July 3rd
Swordfish at an earlier Fly Navy airshow
In 2019, the very popular ‘Fly Navy’ series of airshows surrendered its Shuttleworth summer slot to a new ‘Flying Festival’ celebrating all aspects of flying from warbirds to vintage aircraft.
The new formula provided scope for a wider range of aircraft to be displayed. The Red Arrows were the headline display that year but equally popular with enthusiasts was the last-minute announcement that nine of the Dakotas taking part in Daks over Normandy would be on static dispay at the show and that some would fly out afterwards.
A similar format, but entitled Flying Festival of Britain, was retained in 2021, celebrating innovation and remembering the 1951 Festival of Britain when the Shuttleworth Collection’s Comet was suspended from the ceiling in honour of its record-breaking role.
For 2022 the Fly Navy theme returns. Details of the show will be here when announced.
| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Flying | |
| Supermarine Seafire (Navy Wings) (listed by operator but not confirmed by show) | |
| Harvard (Navy Wings) (listed by operator but not confirmed by show) | |
| Details of more displays in 2022 will be here when known | |
In case there are mistakes or changes, please check the show's site for the latest list. | |
3rd June 2018
Bristol Scout
Fly Navy was one of the best shows anywhere in 2016. In 2017 the weather and cancellations reduced its popularity. Fly Navy was back in 2018 and enjoyed a repeat of the 2016 excellence.
As its name suggests, the show has a naval theme, so visitors enjoyed a wide range of aircraft, all with naval links. Unfortunately, some of the high profile displays were withdrawn since the original (provisional) list was published (see greyed-out items in the table) but the Collection's Spitfire Mk Vc did fly, solo and with the resident Sea Hurricane, in addition to the aircraft originally listed, including the weather-dependent Edwardians. For the third Old Warden show in a row, the Lancaster made what was billed as a flypast but which, in the event, became a triple circuit with lots of topside in wonderful evening light.
| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Visiting Aircraft | |
 | Hawker Sea Fury T.20 (Navy Wings) |
| (Sea) Fury FB.11 | |
| Fairey Swordfish W5856 (Navy Wings) | |
| Supermarine Seafire Mk17 (cancelled) | |
| Consolidated PBY Catalina | |
| Westland Wasp | |
| de Havilland Dragon Rapide | |
| Hawker Nimrod Mk2 | |
| Hawker Nimrod Mk.I (cancelled) | |
| Stinson Reliant (cancelled, now static) | |
| AT 6D Texan | |
| Gazelle x2 | |
| Bristol Scout | |
| Grumman F4F Wildcat | |
| Vought F4U Corsair | |
| Grumman F8F Bearcat (cancelled) | |
| Douglas AD4 Skyraider (cancelled) | |
| Grumman Avenger (cancelled) | |
| BBMF Lancaster (Flypast) | |
 | Morane Saulnier |
Resident Aircraft. | |
 | Spitfire Mk Vc |
| Hawker Sea Hurricane 1B | |
 | Avro C19 Anson |
| Hawker Demon | |
| DH82a Tiger Moth | |
 | Miles Magister |
| DH60 Cirrus Moth | |
| Westland Lysander | |
| Gladiator (no longer listed) | |
| Sopwith Camel | |
| Sopwith Pup | |
| Sopwith Triplane | |
| Bristol F2B Fighter | |
| Deperdussin | |
| Avro Triplane IV | |
| Blackburn Monoplane Type ‘D’ | |
| Additionally the following are due to be on static display, but are not flying during the show | |
| Avro 504K Stinson Reliant Gazelle | |
| 'cancelled' means relative to the original provisional list. | |
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 section.
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.
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.
The location is already built in to the link but please check, and change as necessary, the dates, number of rooms and number of guests.
Booking.comThere are three Premier Inn hotels in Bedford, another two in St Neots and more in in Hitchen and Letchworth, all roughly 10 miles away.
Travelodge have three hotels around Bedford, between six and eight miles from Old Warden and two more within ten miles.
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.
Prices, details and a link to buy are on the show's web page
Details here on the show's web page
Free, on site
This is from the show's web site:
"We welcome well-behaved dogs on leads in the airfield paddocks and parkland and Discovery Hub.
Dogs are not permitted indoors in the Hangars, Shop, Café or House.
Dogs are not permitted outdoors in the Swiss Garden or playground
Assistance dogs are permitted everywhere
Please note that there is no shade in our parking areas."
Gates open 09:30
Flying from about 14:00
Finishes about 17:00
For links to other travel and route planning web sites, click the 'Getting There' tab