DH88 Comet, one of the Collection's aircraft
The August Airshow at the Shuttleworth Collection became a ‘Family Airshow’ in 2018, replacing the 'Edwardian Pageant' of earlier years. For 2021 it remains a family airshow but the title reflects its theme ‘Need For Speed’.
The show celebrates the perennial urge to go faster, so expect to see aircraft that featured in speed races, Richard Shuttleworth’s favourite racer and visiting speed stars.
This is a relatively small venue, where flying feels closer to the crowd than in some bigger airfields, even since the change in the flying regulations.
Old Warden is home to the Shuttleworth Collection of planes from both world wars and earlier, including original pioneering aircraft such as the Bleriot (identical to the one that made the first crossing of the English Channel). There are around 40 airworthy planes in eight hangars.
The collection is on static display most days throughout the year. There are significant flying events about monthly between May and October, ranging from daytime full airshows to evening proms and additional smaller events.
The venue also has a mansion, Shuttleworth House, which is usually open to visitors for at least part of airshow days, park-like gardens (Swiss Garden) and huge children's outdoor play area although these extras are not open whilst Covid-19 restrictions are in place.
| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Aircraft due to display will be listed here when known | |
| All appearances are subject to technical, weather and other constraints | |
DH88 Comet, one of the Collection's aircraft displaying
The August Airshow at the Shuttleworth Collection changes from the 'Edwardian Pageant' of recent years to a more general 'Family Airshow'.
Expect vintage motors on display and in a parade before the flying as well as aircraft from the Shuttleworth Collection and visitors.
This is a relatively small venue, where flying feels closer to the crowd than in some bigger airfields, even since the change in the regulations. The venue also has a mansion, Shuttleworth House, which is usually open to visitors for at least part of airshow days, park-like gardens (Swiss garden) and huge children's outdoor play area.
Old Warden is home to the Shuttleworth Collection of planes from both world wars and earlier, including original pioneering aircraft such as the Bleriot (identical to the one that made the first crossing of the English Channel). There are around 40 airworthy planes in eight hangars.
The collection is on static display most days throughout the year. There are significant flying events about monthly between May and October, ranging from daytime full airshows to evening proms and additional smaller events.
The museum and hangars will be open and free to access. The house will be open for viewing and there will be free Swiss Garden tours.
Add to this the re-enactors, a chance to chat with the pilots and to listen to live music for a full day on the ground as well as in the air.
| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Due to fly (tap / hover over icon for more detail) | |
| Auster AOP6 | |
| Auster J1N | |
| Breitling Wingwalkers | |
| Bücker Jungmann | |
| Calidus Autogyro | |
| Dragon Rapide | |
| Dragonfly | |
| Little and Large | |
| Red Arrows | |
| Sopwith Snipe | |
| Tiger 9 | |
| Avro 504K, Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Avro Triplane, Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Blackburn Monoplane, Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Bristol Boxkite, Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Bristol F2b, Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Bristol M1C, Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Chipmunk, Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Deperdussin, Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Dragon Rapide, Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Fauvel Glider, Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Gloster Gladiator, Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Harvard, Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Miles Magister, Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Polikarpov PO2, Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Sopwith Camel, Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Sopwith Pup, Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Sopwith Triplane, Shuttleworth Collection | |
| SE5a, Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Westland Lysander, Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Additionally the Shuttleworth Collection aircraft and most visitors are due to be on static display | |
| All appearances are subject to technical, weather and other constraints | |
Shuttleworth's Old Warden Aerodrome is about two miles to the west of the A1 near Biggleswade. It is about 20 miles from junction 13 of the M1 and from the south it is about 30 miles from Junction 23 of the M25. It is signposted from the A1 at Biggleswade.
The Post Code (for sat nav) is SG18 9EP but, as with all shows, ignore the sat nav in favour of local show signs as soon as you see them.
There are links to other route planners in the Travel Advice column if you prefer to plan ahead or don't have sat nav.
There is a train station at nearby Biggleswade, which is about 40 minutes from London Kings Cross and about 30 minutes from Peterborough. There is no bus service from the station to the aerodrome but there is a taxi rank close to the station.
The variety of rail tickets and fares can be very confusing. Trainline and Raileasy web sites list all ticket and fare options for the time and day of travel you choose but they both levy an admin fee. Click either of the blue ticket agency names to go to their web site.
It is best to book as far as possible in advance. This is not only because nearby hotels and guest houses tend get booked up well before the date of an airshow but also because prices can be better when you book early online.
There are plenty of booking agencies. We find that many of the well known ones are better at finding hotels from international or larger UK chains and may suggest hotels in main towns or cities quite a distance from the show site.
Expedia list a good selection of smaller, as well as bigger, hotels and will find accommodation in villages and small towns as well as the main centres. They also give, and take, Nectar points.
There are three Premier Inn hotels in Bedford, another two in St Neots and more in in Hitchen and Letchworth, all roughly 10 miles away.
The International Hotels Group have a Holiday Inn Express in Bedford about 6 miles away and another in Stevenage, about 14 miles from the show.
Travelodge have three hotels around Bedford, between six and eight miles from Old Warden and two more within ten miles.
Click any of the blue names to go to the corresponding web site. Most of the links already have the location built in, but please check, and change as necessary, the dates, number of rooms and number of guests.
A full 7 day Old Warden weather forecast from the UK Met Office
The Met office 7-day forecast includes actual and "feels like" temperatures, the likelihood of rain, wind speed, wind direction, wind gusts and visibility: the latter can have an impact on the viability of displays.
The BBC's 14-day forecast has overall conditions including and hourly estimate of temperature, wind direction, wind speed and UV range.
Click the blue-text link to go to the forecast. The location is already built into the links.
August 1st 2021
enquiries@shuttleworth.org
+44 (0)1767 627 927
Flying starts 14.00
Sat Nav SG18 9EP
For links to travel and route planning web sites, click the 'Getting there' tab
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