well keeping it in the air for so long, riding some thermal updrafts from the coppice of trees just across the runway before bringing it in for a gentle landing accompanied by a round of applause from the crowd.
The first powered participants were the DH.51 and the ever wonderful Parnall Elf, with which I have fallen slightly in love, enjoying some glorious light in which to bound about the sky. Despite being a 1924 aircraft the Elf is particularly spritely, with Willy Hackett piloting it superbly.
Next up was an equally playful sequence by Peter Holloway in the Hawker Tomtit and John Hurrell in the Blackburn B2. After a couple of formation passes the Blackburn climbed for height in the sapphire sky to begin some aerobatics above the Tomtit which was bombing about below. These polished silver aircraft do look fantastic in evening light!
Another different trainer pairing was the Avro Tutor and Percival Provost. It is the little variations in pairings that help keep Old Warden shows fresh I feel, especially with the amount of shows that are held each year.
Continuing with the 1930s' biplanes, Trevor Roche displayed the Gladiator in fine fashion as, below, the Hucks Starter got to work on the Hind and the engineers hand cranked the Demon's Rolls-Royce Kestrel to life before they both joined the Gladiator in the evening sky. The Hind and Demon broke off into a tail chase, with Stu Goldspink really winding the Demon up. It’s at times like these I am sure I prefer the Kestrel to the Merlin!
Now back from its epic journey to the Hahnweide Oldtimer Fliegertreffen in Germany, Peter Holloway's Storch was flown by Rob Millinship in its usual stationary manner before the contrast of the Lysander with John Allison provided us with a look at how fast this somewhat cumbersome aircraft can indeed go.
The heavy warbird action began with the Hangar 11 Collection P-40 Kittyhawk formating with the Sea Hurricane before breaking into their respective solos, with Peter Teichman really getting the P-40's Allison screaming – shattering the still evening air. The Sea Hurricane routine was particularly flowing in the hands of Chris Huckstep, with a good dose of closely flown topsides. I was looking forward to getting the chance to sit in the Hurricane cockpit once it had landed and been towed back into the paddock. Unfortunately by the time I got to the queue I was told that no more people were being allowed to join it, which is fair enough I thought, until people were indeed then allowed to carry on joining it – by which time I had to depart. Oh well, I’ll make sure I’m first to it next year!
Following a short break to allow visiting aircraft to depart the First World War contingent came to life, with the ‘Brisfit’, SE5a, Pup and Triplane; The Sopwith pair always providing a nice routine.
Twilight loomed and the calm weather conditions prevailed, allowing the Edwardians to come out to play, with the Bristol Boxkite and Avro Triplane replicas from the film ‘Those Magnificent Men and their Flying Machines’ taking to the air first. As is the magic of Old Warden something special was on the cards – to have the oldest airworthy British aircraft and glider in the sky together – The 1912 Blackburn Monoplane Type D and the 1932 Abbott-Baynes Scud II. The Cub towed the Scud II into the air and waited for the Blackburn to takeoff. In the end it all came together with Willy Hackett diving the Scud towards the airfield, keeping an eye out for Trevor Roche in the Blackburn, and we were able to witness a moment of total uniqueness. Bringing the evening to a close was the Bleriot XI, and what better way to end the show? Dodge Bailey even curved round the bend on his return ‘hop’ – probably the tightest turn the aircraft has done in many years!
Compared to the July Military Pageant I attended where I felt something just didn’t click, maybe because I had overdone Old Warden in recent years, it was a joy spending the evening on the airfield. I think I can safely say that was just a blip and I have now rekindled that fondness for Old Warden. Judging by people’s reactions this was probably the highlight of the Shuttleworth Collection 2011 season – I’m inclined to agree with them.
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