Following on from the debut event on the 5^th May the Shuttleworth Collection are once again bringing the sights and sounds of an afternoon at Old Warden to your living room with our virtual air display on Sunday 5^th July.

This time the theme is ‘Treasured Moments at Old Warden’ and features Collection aircraft along with some memorable visiting display items from over the years. It will include favourites such as the Fieseler Storch and Hawker Hind as well as World War One types like the RAF SE5a, Sopwith Snipe and Albatros. It will also bring back the much missed shape of Avro Vulcan XH558 in the form of its last public display which was held at Old Warden in 2015.

As always the Collection relies on the generous donations of its supporters to keep our magnificent aircraft and vehicles in running condition. The continued cancellation of planned shows this year has removed a significant income source and any support can help the Collection through this challenging time.

The show will be available from Sunday 5th July, to enjoy it please make a donation and watch the highlights of Treasured Moments at Old Warden at the Shuttleworth Collection website.

Work is progressing on an auction of promises to raise much needed funds to help the Collection through these challenging times.  We would really like to hear from you if you are able to offer something that people may be interested in bidding for – it doesn’t need to be Shuttleworth related – the more unusual, the better!

To whet your appetite, here are a selection of the wonderful items already promised.  As you might expect, several are Collection orientated, such as: being flown in to a Shuttleworth display; a specially commissioned original oil painting of the Comet and a private room for a dinner at the RAF club with couple of Collection pilots/engineers. There have also been a number of generous offers of lots that have no obvious connection to the SVAS, but go a long way to demonstrating the wonderful breadth of our membership. These will be will be very useful in adding breadth to the bidding audience and have included: a clay pigeon shooting experience; a greenwood woodworking experience and a needle felted portrait of your pet.  Our thanks to our very generous supporters so far.

Please contact Matthew Studdert-Kennedy via the SVAS office if you are able to offer something that you feel may be able to be auctioned later this season.

We wanted to enjoy our 2020 airshow season with our wonderful visitors, but in light of COVID-19 plans have changed a little!

This Sunday 3 May, would have been our Season Premiere, and at Shuttleworth we do not like to disappoint so we will be bringing you an alternative airshow – an exciting and nostalgic online look at the very best highlights from our most recent seasons.

The Shuttleworth Collection derives a significant source of income from our events and airshows, which is vital in enabling us to keep our internationally significant aircraft in airworthy and displayable condition. With the confirmed loss of our first four airshows and an uncertain season ahead, we need support.

A first for us, our Alternative Season Premiere is available online to view for as little as just £2.50. Although we would very much appreciate it if you could donate more (see our appeal here)
We hope you enjoy our first online airshow. Every penny of support is appreciated, helping us to reduce the impact of lost income and we hope to welcome many of you back to Shuttleworth later this year.

Watch the virtual air display now

The present Covid-19 pandemic is causing problems across all areas of the country and sadly the Shuttleworth Collection is not immune. Events have already been cancelled to the end of June leading to a huge loss in income for Shuttleworth. Despite the site being closed, costs are still incurred

We are now appealing to you to support us in emergency fund raising to help secure the future of the Collection so that we and future generations can all continue to enjoy the Shuttleworth experience when this dreadful crisis is over.

Whilst we appreciate that times are challenging at the moment and some of our regular visitors and supporters may be working reduced hours, on furlough or unable to work, if you would like to help we welcome donations, however large or small, as anything that will assist to ‘Keep Them Flying’ would be very much appreciated.

Find out more about our appeal

In line with Government guidelines the Shuttleworth Collection has been closed, and all events to the end of June have been cancelled. This has meant that the SVAS office has also had to close for postal and telephone correspondence. We apologise for the inconvenience that this may cause, but thank you in advance for your understanding.

Many of the volunteers and members of the SVAS will be self isolating during this time but you can still get in touch with our volunteer staff by email at svas@shuttleworth.org

The latest issue of Prop-Swing and new 2020 membership cards will be arriving shortly with members who had renewed before 20^th March and our regular electronic newsletters will continue to keep you informed during this uncertain time.

If you have recently renewed by post or left a voicemail message and hear nothing in response please forgive us until we are able to find ways to collect mail.

We thank you for your continued support and request you to keep looking at our website and social media for more information.

We are sad to report that Honorary SVAS Vice-President and former Chairman Ken Cox MBE passed away yesterday.

After serving in WW2 as an engineer working on pumps for Pluto pipe  line under the ocean to keep fuel flowing under the channel after D Day Ken went to the Far East as a pipeline engineer and then a vehicle mechanic. Once demobbed  after the war Ken became a village bobby, then a  traffic policemen. After leaving the police  Ken became a driving instructor and ultimately  a department of transport examiner.

As a volunteer at Shuttleworth he was instrumental as chairman from 1992 in driving the SVAS as friends of Shuttleworth from fewer than 1000 members to 3200 at the time of his decision to relinquish his chairmanship.

He was awarded the MBE for his services to the preservation of aviation heritage in this country, acknowledging Ken’s leadership of the SVAS over 25 years.

After Ken had retired from active volunteering he still regularly visited Old Warden and will be sadly missed.

Ken’s funeral will take place on Wednesday 4th December at 11:00am at the North Herts Memorial Park and Crematorium, Bedford Road, Hitchin SG5 3RT

Family flowers only.
Donations to Cancer Research 

Tickets for this year’s Flying Proms are selling very quickly and it is likely that the event will sell out before Friday 16th August when booking closes.

If you would like to attend the event and have not yet purchased your tickets, please do so now to avoid disappointment. There will be no ticket sales on the day.

SVAS members can purchase tickets for £34 until Monday 12th August here