Sea Hurricane
The former ‘Military Pageant’ Airshow retains the Military Airshow name for 2020 and will again recognise the contribution of our Armed Forces, past and present.
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.
| Aircraft will be listed when known |
|---|
| All appearances are subject to technical, weather and other constraints |
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.
National Express do not go to Old Warden or to Biggleswade. The nearest stops are in Bedford (4 miles), Letchworth (8 miles) and Royston (6 miles) with services to Luton and Heathrow airports as well as Cambridge and London.
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 lists 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.
Click the blue Expedia name for a list of hotels and guest houses near the show. The venue is already built into the link, so when the list comes up you just have to enter your dates and change the number of rooms or guests if necessary.
The International Hotels Group have a Holiday Inn about 4 miles away and Holiday Inn Express hotels about 12 miles away near Bedford and Stevenage; there are two Premier Inn hotels in Bedford about 8 miles away, another two in St Neots and one in Hitchen, all about 10 miles away.
A full 7 day Old Warden weather forecast from the UK Met Office
The Met office seven-day forecast includes maximum, minimum and "feels like" temperatures, the likelihood of rain, wind direction, gusts and visibility: the latter can have an impact on the viability of displays.
The BBC's five-day forecast has overall conditions including temperatures, UV range and a description that may help to determine how pleasant the day will be for the visitor.
Click the blue-text link to go to the forecast. The location is already built into the links.
5th July 2020
enquiries@shuttleworth.org
+44 (0)1767 627 927
Gates open 09.00
Gates close 18.00
Flying from around 14.00
Sat Nav SG18 9EP
For links to travel and route planning web sites, click the 'Getting there' tab
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