Every year on one weekend, the fabulous Shuttleworth Collection opens up their engineering workshops for close inspection by visitors. This year the collection opened the hangars over the weekend of February 22-23. With the barriers removed, people can get up close and see exactly how the aircraft are constructed and maintained with plenty of engineers and pilots available to explain how things work. There were talks and demonstrations of rotary engines and on the Hucks starter and examples of fabric covering. Additionally there were bus rides, vintage machinery operations, and vintage cars and bikes. You could also sit in the collection’s Spitfire Mk.V AR501 cockpit!
The aircrafts on display were:
The 1909 Bleriot XI G-AANG: Serial number 14, this is the world’s oldest airworthy aircraft. Hopefully we will get to see it flying on a calm evening at one of the airshows this year, most of which will now have an evening element, which will we hope gives more chance for any wind to drop and all the lighter “Edwardian” aircraft be able to fly.
Percival Mew Gull G-AEXF: The record breaking aircraft flown by Alex Henshaw was removed from service following a heavy landing to enable a thorough inspection, and while it was out of the air they decided to do a complete re-cover and repaint of this older restoration. The uncovered structure looked in great condition, I’m not sure how much of this is the original 1936 structure, as it was rebuilt at least twice after damage in the 1970s (from a runaway Auster!) and 1980s, and even and several times before that.
Polikarpov Po-2 G-BSSW was displayed with the rear decking removed, giving a great view of the wooden structure and wire bracing holding it all together. The engine cowlings were also opened up to give a great view of the engine installation and controls.
The de Havilland DH89A Dragon Rapide G-AGSH is owned by Philip Meeson, but operated by the Shuttleworth collection. It was completely dismantled to replace some wing center section parts showing signs of corrosion and the opportunity was taken to completely uncover the structure and inspect it and re-cover the aircraft, which will be painted back in the same BEA colors it previously wore. With the underside of the fuselage still uncovered for systems installation, it’s only been painted part way down the side of the fuselage.
The hangars were all open and packed with the usual array of interesting aircraft, these included the Hawker Hind G-AENP K5533 now coming to the end of its complete restoration with the fuselage fully painted and the overhauled engine installed. One wing was still in the workshop being covered, I believe that is the last one to be completed.
Very appropriate to also see the de Havilland DH60 Moth G-EBLV, the 8th DH60 built and oldest survivor on its 100th birthday! It has been in the workshop for inspection and requires some engine work, which is currently being done before it will fly again later in the year in time to take part in the 100th anniversary fly-in and 50th Anniversary of the DH Moth club, which will be celebrated at Shuttleworth over the weekend of the July 30th to August 1st.
