The Shuttleworth Collection held its annual Engineering Open Workshop weekend on February 21–22. Nigel Hitchman covered and photographed the event for us, as you can read HERE. For the occasion, our regular contributor Emma Quedzuweit also attended, offering a different and more personal perspective on the event.
Text and photos by Emma Quedzuweit
It is an event eagerly awaited by vintage aviation enthusiasts around the world. Not only is the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden Aerodrome in Bedfordshire, United Kingdom, an extraordinary museum and collection of airworthy aircraft, but the annual Engineering Open Workshop days offer the public the opportunity to view the collection and enter the working restoration hangars where maintenance and rebuilding take place. Visitors can see aircraft up close, speak with engineers, and participate in special tours.
“Museums have curators, we have engineers,” Shuttleworth notes on the event page. “And for one weekend only, you can discover what it takes to restore, rebuild and operate one of the world’s most extensive collections of working vintage agricultural exhibits, veteran and vintage vehicles, and aircraft from the earliest days of flight.” Even this description underplays how remarkable it is to have the opportunity to see these rare and historic aircraft while enjoying open access to the workshop hangar and its current restoration and maintenance projects. Visitors can listen to engineers discussing projects and engines while watching others at workstations where machining, riveting, and other tasks take place in a constant hive of activity to keep this unique fleet flying. A glimpse into the fabric shop, where aircraft coverings are restored, reveals a miniature museum of its own, with samples from previous recovering projects displayed along the walls.
Old Warden is always a beehive of activity during events, and this two-day weekend was no exception. From demonstrations to engine runs and STEM activities for all ages, much of the programming is geared toward those interested in pursuing careers in engineering. It was particularly encouraging to see the number of school-age volunteers actively participating in the stewardship and operation of the collection.
The handful of featured aircraft in the workshop this year proved to be a treat. Drawing the largest crowd was undoubtedly the Supermarine Spitfire Vc undergoing annual maintenance, with its cowling and access panels removed for close inspection. Built by Westland Aircraft, the fighter was issued in 1942 to No. 310 (Czechoslovak) Squadron based at Duxford. It later appeared in the films Battle of Britain and Pearl Harbor. Some years ago, the Shuttleworth team completed a full rebuild to original specifications and were surprised to find sections of the airframe still bearing evidence of wartime repairs.
Also available for close inspection in the workshop were the Southern Martlet restored by Shuttleworth and the small but mighty Percival Mew Gull racer, which is undergoing maintenance after previous damage while also receiving new fabric covering and other updates.
The collection’s Deperdussin was also present with its wings removed for recovering. This early example is believed to be the 43rd aircraft built by the company in 1910. Although it was in poor condition when acquired by Richard Shuttleworth in 1936, it was restored and now flies during the Collection’s flying events. The opportunity to closely examine the cockpit and its unusual controls was fascinating, and the aircraft remains impressively beautiful despite its age.
Highlights of the demonstrations included an engine run of the reproduction Sopwith Camel, powered by a nine-cylinder, 130 hp Clerget 9B rotary engine. The spectacle produced a dramatic puff of smoke and tremendous airflow as several staff members held the aircraft firmly in place. Equally fascinating was a demonstration of the Hucks starter with the collection’s Hawker Hind. As aircraft engines grew larger and more powerful during the 1920s and 1930s, hand-propping became increasingly impractical. One solution was the Hucks starter, typically mounted on a Model T Ford chassis. It used a chain-driven rotating shaft that could be raised to the aircraft’s propeller hub and engaged to spin the engine using the vehicle’s power. Watching the mechanism in action was captivating, and the demonstration drew a large crowd eager to hear the engineers’ explanation.
One of the recent changes to the museum is a new hangar arrangement presenting a special exhibition titled “The Sopwith and Hawker Story.” This beautifully arranged display features gleaming aircraft and informative signage exploring the pioneering legacy of the Sopwith Aviation Company and Hawker Aircraft Limited, as well as three key figures in early aviation innovation: Thomas Sopwith, Harry Hawker, and Sydney Camm. The Hawker Hind, powered by its impressive 640 hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel V engine and displayed in the markings of No. 15 Squadron RAF, occupies a central position near the open hangar doors, looking immaculate after a recent repaint and winter maintenance.
A new addition to this hangar exhibition is the Historic Aircraft Collection Ltd’s Hawker Hurricane G-HURI, which was relocated to Old Warden in November 2025. Previously restored and operated by The Fighter Collection, the aircraft wears the distinctive markings of No. 302 (City of Poznań) Squadron, honoring the Polish pilots who served in the RAF and the squadron’s time at Duxford during the Battle of Britain. Volunteers from Polish Heritage Flight were present with the aircraft, raising funds and support for a planned commemorative flight to Dęblin, Poland, in August 2026, honoring the Polish and Allied airmen who flew with the squadron during World War II.
Of course, the collection is not limited to aircraft. Numerous other vehicles—including tractors, motorcycles, cars, and buses—were also on display. Guided tours of Shuttleworth House, a tractor parade, vintage bus rides, and hangar tours added to an enjoyable and educational experience for visitors of all ages.
If you have not yet experienced this remarkable event, it deserves a place on your calendar. With the newly refurbished café on site, it is even more reason to visit for aviation and history enthusiasts from anywhere in the world. Visit the Shuttleworth website at shuttleworth.org for a list of upcoming events, and sign up for the newsletter to be among the first to learn what is planned for next year’s Engineering Open Workshop weekend.
