Old Warden Aerodrome
| Old Warden Aerodrome | |
 | |
|---|---|
| Code | , ICAO: EGTH |
| County | Bedfordshire |
| aerodrome | |
| Operator | The Shuttleworth Collection |
| Location | TL152445 52°5’12"N, 0°19’7"W |
| Runway(s) | 1,667 feet (Grass) |
| Website | www.shuttleworth.org/ |
Old Warden Aerodrome (ICAO: EGTH), also known as Shuttleworth (Old Warden) Aerodrome, is located at Old Warden in Bedfordshire and six nautical miles east-south-east of Bedford. It is a privately owned aerodrome which mainly serves The Shuttleworth Collection, which contains a large number of vintage aircraft and cars, many in working condition.
The Shuttleworth Collection
The Shuttleworth Collection is an aeronautical and automotive museum located at the Old Warden Aerodrome. It is one of the most prestigious in the world due to the variety of old and well-preserved aircraft.
History
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]
Collection
Restoration and maintenance work is carried out by a staff of nine full-time and many volunteer engineers. These volunteers are all members of the 3,000-strong Shuttleworth Veteran Aeroplane Society.[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, and once a year, there is a special flying day for schools in the area.
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 twelve air shows per year, including evening displays, which offer the opportunity to see aircraft which in many cases are the last of their type to survive, let alone existing in flyable condition.
The Edwardian flying machines
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. What makes these exceptional is that they still fly (weather permitting). 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.
Aircraft in the collection
| Type | Date | Identity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANEC II | 1924 | G-EBJO | |
| Avro 504K | 1918 | G-ADEV | Painted as E3273 |
| Roe IV Triplane | 1964 | G-ARSG | Replica |
| Avro Tutor | 1933 | G-AHSA | Painted as RAF K3241 |
| Avro Anson | 1946 | G-AHKX | Owned by BAE Systems |
| Blackburn Type D | 1912 | G-AANI | Oldest airworthy British aeroplane |
| Blériot XI | 1909 | G-AANG | World's oldest airworthy aircraft |
| Bristol Boxkite | 1964 | G-ASPP | Replica |
| Bristol F.2b Fighter | 1918 | G-AEPH | Painted as RAF D8096 |
| Bristol M.1C | 1981 | G-BWJM | Replica 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.[4] Currently being repaired off site. |
| de Havilland DH.60 Cirrus Moth | 1925 | G-EBLV | Owned by BAE Systems |
| de Havilland DH.60X Hermes Moth | 1928 | G-EBWD | |
| de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth II | 1942 | G-ANKT | Painted as RAF K2585 |
| de Havilland DH.88 Comet | 1934 | G-ACSS | Grosvenor House |
| 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 | |
| Gloster Gladiator | 1937 | G-AMRK | Painted as RAF K7985 |
| Hawker Cygnet | 1992 | G-CAMM | Replica |
| Hawker Hind | 1935 | G-AENP | Painted as RAF K5414 Under engine restoration |
| Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk.Ib | 1939 | G-BKTH | Painted as RN Z7015 |
| Hawker Tomtit | 1931 | G-AFTA | Painted as RAF K1786 |
| Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet | 191454 | Fuselage mockup with original engine | |
| Mignet HM.14 Flying Flea | 1939 | G-AEBB | Not airworthy |
| Miles Magister | 1939 | G-AJRS | Painted as RAF P6382 |
| Parnall Elf | 1932 | G-AAIN | |
| 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 |
| RAF SE.5A | 1918 | G-EBIA | Serial F904 now in its original 84 Squadron colours |
| Sopwith Camel | 2001 | G-BZSC | Replica built by Northern Aeroplane Workshop, now at Old Warden |
| Sopwith Pup | 1920 | G-EBKY | Painted as RFC 9917 |
| Sopwith Triplane | 1980 | G-BOCK | Replica 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 |
- Data from [5]
Also resident, but privately owned: Avro Anson (BAE Systems)
- Miles M14a Hawk Trainer N3788 G-AKPF
- Westland Wallace replica fuselage
- De Havilland DH89A Rapide G-AGSH painted as British European Airways
Vehicles in the collection
- 1898 Panhard et Levassor
- 1899 Mors Petit Duc
- 1899 Benz International dogcart
- 1900 Marot Gardan
- 1901 Locomobile Steam Car
- 1901 Arrol-Johnston
- 1902 Baby Peugeot
- 1903 Richard-Brasier
- 1903 De Dietrich
- 1912 Crossley 15
- 1912 Wolseley MS
- 1913 Morris Oxford
- 1920 Hucks starter
- 1923 Leyland SG7 bus
- 1926 Jowett Short-chassis tourer
- 1931 Austin 16 hp "Burnham"
- 1935 Austin Seven
- 1937 Railton
- 1937 Fiat Topolino
- 1937 MG TA
- 1939 Hillman Minx RAF Staff Car
- 1943 Fordson WOT 2H
- 1900 Singer Motor Wheel Motorcycle
- 1904 Aurora Motorcycle
- 1921 Scott Squirrel Combination
- 1923 Triumph SD Motorcycle
- 1927 Raleigh 14 Motorcycle
- 1929 Ariel Motorcycle
- 1938 Rudge Motorcycle
- 1940 BSA M20 Motorcycle
- 1950 Philips Cyclemaster
- 1952 Brockhouse Corgi Scooter
- 1955 BSA A7 Motorcycle
- 1955 New Hudson Motorcycle
- 1960 Norton ES2 Motorcycle
There is also a collection of tractors.
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Old Warden Aerodrome) |
References
- ↑ Ogilvy 1989, Ch.1.
- ↑ Shuttleworth Veteran Aeroplane Society Retrieved: 7 February 2009
- ↑ Ogilvy 1989, Introduction.
- ↑ Pilot dies after vintage plane crashes in Bedfordshire BBC News 1 July 2012, accessed 3 July 2012
- ↑ Ellis 2004, pp. 12-14.