The Shuttleworth Collection.

I had a chance to visit the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden today. This is a must-see aircraft museum with dozens of flyable classics back to the 1909 Bleriot XI, the world’s oldest aircraft still flying, up to the icons of WWII. Every one of these is in immaculate condition and I would highly recommend getting to one of their flying days. Alas today was freezing and snowing and none of these beauties was going to be exposed to the elements.

One or two caught my eye and here are some photos for you aeronautic fans and assorted gear heads.

First, the restoration of a Spitfire which has been going on with mainly volunteer help since 2007. The wing and fuselage had been totally dismantled and stripped and repainted and were undergoing replacement of all 25,000 magnesium rivets which have become a corrosion risk. The fuselage looked like it was brand new and you can see every piece of the wing strung up on a clothes line waiting to be reattached.

Then there was one of the most beautiful aircraft in the world, after the Spitfire of course, the DeHavilland Comet “Grosvenor House” which won the London to Melbourne air race in 1934 with a time of 70 hours; a record that stood until 2010.

Finally the rocket launching system on this Sopwith Pup caught my eye; World War One meets Guy Fawkes Night.

Further reading:
DeHavilland Comet – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_DH.88
Shuttleworth Collection – http://www.shuttleworth.org/shuttleworth-collection/aircraft.asp