On the Sunday 1st May the UK Air Show season opened with the Spring Air Display at The Shuttleworth Collection at the Old Warden Aerodrome near Biggleswade. With clear sky’s and bright sunshine it looked like a good day for flying, however the high winds were to pose a serious problem for many of the scheduled display aircraft. Its always an issue with the classic aircraft at Old Warden and taking risks with these historic and often “the last” of the flying examples is simply not going to happen. Out of the line-up of 31 display aircraft only 14 were to get off the ground and that includes the abortive SE5 fighter display which immediately after take off suffered a radiator overheat, the entire flight was purely to get the aircraft back on the ground as quickly as possible. The Old Warden team were clearly very unhappy about the situation with the high winds that were gusting to 25mph (mile per hour) as this is beyond the operating envelope of many or the collections aircraft and some of the visitors, the BBMF Dakota did not arrive for his flypast either. But with what looked like a capacity audience the team did what they could. It was uncertain if the star of the show the Polikarpov Po-2 would fly but as things turned out the flying display took on a distinctly Soviet flavour.

The display opened with the traditional classic vehicle display and moved to the first flying display with the Barnstorming team of two Miles Magister’s with the De Havilland DH82a Tiger Moth and the De Havilland DCH1 Chipmunk. It was clear from the start that the on crowd wind was having an impact on the flying and the usual flour bombing of a target on the air field was not going as well as usual. The balloon bursting also had issues with the balloons barely getting airborne   leaving the pilots without targets ! It was, as always still good to see two of only three flying Magisters left in the world performing together. The de Havilland DH82a Tiger Moth and the DCH1 Chipmunk also suffered with the cross wind the Chipmunk faring better than the other Barnstorming aircraft. The landings were a little more interesting than usual as one would expect.

Appearing in the training section of the display was the Avro Tutor only, as the Tomtit was not to fly. Avro Tutor K3215 is thought to have been the last Tutor in RAF service when it was struck off in 1946. It spent some time in private hands until suffering a crank shaft failure, it was acquired and restored by the collection and is now the only flying example of this RAF elementary trainer in the world and still flies in the colours of the RAF College at Cranwell. A touch of glamour was displayed by the Desoutter I (air taxi) it being based on the Dutch Koolhoven FK41. 41 Desoutters were produced by Dessoutter Aircraft at Croydon and these were used as Taxis and air ambulances. The collections example of the type was built by National Flying Services from parts supplied by Desoutters and first flew in August 1931. It was sold to Richard Shuttleworth in 1935 and arrived at Old Warden in 1936. The aircraft was modified with a 150hp Menasco Pirate supercharged engine, modified rudder, Bendix brakes, DH Puss Moth wheels and a new wind screen bringing the aircraft to near Mk II standard.

The aircraft was not pressed into RAF service during WWII but did undertake 3 flights in camouflage livery with RAF roundels being displayed. The aircraft stopped flying in 1942 and was displayed as a static exhibit at Hendon in 1951 and Torbay in 1971. Restoration work started in 1985 at Old Warden with the first display flight being in 2000. The aircraft was grounded again after the third display due to an aileron flutter. The plane is now displaying again in its original livery. Also displaying in this part of the Air Show titled “Richard Shuttleworth Aircraft” was the de Havilland DH60X Hermes Moth this is the aircraft that Richard Shuttleworth learnt to fly in. Purchased by Richard Shuttleworth in 1932 this was his first aircraft. The DH60X was an improved “Moth” with either a Cirrus III or an Armstrong -Siddeley Genet Radial Engine. The under carriage was also improved making the aircraft more forgiving during heavy landings. This example of the type had the Cirrus III engine and was used by Brookland’s School of Flying before being sold to Richard Shuttleworth. Shuttleworth re-engined the aircraft with a Cirrus Hermes II engine in 1933. This aircraft has been based at Old Warden ever since making it the longest inhabitant at Old Warden.

