Shuttleworth Shenaigans

For The Second Year Running!

Report by David J. Bray AFIAP, CPAGB, E.CPE

On Saturday 27th June 2026, a number of Dunchurch Photographic Society members ventured down to Old Warden airfield and museum (Bedfordshire) for the Festival of Flight Airshow 2026. What lay in store at this popular and photogenic airshow venue was a veritable smorgasbord of aviation delights from the dynamism of aerobatic demonstrations, through to poignant and thought provoking set pieces, with a dash of gliding thrown in for good measure.

The weather proved particularly helpful for photography of the event, where a nice and steady breeze helped alleviate some of the high temperatures of the recent heat wave that parts of the United Kingdom had been experiencing, and so once the flying display got going, the highlights kept on coming.

The Saturday show began with a vintage glider being towed into the air and released for a short and dare we say ‘brave’ performance and landing. Team Raven provided a dynamic formation display routine with their Vans RV-8 aircraft and referred to as the world’s largest civilian aerobatic display team.

Some of the home based fleet of classic airframes, including the Comper Swift took to the air before the performance by the first World War 2 aircraft of the day, a P-51D Mustang red-tail with the name ‘Tall In The Saddle.’

Other highlights through the afternoon included the Shuttleworth debut of the Avro Anson Mk1 in superb RAF Czechoslovakia camouflage livery in formation with the Bristol Blenheim. This made for a stunning set piece, shown off beautifully with the quality of flying and also the slightly curved display line that the venue offers.

The Turbulent team performed a wonderful 4-ship routine that included ‘limbo’ barnstorming by flying underneath a fixed row of bunting and dropping a selection of flour bombs towards a target on the ground (not the photographers) and also trying to pop balloons. Quite a different performance all round.

Later in the afternoon, the sky was filled by a quartet of wonderfully flown World War 2 fighters in the shape of a Spitfire Mk 5 (clipped wings, AR501)leading a 4-ship set piece that also included a P-51D Mustang (Frances Dell), P-47 Thunderbolt (Nellie) and Shuttleworth debut of a Messerschmitt Me-109E (Red 12). That routine was a significant Festival of Flight airshow highlight that brought wonderful sound and vision to viewfinders along the flight line. Some great photographic opportunities.

After an early evening break, the flying continued into the evening, again starting with another towed glider, German this time, and provided a wonderfully colourful and graceful routine before landing to deserved applause. Whilst the sun had decided to hide behind some gathering cloud, it peaked through long enough to enable one of the key highlights of the show to be bathed in some glimmering sunset orange light… and this was the 4-ship of the Red Bull operated fleet of classic aircraft, notably a B-25 Mitchell medium bomber, a P-51D Mustang (Nookie Bookie IV), P-38 Lightning and Vought F4-U Corsair – the latter a personal highlight for Mr Bray.

The Red Bull team put on an amazing aviation set piece, with plenty of scope for creative images to be captured, including a lovely crowd rear formation approach, with each aircraft then being able to perform their own single ship passes to provide variety.

As the light dwindled and some of the attendees starting to leave, the flying display finally concluded just before 9pm with the home based Avro Anson in RAF Transport Command colours and another Spitfire Mk 5 performance with AR501.

And so concluded a wonderful show… a PLETHORA of aviation highlights, fun company and ice cream. Whilst not an official Summer Program item for Dunchurch Photographic Society, it is possible that members will return to Old Warden again next year…