Season Premiere - 11th May

[FlankerE]

Thanks for the info both, heading to my first Shuttleworth show this coming weekend so definitely not too knowledgeable on things yet!

[Ryan.]

Does anyone know if taxis are easy to get from Bigglewade station?

First time getting public transport there and I believe the shuttle bus to the airshow is a thing of the past!

[Orion]

Does anyone know if taxis are easy to get from Bigglewade station?

First time getting public transport there and I believe the shuttle bus to the airshow is a thing of the past!

Do you have the Uber app?

[Varkfan]

Happened to my mate last year. He got off the train from London and after a one hour wait, ended up having to fork out £20 for a cab. He wasn't best pleased about the situation at the time, and has since ceased to attend. Which is a shame, because he has been a regular Old Warden fan for years. Why was the shuttle service stopped?

[Ryan.]

I didn't think of Uber so thankyou!

I guess the Shuttle Bus was stopped because of a lack of demand, it was also free so it would have been an easy way to reduce a small output. It's a shame though because getting to Biggleswade from London is very easy indeed, the last couple of miles are not unfortunately!

[Varkfan]

I didn't think of Uber so thankyou!

I guess the Shuttle Bus was stopped because of a lack of demand, it was also free so it would have been an easy way to reduce a small output. It's a shame though because getting to Biggleswade from London is very easy indeed, the last couple of miles are not unfortunately!

I did suggest to him that in future there's bound to be plenty of fellow pilgrims around to do a cab-share with, but he wasn't in the mood to listen, maybe he's calmed down since.

[Bodz156]

Booked myself a ticket for this one as a first visit, as the weather looks very promising for the weekend.

[capercaillie]

Booked myself a ticket for this one as a first visit, as the weather looks very promising for the weekend.

Don't jinx it!

Hope you enjoy it.

[phreakf4]

Booked myself a ticket for this one as a first visit, as the weather looks very promising for the weekend.

I am already looking forward to the complaints on here and elsewhere from photographers complaining about the likely take off/landing directions adopted by many of the participating aircraft because of the forecast wind direction and strength.

13 knots gusting high-twenties at about 90 degrees to the main runway...there is more to "good air show weather" than clear blue skies and we can definitely forget about any flying from the Edwardians (and probably some of the WW1 and inter-wars types too.

Having said all that I am definitely attending and will thoroughly enjoy the day (and will be taking photographs and video).

[Varkfan]

Booked myself a ticket for this one as a first visit, as the weather looks very promising for the weekend.

there is more to "good air show weather" than clear blue skies

There is nothing quite like the amazing light conditions that you get immediately after a summer storm, when the Sun re-emerges out of the mirk and illuminates the grey clouds, creating a wonderful backdrop. My favourite kind of light.

[FarnboroJohn]

Booked myself a ticket for this one as a first visit, as the weather looks very promising for the weekend.

there is more to "good air show weather" than clear blue skies

There is nothing quite like the amazing light conditions that you get immediately after a summer storm, when the Sun re-emerges out of the mirk and illuminates the grey clouds, creating a wonderful backdrop. My favourite kind of light.

Or the clouds still black as the ace of spades but the aircraft in front in full sunshine in air washed crystal clear by rain. My favourite too: there's nothing like a whacking great black cloud as a backdrop!

[Varkfan]

Yep, I love that effect. The colours literally jump out

[BrawlerO]

Busy morning here at Shuttleworth, queuing back onto the main just after 9!

Parking at the hangar end seems to be limited by a large empty space reserved for a Porsche club- bloody Germans lol

Ready 4 Duty and the Electra just landed for the visitors and wind not too bad at the moment.

[Ryan.]

Was a story of two halves for me, I've wanted the DH-9 to attend Shuttleworth the moment it first flew, just seems to fit so right there and with the weather, I wasn't sure it would make the journey again. Delighted to see it and with the Bristol Fighter too, it certainly made a great pairing but it was rather high. If the wind conditions were the reason, that's of course understandable but would be nice to know. Overall it just lacked the ingredient that makes Shuttleworth so special for visiting aircraft.

