My first visit to Shuttleworth was certainly an adventure. The Shuttleworth Collection is an aeronautical and automotive museum located at the Old Warden Aerodrome, Old Warden in Bedfordshire. It is one of the most prestigious in the world due to the variety of old and well-preserved aircraft. The best event of the day was the Edwardians. The 2010 design Bristol Boxkite took to the skies at the end of the day and was a magic site. This is a replica aircraft built for the film ‘Those Magnificent Men and their Flying Machines‘ (Ken Annakin, 1965: UK) and is the last Boxkite still flying.
Next was the 1910 Deperdussin an aircraft that is an easy example believed to be the 43rd Deperdussin and built in 1910, it was used at Hendon until sold in damaged condition in 1914 to A E Grimmer who repaired it and then flew it from the polo ground near Bedford. When acquired by Richard Shuttleworth in 1936 it was in poor condition. The Deperdussin wings were re-covered with linen and stitched up by Richard Shuttleworth, his mother and sister on the billiard table in the House which was the home of the Shuttleworth family. In 1937 it was renovated at Old Warden to fly again. Stored throughout WWII, on display days it can achieve straight hops and it certainly did hope across the field but sadly did not make it back. It was such a shame as there was a beautiful sunset and we had dealt hoped to capture it in silhouette in the evening light.
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