Shuttleworth Summer Airshow 2026
- Kris Christiaens
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Some air shows are about spectacle, while others draw people because the aircraft themselves carry historical weight. Shuttleworth has always fallen into the latter category, and its Summer Airshow on 25 July was no exception. The event sold out well ahead of time, and as visitors gathered on the grass at Old Warden, it was clear why the venue holds such appeal. This year’s show centered entirely on the 90th anniversary of the Supermarine Spitfire’s first flight—an aircraft still regarded as one of the most legendary fighters of World War II. The program was built around this milestone, offering attendees a chance to see not only the Spitfire’s design predecessors but also the types of enemy planes it encountered in wartime combat.
A total of 11 Spitfires were showcased at this summer’s airshow, with a standout moment being the simultaneous takeoff of nine of the aircraft. Organizers aimed to gather as many distinct variants of this legendary plane as possible, and they achieved this goal impressively. The models on display included the Spitfire Ia, IIa, VIII.T, IX, IXb, IXc, IX.T, XI, XIVe, XIX, and Vc. During the event, one Spitfire performed a formation flight with a Gloster Gladiator and a Hawker Hurricane—three aircraft that were instrumental in Britain’s defense during World War II. Notably, the Hawker Hurricane I featured in the show is the only flying example that actually participated in the Battle of Britain.
One of the standout highlights of this summer’s airshow was the impressive display by the elegant de Havilland DH.88 Comet and the Miles Hawk Speed Six. With only five DH.88 Comets ever made and just three Speed Sixes built, their joint formation flight was a rare and remarkable sight. The vividly red DH.88 Comet first took to the skies in 1934 and went on to set multiple long-distance flight records during the 1930s. Acquired by the Shuttleworth Collection in 1965, it was restored to its original registration in 1972 and eventually returned to flying status by 1987. The Miles Hawk Speed Six, also dating from 1934, is another celebrated aircraft from Britain’s golden age of air racing. Now part of the same collection, it continues to fly powered by its original 200 hp de Havilland Gipsy Six engine.
Alongside the impressive lineup of Spitfires and historic aircraft from the Shuttleworth Collection—including the Avro C19 Anson, Westland Lysander, Blackburn B2, and Bristol M1C—this year’s Summer Airshow welcomed a variety of visiting planes. These included the Miles Falcon, Miles M14 Hawk Trainer 3, Hispano Buchon, Hawker DH.60 Moth, and Hawker Hurricane I. The Miles Falcon G-AEEG, constructed in 1936, initially served with Phillips & Powis Air Taxi Services before being sold to Sweden, where it flew for the Royal Swedish Air Force. As darkness set in, attendees witnessed a striking afterburner display by the WSK-Mielec Lim-5 (MiG-17F), operated by Poland’s FUBAR Aviation. This aircraft is currently the only flying MiG-17F in Europe, originally built in 1958 and formerly part of the Polish Air Force fleet. Although high winds led to the cancellation of a few evening performances, spectators still had the rare chance to see the Parnall Elf—only three of which were ever made—and the Avro 504K. The day concluded memorably with a breathtaking twilight demonstration by a Spitfire Vc. For aviation enthusiasts or photographers drawn to classic aircraft silhouetted against a summer sky, this event continues to rank among the highlights of the UK airshow season.
Text & photos: Kris Christiaens
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