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The Shuttleworth Collection is an aeronautical and automotive museum located at the Old Warden Aerodrome, Old Warden in Bedfordshire, England. It is one of the most prestigious in the world due to the variety of old and well-preserved aircraft.
The collection is unique as it is the world's only exhibition of 'flyable' historic aeroplanes dating back to the birth of powered flight and extending into World War II. Shuttleworth put on several air shows each year which include many of the museum's aircraft.
History
The Shuttleworth collection was founded in 1928 by aviator Richard Ormonde Shuttleworth. During World War II, while flying a Fairey Battle at night on 2 August 1940, Shuttleworth fatally crashed. In 1944, his mother formed the Richard Ormonde Shuttleworth Remembrance Trust "for the teaching of the science and practice of aviation and of afforestation and agriculture."
The Shuttleworth Collection puts an emphasis on restoring as many aircraft as possible to flying condition, inline with the founder's original intention.
The collection includes the Bleriot XI (1909) which is the World's oldest airworthy aircraft, and the Blackburn Type D (1912) which is the oldest airworthy British aeroplane.
In addition to the aircraft, the collection also houses a number of vintage and veteran vehicles including early cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and agricultural exhibits.
Shuttleworth has a grass runway and hosts several air shows each year where it displays some of the museums exhibits as well as visiting aircraft.
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