The highlight of the day was of course always going to be the first display of the collections Polikarpov Po-2 (Kukuruznik). This display was the culmination of a six year restoration on one of the worlds most underrated aircraft. More than 40,000 of the type were built making this the second most produced aircraft in the world. The Collection’s example was received in 2004 and the research period started shortly thereafter. This aircraft was an ex Yugoslav Air Force plane and had been in private hands after leaving the service. The type were still in production in Poland until the 1959. The prototype first flew in 1927, full production followed in Leningrad and Moscow in 1929.Powered by a 125hp Shevtsov M-11D 5 cylinder engine giving a max speed of 94mph with a crusing speed of 68mph. The engine also gained the aircraft its nick name of Kukuruznik (maze duster or crop duster). The Germans who were harassed by this aircraft called it the sewing machine due to the distinct engine sound. Although developed as a trainer the type went to war and was armed with a 7.62mm ShKAS machine gun and could carry six 110lb (50kg) bombs. Flown most memorably by the 558th Night Bomber Regiment an all female Regiment they harassed the German rear area positions and were very difficult to defend against due to the tree top height flying. The 588th Night Bomber Regiment became known to the Germans as the Night Witches. The same tactic was used against the Allied Forces in Korea by the Korean People’s Air Force flying the Po-2. The UN forces called these raids “bed check Charlie” and had the same issues with defending against them. The type served in 16 different countries and can now be seen in the sky over Old Warden. The display itself was as expected in the strong winds but it was still a great introduction to an almost unknown aircraft.

Continuing the Soviet section of the display was the Antonov An-2 Colt the largest single engine bi-plane in the world. This An-2 is operated by the An-2 club from Popham in Hampshire. Designed as the replacement for the Polikarpov Po-2 in agricultural tasks and parachutist roles the An-2. The first prototype flew in 1947 specially designed to work from an unimproved field the rugged aircraft had over 18,000 examples built in Russia, Poland and China. There are some novel design items to assist in operating in remote areas without support. It has a pneumatic brake system (similar to those used on heavy road vehicles) allowing it to stop on short runways. It has an air line fitted to the compressor, so the pressure in the tyres and shock absorbers can be adjusted 'in the field'. The batteries are large and easy to remove, meaning that the aircraft does not need a ground power unit to supply power. It has it has an onboard fuel pump that allows the fuel tanks to be filled from simple fuel drums on the ground. It has the minimum of complex systems. For example, the crucial wing leading edge slats that give the An-2 its slow flight ability are automatic, being held closed by airflow over the wings. Below 40 mph (64 km/h), they extend as they are on elastic rubber springs. One interesting note from the An-2 Club web site reads: “note from the pilot's handbook reads: "If the engine quits in instrument conditions (blind flying when you can't see the ground) or at night, the pilot should pull the control column full aft (it won't stall) and keep the wings level. The leading-edge slats will snap out at about 40 mph (64 km/h), and when the airplane slows to a forward speed of about 25 mph [40 km/h], the airplane will sink at about a parachute descent rate until the aircraft hits the ground."

The An-2 display had one almost unique manoeuvre. With its very low stall speed and a gusting wind of up to 26mph conditions were very good for the pilot to display the almost hovering manoeuvre into the wind. The aircraft seem to hold its position for 30 seconds with no discernable forward motion; although the An-2 is capable of backward flying in a wind of 35mph we did not get to see that today. The hovering was much appreciated by the crowd and was probably the highlight of the day as the Shvetsov Ash -62IR 9cylinder supercharged radial engine held the aircraft over Old Warden.Another Soviet type to display today was the YAK 50 and the YAK52 of the Yakolevs formation aerobatics team from Compton in Dorset. The YAK 50 was developed as an aerobatic aircraft. The YAK 50 enjoyed a period of great success from 1972 until it was superseded by the YAK 55 and Sukhoi 26. The high power to weight ratio and the rugged design made for a great aerobatic aircraft, in unlimited aerobatics the airframes were scrapped after only 40 flying hours due to fatigue. There were some main spar failures that claimed the lives of the pilots and modifications were made to correct this. The YAK 52 was developed from the YAK 50 as a primary training aircraft for the Soviet Air Force. Built by Aerostar in Romania the type entered service in 1979 and is still in production. Although developed as a primary trainer the type is fully aerobatic and rated to +7G and -5G on all major systems. The display showed the ability of both types to the full.