I thought the same throughout the day, with some aircraft really taking advantage of the location, the DH-88 display was a particular highlight as well the Piston Provest but others felt a little far way, including the Mustang which was an aeroplane I was looking forward to seeing having been the first time I've seen it display since it came back to the UK. The Mk.9 Spitfire did some passes at the end of the display that felt fitting to Shuttleworth but the start felt a little distant. I always feel aircraft are better just going around the bend than performing aerobatics at Shuttleworth but that's a personal preference.

Was great to see Ready for Duty up close and personal, and the Cirrus formation was another highlight. The wind certainly didn't help things, a certainly a massive well done to all the ground crew running round collecting aircraft from all over the different runways and of the pilots for displaying in gusty conditions, I saw more than I thought I would considering but it won't be a Shuttleworth that lives long in the memory for me.

I don't think there is such a thing as bad day out at Shuttleworth but perhaps it didn't quite live up to it's increased price tag.

[BrawlerO]

Was a story of two halves for me, I've wanted the DH-9 to attend Shuttleworth the moment it first flew, just seems to fit so right there and with the weather, I wasn't sure it would make the journey again. Delighted to see it and with the Bristol Fighter too, it certainly made a great pairing but it was rather high. If the wind conditions were the reason, that's of course understandable but would be nice to know. Overall it just lacked the ingredient that makes Shuttleworth so special for visiting aircraft.

I thought the same throughout the day, with some aircraft really taking advantage of the location, the DH-88 display was a particular highlight as well the Piston Provest but others felt a little far way, including the Mustang which was an aeroplane I was looking forward to seeing having been the first time I've seen it display since it came back to the UK. The Mk.9 Spitfire did some passes at the end of the display that felt fitting to Shuttleworth but the start felt a little distant. I always feel aircraft are better just going around the bend than performing aerobatics at Shuttleworth but that's a personal preference.

I agree with this but guess it’s a case of home field knowledge?
The Fauvel glider was also a great display and that MK.9 Spitfire in desert camo was a real beaut.
Despite the wind keeping some of the WW1 birds on the ground it was interesting to see the ‘downhill’ runway in use.

[Ryan.]

Was a story of two halves for me, I've wanted the DH-9 to attend Shuttleworth the moment it first flew, just seems to fit so right there and with the weather, I wasn't sure it would make the journey again. Delighted to see it and with the Bristol Fighter too, it certainly made a great pairing but it was rather high. If the wind conditions were the reason, that's of course understandable but would be nice to know. Overall it just lacked the ingredient that makes Shuttleworth so special for visiting aircraft.

I thought the same throughout the day, with some aircraft really taking advantage of the location, the DH-88 display was a particular highlight as well the Piston Provest but others felt a little far way, including the Mustang which was an aeroplane I was looking forward to seeing having been the first time I've seen it display since it came back to the UK. The Mk.9 Spitfire did some passes at the end of the display that felt fitting to Shuttleworth but the start felt a little distant. I always feel aircraft are better just going around the bend than performing aerobatics at Shuttleworth but that's a personal preference.

I agree with this but guess it’s a case of home field knowledge?
The Fauvel glider was also a great display and that MK.9 Spitfire in desert camo was a real beaut.
Despite the wind keeping some of the WW1 birds on the ground it was interesting to see the ‘downhill’ runway in use.

Yes definitely, there was of course a strong on crowd wind which doesn’t help.

Absolutely! The Fauvel glider was a real treat to watch. And that Spitfire looks particularly stunning, especially in the azure blue skies we had today.


Certainly the most I’ve seen that runway used in a long time!

[Glenn Beasley]

but others felt a little far way, including the Mustang

Really? The P-51 was the best display of the day by a country mile and some. It was brilliantly flown and certainly wasn't too far away.

[rockfordstone]

really enjoyable show today. great weather and some great flying. shame the wind was too strong for some of the more vintage stuff because it would have been the ideal day for it otherwise.

the collection stuff was flown impeccably as usual, but i also enjoyed the mustang display. for someone whos only been flying it for not much more than a year she is displaying it with gusto.

the DH9 was quite high, as was Mark Bennett's spitfire, but still it was really good otherwise.

not sure i'm a fan of the new parking arrangements and set up. it seemed to cause an issue with the entrance procedure which is normally flawless.

