The Shuttleworth Collection

[Chris71]

I was out for a blast in the car yesterday and by complete coincidence I ended up driving past the front gates of The Shuttleworth Collection near Old Warden.

http://www.shuttleworth.org/shuttleworth-collectio...

I knew it was somewhere vaguely in that area, but I hadn't been to that part of the country since I was a kid. Up until the age of about ten my dad used to take me to the displays there, so it was quite surreal to stumble upon it a couple of decades later.

Anyway, my rambling nostalgia aside, it's a pretty incredible place. The museum has what must be one of the most extraordinary collections of working/flying vintage aircraft in the world, including some very early examples.

I gather they still put on the air displays there (info on the website) and wondered if anyone on here has been recently? It would be a fantastic excuse for a hoon across the Bedfordshire countryside one evening.

[DamienB]

Damn right it's worth a visit. For a relaxed airshow on a nice summer's evening it can't be beaten. Plenty of vintage cars too.

[Chris71]

Yep, might post something up in the Herts & Beds section nearer to one of the displays and see if we could get a few people up there. I'm probably being very nostalgic, but I remember some fantastic summer evenings spent lazing around watching those displays.

[Mojocvh]

Absolutely fantastic place if you have even the slightest molecule of aviation blood in your veins.

First went in '81 and have managed to get back again over the years as I conneyed around the UK and Europe.

Best on a warm English summers evening for the full effect.

MoJo.

[FourWheelDrift]

I was last there in 2004 - http://mercia.biz/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=5

[Trevelyan]

I don't live far away so get to see a fair few of the planes flying over my garden during the summer. Now that you mention it I should go and have another look at the place from the inside - I drive past it often enough. I think they're restoring a Spitfire there at the moment which I wouldn't mind a look at if it's open to the public.

[Zippee]

Trevelyan said:

I don't live far away so get to see a fair few of the planes flying over my garden during the summer. Now that you mention it I should go and have another look at the place from the inside - I drive past it often enough. I think they're restoring a Spitfire there at the moment which I wouldn't mind a look at if it's open to the public.

I'm presuming you've now moved from Cornwall?

They're classical music concerts are also very relaxing on a summers evening. I'm only 10 mile away myself in St Neots!

[Flanders.]

Zippee said:

Trevelyan said:

I don't live far away so get to see a fair few of the planes flying over my garden during the summer. Now that you mention it I should go and have another look at the place from the inside - I drive past it often enough. I think they're restoring a Spitfire there at the moment which I wouldn't mind a look at if it's open to the public.

I'm presuming you've now moved from Cornwall?

They're classical music concerts are also very relaxing on a summers evening. I'm only 10 mile away myself in St Neots!

I'm only 3 miles away in Sandy. I'd be up for having a look round with some PH'ers .

[Chris71]

Flanders. said:

Zippee said:

Trevelyan said:

I don't live far away so get to see a fair few of the planes flying over my garden during the summer. Now that you mention it I should go and have another look at the place from the inside - I drive past it often enough. I think they're restoring a Spitfire there at the moment which I wouldn't mind a look at if it's open to the public.

I'm presuming you've now moved from Cornwall?

They're classical music concerts are also very relaxing on a summers evening. I'm only 10 mile away myself in St Neots!

I'm only 3 miles away in Sandy. I'd be up for having a look round with some PH'ers .

I'd be up for that. Would be good to combine it with a display evening though - the real magic is seeing things the Avro triplane in the air.

[ariel]

We could fly in if the weather co-operates, we do have to end in the pub afterwards to talk about the day though.

[RichB]

If you fly in you can hardly wind up in the pub can you.

[Flanders.]

RichB said:

If you fly in you can hardly wind up in the pub can you.

Depends how big the Beer Garden is I suppose .

[ariel]

the best pubs do B&B a well as good ale.

[FourWheelDrift]

RichB said:

If you fly in you can hardly wind up in the pub can you.

Depends if you overshoot on landing.

[Piginapoke]

I used to live locally. very nice it was to

[Chris71]

RichB said:

If you fly in you can hardly wind up in the pub can you.

A friend of mine used to paramotor across to the local pub, land in the garden, have a few beers and paramotor back. I have no idea if that was legal, but paramotoring was virtually unregulated back then (still is I think) and trivial things like tuition before you went solo were optional! It always struck me as a bit like flying a light aircraft must have been in the '20s.