 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″N 00°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 the Old Warden Aerodrome, Old Warden 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, 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 ten 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 | |
| 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 | Restored by BAE Systems, and formally 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 |
| Bristol F.2b Fighter | 1918 | G-AEPH | Painted as RAF B1162 |
| 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.[5] Currently being repaired off site. |
| de Havilland DH.60 Cirrus Moth | 1925 | G-EBLV | Formerly owned and leased to the Collection by BAE Systems. Formally 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 |
| 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 I | 1937 | G-AMRK | Painted as RAF K7985 |
| Hawker Cygnet | 1992 | G-CAMM | Replica |
| Hawker Hind | 1935 | G-AENP | Painted as RAF K5414. Under 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 | Reproduction built by Northern Aeroplane Workshop |
| 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 |
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.
