Shuttleworth Collection

Just to add the to brainstorm of possibilities for the future,what about the Masefield Chipmunk which is currently derelict somewhere in Scandenavia?It was a beautiful little machine in it’s day and is associated with one of the greatest names in British aviation.
Just a suggestion…

Skybolt – I dismantled John Jordan’s Pitts at Little Gransden circa
97/98 and she is indeed G-AXNZ. She was built by Wally Berry and Bert Etheridge for Manx Aeroplane Ltd. She first flew in 1973 and is John’s favourite aircraft to fly.
As for the Islander – well in 2005 we will be celebrating the fourtieth anniversary of this most un-British success story .
The first production machine is under restoration and I would very much like to see her operating on the display circuit.
As for WW1 replica’s – there are large gaps with the coverage
of post war aviation in the U.K and I feel some more effort could be put into that. The CASA Jungmann whilst interesting had incredibly little impact on British aviation until Spencer Flack and others started importing them into the U.K. In comparison I would say for it’s impact on sport aviation in the U.K the Pitts is far more significant.

Hi skybolt

I didn’t intend to suggest that Rob Millinship should donate G-FLIK to the collection. I just thought I’d mention he owns one and anyway, I like to see the different variants of Pitts from the earlier S1’s to the Super Stinker that flew there earlier this year.

Neal

If Shuttleworth want to acquire a Pitts then perhaps they should approach John Jordan who, I believe, still owns the first Pitts S1 built in the UK. It was actually built at Old Warden for Neil Williams back in the early 1970’s by a couple of Shuttleworth stalwarts. I think the registration is G-AXNZ but I might be wrong. Perhaps some anorak can correct me.

Rob Millinship has light years of pleasure ahead in his Pitts so although he might commute to Old Warden sometimes in G-FLIK he will not, I feel, be donating it for a long time yet.

Past policy at Shuttleworth was, in my opinion, flawed in that so many aeroplanes were allowed to leave either by sale or a less than positive attitude towards private owners. I saw the Gull at Auckland about four years ago and I swear both the aeroplane and I shed a tear at the forever grounded state of the aeroplane. Remember those grand displays by Angus McVitie? I do, and miss them still.

I believe that the Percival Gull is now in New Zealand, located at the Auckland International Airport.

OFMC Fan

Thanks for the kind words Philo, and the subtle edit……;)

Regarding the Islander – it would be a good addition to the fleet at Shuttleworth, but lets leave it for a few years, until it is nearer being an endangered species. Unfortunately, it’s not practical or cost efective to use such a machine for passenger rides. The costs of engineering to public transport standards, setting up an AOC to JAA standards, and licensing and manning the airfield, also to JAA standards, would blow any money made from the exercise and a lot more besides!

A

Wasnt she in a painting by Van Clump?

I had heard that Madge has sold up and moved away, something about suddenly realising that shooting birds actually kills them.

Anyway I’ll never forvice her for what she did to American Pie, nice **** though 😀

Ah yes! I remember now.

A South American football player – ‘Hand of God’ and all that.

Who is Madonna? :rolleyes:

I’ve said that about Madonna all along as I am sorry but I do not much care for her attitude to her fans (you know those strange folks who bought her songs and made her famous that she won’t sign autographs for)

I’d heard that Compton was under threat from some influential local character but I hadn’t heard Madonna’s name associated with it before.I’ve flown into Compton (with a friend flying the plane I should point out) a couple of times,and it’s a great little field.I remember lying there recovering from the after effects of some aerbatics one sunny afternoon,listening to the Skylarks and enjoying the atmosphere.Beautiful scenery too.Anyone who wants to put an end to a place like that ought to be wiped off the face of the planet if you ask me…:mad:

Is that the same Compton Abbas that Madonna has allegedly been keen to buy to cease flying there?

Correct me if I’m wrong,but I thought I read a few months back that the WW1 replicas which used to be flown from Booker were going to Compton Abbas to join some sort of collection/museum there.Anyone know anything more?

The Propswing article, written by THT also speculates about the possible addition in the future of Jungmeister, Bestmann and FW Stieglitz to give a ‘German flight’.
Thats great in my book, lets get the DX Storch up there on loan to join them.
However an authentic WWI german aircraft would be better, Fokker Eindekker from Booker maybe ????????.
As David says, whatever OW are up to its a whole lot better that it could have been if you remember the finances of a few years back.
I think Tony HT and the team have done a fantastic job at OW in recent years and we should all be gratefull for that, long may it continue.
Phil

Good idea about the Islander.

I’d also like to see a Pitts at Old Warden. Shuttleworth pilot, Rob Millinship, has a Pitts(G-FLIK) based at Leicester.

See www.lac.uk0.net/aircraft.htm

Neal

The Mew Gull and Arrow Active were based with the collection and flew at displays for them . They were both offered to the collection first when their owner decided to part with them. The Rapide similarily took part in displays.
As for the Jungmann whilst I appreciate the gesture of SVAS
acquiring her for the collection she could just as easily be painted in authentic Spanish markings to represent the type as a classic
training aircraft .
The collection has indeed been at stages where it has sold aircraft to survive – the present state of finances is a credit to them.

According to the SVAS journal ‘Propswing’ The Jungmann is to be painted in an overall grey paint scheme with authentic Luftwaffe training markings, it will also be used when a baddy is required for an airfield attack tableaux.

The Jungmann was paid for by the SVAS, not the collection.

Although Shuttleworth’s aquisition policy may have changed, at least they can still acquire aircraft, a few years back the collection was close to closing.

One of their stated collecting policies is the ‘first hundred years of flight’ – however they have lost the following:

Percival Gull
Percival Mew Gull
Blake Bluetit
Arrow Active
Auster Aop.9
D.H Dragon Rapide
B.A Swallow II
Cierva C.30A Autogyro

Sadly in the case of the Rapide it was lost through accident – others have moved either through sale from the collection or the
owners selling them . Whilst the Spanish Built Jungmann is an interesting aircraft – I doubt if it’s appeal to the public is any greater than say an Aiglet Trainer being put through it’s paces.
Richard Shuttleworth was a visionary in preserving aircraft of his generation and the previous – I do wonder if he had been allowed a bit longer on this earth what he would have preserved?

I personally would like to see the following there

Boeing PT13 Stearman -to show the contribution made by the type in both Canada and the U.S.

Percival Proctor – much underrated and a stalwart of 1950’s
aviation.

Pitts Special – An aerobatic classic which has stood the test of time.

BN Islander – A terrific success story which could also earn it’s keep with pleasure flights.

Stinson L-5 Sentinel – Proved in both the European theatre and
with the RAF in SEAC.

Auster IV – The superlative artillery spotter.

Turbulent – A small fun aircraft .