Following on from the Soviet section of the display was the only jet display of the day,the F-86 Sabre operated by Golden Apple Operations at Duxford. This example is an A model and is believed to be the only one left in flying condition and the oldest flying jet aircraft in the world. This aircraft was saved from a reclamation yard and restored in the 1970’s. The first operational swept wing fighter gained its reputation in the Korean War where it would have been flying in the same conflict as the Polikarpov Po-2 seen earlier in the day. The Sabre achieved a kill rate of 10 – 1 in the Korean War where it out matched the Soviet Mig-15. The windy conditions did not bother this cold war warrior and the bright sun shine showed off the classic design to great effect.

The final section of the flying display was left to three stalwarts of the Collections flying displays, the Westland Lysander, Hawker Sea Hurricane and the Percival Piston Provost. The Westland Lysander was built as an army co-operation aircraft and flew first in 1936 and was designed for operating from unprepared ground with good low speed handling and short takeoff and landing capabilities. The type entered service in 1936 and saw action with the British Expeditionary Force in France with four Lysander squadrons supporting the force. Half of these aircraft were lost to enemy action by June 1940. The type were withdrawn from the army co-operation role due to its vulnerability to enemy aircraft, but went on to perform in other roles, the most memorable being clandestine operations with the Special Operations Executive (SOE) flying agents and equipment in and out of occupied France and working closely with the French Resistance. The collection example of the 1,785 Lysanders built flies in the colours of V9367 of 161 Squadron that was based just a few miles away from Old Warden. The Lysander could carry 500lbs of bombs and the wheel spats housed two Browning machine guns with the observer also having one or two machine guns on a pintle mount. The Lysander could also carry supplies in a cargo pod under the fuselage.

The Collections Sea Hurricane Ib Z7015 is the only flying example of the type left. Built in 1941 as a Mk I by Canadian Car & Foundry in Fort William Ontario this aircraft was modified in the UK to the Sea Hurricane Ib standard. The modifications were the additions of the arrester hook and the catapult spools to allow for take off and landing from short decks. The need for this modification was the U-Boat threat to allied shipping and the monitoring of Allied convoys by the FW-200 Condor. Z7015’s war time career ended in 1943. Since then it was used as an instructional airframe at Loughbourgh Collage and was a static aircraft in the film “the Battle of Britain” . The collection received the aircraft in 1961 but the successful restoration did not get under way until 1986. The restored aircraft flew in September 1995 becoming the worlds only flying Sea Hurricane, and today the aircraft was displayed to the full with several of the low flybys that make the displays at Old Warden so distinctive.

The flying display closed with the Collection Percival Provost T1 (Piston Provost). Designed to replace the Percival Prentice 1954 the side by side configuration with duplicated controls proved successful and was carried over to its own replacement the Jet Provost. It began to replace the Prentice in 1953 as the RAF’s  training aircraft and maintained that role for 18 years. 460 of the type were produced all eventually with the Alvis Leonides radial engine. The type was exported to Burma, Eire, Iraq, Muscat, Rhodesia and Sudan and, on release by the RAF, many were purchased by the Hunting Group and refurbished to meet the demands of other foreign air forces. The Collection’s example was aquired from Kennet Aviation in 2001 and displays the aerobatic ability of the type at many Old Warden gatherings.

Even with the high winds and the failure of most scheduled aircraft to fly the day was a success. In the UK especially in May we are thankful for dry conditions and any flying at all as can be read on other early season reports from pervious years. So well done to the team at Old Warden for persevering. The team host air displays regularly over the season and full details of the displays and the other exhibits can be found at www.shuttleworth.org

Will Moore / Chk 6 UK.