June 18th
Sea Hurricane
The former ‘Military Pageant’ Airshow retained the military theme for 2021 but the title became simply the Military Airshow. In both it's guises it was Shuttleworth's most popular show, lining up Shuttleworth's impressive collection with vintage and more recent military visitors.
For 2022 the Military Airshow theme and title remain but the show moves from the daytime to the evening and it adopts a drive-in format.
| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Flying | |
| Details of the displays will be here when known | |
In case there are mistakes or changes, please check the show's site for the latest list. | |
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.
1st July 2018
Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a
The Military Pageant recognised the past and present contribution of our Armed Forces, through air and ground displays.
Also live music and military vehicles, both on display and in a parade.
At the end of the flying display there was a poignant moment when the Bristol Fighter flew over and dropped poppies, whilst the crowd remained silent to pay their respects to those who did not return.
| Aircraft originally listed to fly | |
|---|---|
| Visitors | |
 | Republic P-47D Thunderbolt |
| Avro Lancaster | |
| Bremont Great War Display Team | |
| Schneider Grunau Baby | |
| Fokker Dr1 Triplane | |
| Royal Aircraft Factory BE2e | |
| Radar Kite | |
| Nieuport 17 | |
| From the Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Supermarine Spitfire Vc | |
| Westland Lysander | |
| Hawker Demon | |
| Avro 504K | |
| Bristol F2B Fighter | |
| Percival Piston Provost T.1 | |
| Sopwith Pup (if serviceable) | |
| Sopwith Triplane | |
| Sopwith Camel | |
| Sopwith Dove | |
| Avro C19 Anson | |
| RAF SE5a | |
| Blackburn B2 | |
| Bristol M1C | |
| Bristol Scout | |
| DH82a Tiger Moth | |
| Hawker Sea Hurricane 1B | |
| Hawker Hurricane Mk 1 ‘P3717’ | |
| Avro Triplane IV | |
| Bristol Boxkite | |
| Deperdussin | |
| Blackburn Monoplane Type ‘D’ | |
SE5a
The Military Pageant was dedicated to recognising the contribution of our Armed Forces – past and present. It was originally intended to be a Hawker fiesta, with six Hawker Hurricanes. However, all things change and the theme became a more general celebration of military aircraft, with an emphasis on the historic collection looked after by, and displayed at, Old Warden.
As well as an impressive gathering of military aircraft there were visiting military vehicles, including WWI steam engine ‘Gigantic’ in WW1 Ministry of War livery and a replica 8” Howitzer Gun.
| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Flying schedule (tap / hover over icon for more detail) | |
| Hawker Hurricane MkX11a (HAC/Guy Black) | |
| Hawker Hurricane R4118 | |
| Hawker Sea Hurricane | |
| Hawker Tomtit (Shuttleworth) | |
| Hawker Demon (privately owned but based at Old Warden) | |
| Lysander (Shuttleworth) | |
| P-51D 'Tall in the Saddle' (Hangar 11/Peter Teichman) | |
| Spitfire Mk1 (IWM) | |
| Spitfire Mk1Xb 'MH434' (OFMC) | |
| Spitfire MkVb (HAC/Guy Black) | |
| Gloster Gladiator (Shuttleworth) | |
 |
Yak 3 (Mark Davy) |
| Buchon (John Romain) | |
| B-17G 'Sally B' | |
| Fieseler Storch | |
| Eon Primary | |
| De Havilland DH82a Tiger Moth | |
| Avro Tutor | |
| Miles Magister (PH) | |
| Miles Magister | |
| Chipmunk | |
| Blackburn B2 | |
| Bristol F2.b | |
| Sopwith Pup | |
| Avro 504K | |
| Deperdussin | |
| Bristol Boxkite | |
| Avro Triplane | |
| Bristol M1C | |
| SE5a | |
| Previously announced but withdrawn before the show | |
| Avro Lancaster (BBMF) (Flypast) not serviceable | |
| Spitfire MkX1 'PL965' (Hangar 11/Peter Teichman) | |
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.
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.
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.
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. The links already have the location built in, but please check, and change as necessary, the dates, number of rooms and number of guests.
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.
Gates open 14:00
Flying from 17:30
Event ends around 21:00
For links to other travel and route planning web sites, click the 'Getting There' tab