[Bodz156]

not sure i'm a fan of the new parking arrangements and set up. it seemed to cause an issue with the entrance procedure which is normally flawless.

They didn't even check my ticket which was surprising, I just followed my queue & nobody approached my window with a ticket scanner. Drove straight in.

For me it was just good to be at a sunny air show again after the year I've had. Enjoyed what flew, especially the Mustang, but one of those will always be my favourite whenever I see and hear one. I'd hoped more of the WW1 era would make it up but I guess I can always catch those again on a calmer day. The pilots did a great job getting their aircraft down again on all the various landing strips there and I thought Ben & Adam did a good job with the commentary. Great to see the R4D arriving in the morning & the desert schemed Spitfire looks great, as does the BBMF one that turned up sporting the tribute scheme on one side to their lost colleague. I may be back down for the Military show, keeping an eye on the weather....

[Ryan.]

Really? The P-51 was the best display of the day by a country mile and some. It was brilliantly flown and certainly wasn't too far away.

I would never say it wasn’t well flown but if I compare it to the display Jersey Jerk gave last year, there’s no question to be about which one I enjoyed the most.

[capercaillie]

I am already looking forward to the complaints on here and elsewhere from photographers complaining about the likely take off/landing directions adopted by many of the participating aircraft because of the forecast wind direction and strength.

Weird kicks. Never heard one complaint regarding take off directions. Most seem pleased with seeing as much as they did fly in the show.

Great opener to the season, with many lovely topside passes in glorious sunshine. Yes the desert Spitfire may have been a little high on the aerobatic passes, but as a first public display, no issues with that, he also brought it down for some nice topsides to conclude the display. The home team were very good, Comet flown with aplomb, Barnstormers and Moth/DH51 providing some fun, Gladiator, Spitfire and Provost all giving exceptional passes. Electra Junior was lovely to finally catch up with, sounded sweet and the Mustang flown exceptionally well. Never seen so many stop so late for the R4D to go.

DH9 was a little disappointing in the fact that it stayed so high, I appreciate its not a Pitts Special but flat passes could have been a bit lower surely, great effort in the conditions though to get it out of Duxford, I was expecting a cancellation. What was going to be my highlight for the show, didn't make the grade in the end.

The parking situation was bizarre, with the usual paddock taken out of action, not much said in advance about the change, and then parking further away without warning, not helpful when one of your party suffers with a bad back. A longer walk to the flightline, where the signage could have been a little more helpful in directing you there. Very unShuttleworth like.

[Tomahawk]

The parking situation was bizarre, with the usual paddock taken out of action, not much said in advance about the change, and then parking further away without warning, not helpful when one of your party suffers with a bad back. A longer walk to the flightline, where the signage could have been a little more helpful in directing you there. Very unShuttleworth like.

This was referenced in the event programme with a quote from the Head of Visitor Operations "Layout changes are also necessary as we prepare for upcoming changes to event management legislation..." which then went on to describe the new parking areas. Of course it may all be a smokescreen as having moved the stalls to the area where the special interest groups are normally positioned meant they had to go in to the main parking area which took up what used to be visitor prime parking.

[capercaillie]

I don't bother with a programme to be honest, good old legislation.

Mind you it is surprising how many SVAS members drive a Porsche.

[Mike]

…good old legislation.

Martyn’s Law

It will have a massive impact on the events industry, and not for the better IMO

[st24]

Id love to know what these legislative arrangements are. Absolute nonsense I bet. I'm at a loss to see exactly who it benefits; certainly not the devoted airshow goers who go to pretty much every show and have done so for decades. Still, at least the Porsche owners had the best position, even though most had gone by 3pm....
Ok, the "new" walk and parking is not the most arduous but that was after weeks of dry weather, I wonder if after some heavy rain it will be as pleasant?
Also I wonder what is in place should there be an emergency in the evening,absolutely no staff there to assist. And there's a large body of water now available for people to get into difficulty in..
I'm all for change and towing the line but it has to have a modicum of benefit to the long standing customer.
Otherwise a great day, the airshow side of the team are on a roll and more power to them.
But for goodness sake, sort the wind out, I can't think of the last time I saw the Edwardians or more flimsy types in the air..