Shuttleworth, Old Warden Aerodrome, Biggleswade, UK 31 July – 1st August 2025
In 1925 was first flown by Geoffrey de Havilland from Stag Lane and, in 1975, fifty years later, the de Havilland Moth Club was formed. It was therefore an ideal venue for a historic fly-in and display, on the 1st August to choose the home of the Shuttleworth Trust, home of Britain’s flying museum covering the very early years of light aviation. The Moth family then formed the nucleus of the flight training squadrons that played such a significant part in the Second World War. It is stunning that so many Moths, of all subtypes, are also airworthy with more examples present than ever before in recent memory.
As can be seen the weather was grey and overcast with regular showers. The flying display was only delayed by 30 minutes though VFR was stretched as the initial sixteen Tiger Moths set off to create a magical formation of 100; the largest number of aircraft to formate in the UK for a long time, if ever. Considering the pilots are drawn from numerous locations the spacing and coordination was precise and safe. Following the 100 formation the group was reduced to eleven for two further formations before reducing yet again to a nine ship. This group does perform fairly often and, indeed is due to make a four leg flight to Langenthal in Switzerland next year.
Some organised parking kept most of the sub types together, the infamous DH60G, the enclosed cockpit DH83 and numerous DH82 Tiger Moths lined up in line abreast. A welcome touch was a one hour slot around lunchtime where the general public and Moth Club members could access part of the airside for photographs and to talk to some of the experienced Moth drivers. Only a few visiting aircraft flew in, some of heritage interest, but, in order to preserve the purity of de Havilland, they were parked away from the main Moth area.
Having a world famous collection of early airframes on site gave a great opportunity, particularly during the wet periods, to revisit the superbly preserved Shuttleworth Collection although some of the very early examples, in flying condition, were included in the aerial displays. Although the excellent souvenir shop and on-site cafe was open, given the large crowd, some additional catering and certainly more conveniences would have been most welcome.
For a large variety of Moth images please indulge yourself in the thumbnail collection at the foot of the article. How many more types can celebrate such a significant anniversary. Thanks to the Moth Club and Shuttleworth for such a celebration, if only the British weather had cooperated.
