| Shuttleworth Collection | |
| Map Type: | Bedfordshire |
| Location: | Old Warden, Bedfordshire |
| Type: | Aviation museum |
The Shuttleworth Collection is a working aviation, automotive and agricultural collection located at Old Warden Aerodrome 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1924 | G-EBJO | |||
| Avro 504K | 1918 | G-ADEV | Painted as E3273 | |
| 1964 | G-ARSG | Replica | ||
| 1933 | G-AHSA | Painted as RAF K3241 | ||
| 1946 | G-AHKX | Restored by BAE Systems and donated to the Collection in 2022 after a period of temporary lease.[4] | ||
| 1912 | G-AANI | Oldest airworthy British aeroplane | ||
| 1936 | G-AEBJ | Formerly part of the BAE Systems heritage flight based at Old Warden. Donated to the Collection in 2022. | ||
| 1909 | G-AANG | World's oldest airworthy aircraft | ||
| 1964 | G-ASPP | Replica | ||
| 1918 | G-AEPH | Painted as RAF B1162 | ||
| Bristol M.1C | 1981 | G-BWJM | Replica painted as RFC C4918 | |
| 1932 | G-ACTF | |||
| 1924 | G-EBIR | Miss Kenya | ||
| 1923 | G-EBHX | Crashed on 1 July 2012 killing pilot.[5] Currently being repaired off site. | ||
| 1925 | G-EBLV | Formerly owned and leased to the Collection by BAE Systems. Donated to the Collection circa 2022.[6] | ||
| 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. | ||
| 1942 | G-ANKT | Painted as RAF K2585 | ||
| 1934 | G-ACSS | Grosvenor House | ||
| 1952 | G-BNZC | Painted as RCAF 671 | ||
| 1910 | G-AANH | |||
| 1930 | G-AAPZ | |||
| 1923 | G-EBNV | |||
| 1937 | G-AMRK | Painted as RAF K7985 | ||
| 1992 | G-CAMM | Replica | ||
| 1935 | G-AENP | Painted as RAF K5414. Under restoration | ||
| 1939 | G-BKTH | Painted as RN Z7015 | ||
| 1931 | G-AFTA | Painted as RAF K1786 | ||
| 191454 | Fuselage mockup with original engine | |||
| Mignet HM.14 Flying Flea | 1939 | G-AEBB | Not airworthy | |
| 1939 | G-AJRS | Painted as RAF P6382 | ||
| 1932 | G-AAIN | |||
| 1934 | G-AEXF | Alex Henshaw's England - Cape Town racer | ||
| 1955 | G-KAPW | Painted as RAF XF603 | ||
| 1924 | G-BSSY | Painted as Soviet Air Force 28 | ||
| 1918 | G-EBIA | Serial F904 now in its original 84 Squadron colours | ||
| 2001 | G-BZSC | Reproduction built by Northern Aeroplane Workshop | ||
| 1920 | G-EBKY | Painted as RFC 9917 | ||
| 1980 | G-BOCK | Replica painted as RNAS N6290 | ||
| 1930 | G-AAYX | |||
| 1942 | G-AWII | Serial AR501 | ||
| 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.