Party in the park

Flight Journal, Apr 2003 by Jones, Geoffrey P

FLYBYS

HOT OFF THE WIRE FROM THE WORLD OF FLIGHT

Once a month during the summer and early fall, the hangar doors of The Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden, Bedfordshire, England, are opened and out roll many of the amazing historic aircraft housed there. The aircraft are displayed in the beautiful park-like Old Warden Estate, and invited historic-aircraft owners fly to Old Warden to stage displays. On October 6, 2002, the last display of the season saw an amazing selection.

With the warbirds, we enjoyed sport and GA aircraft from the 1920s and '30s; and a unique, award-winning Southern Martlet restoration delighted the crowds during the air display. Dating from 1937, Roy Nerou's restoration of the prototype Chilton DW.1 racer was equally remarkable. A team of enthusiasts from BAE Systems has been restoring an Avro Nineteen (the civil version of the Anson) for many years. On June 29, 2002, it was flown to Old Warden to join the Collectionone of only two airworthy survivors in the UK.

With a duo of Miles Magisters and a trio comprising a Spitfire V, a Sea Hurricane and a Westland Lysander flying (plus much more), this truly was a party in the park; even the weather cooperated.

For more information on The Shuttleworth Collection, call 011 44 1767-626228; www.shuttleworth.org.

-Geoffrey P. Jones