The 2021 Air Show season has come around again, and although welcomed, the outlook is still hazy, in “the new normal”, where nothing is set in stone.

Thankfully The Shuttleworth Collection have continued with their busy schedule of re-imagined air shows in the form of the highly successful Drive In Air Shows.

The customary annual Bank Holiday Sunday in May saw the first Air Show of the season with a sell-out crowd of eager enthusiasts, with a welcome line up including a number of Collection regulars and handful of external visitors. Last minute amendments had to be made to the flying schedule due to the sudden loss of Fly Navy’s Sea Fury T.20 following an unfortunate accident near its home base of Yeovilton.

The same arrangement of the Drive in Parking and Viewing spaces from the previous season has been carried over into this year, although with a slight change in pricing. This season sees the cost of a parking space ranging from £5 to £20 dependent upon size, with the additional cost of £39 per adult (reduced to £33 for SVAS Members). As previously undertaken, the commentary for the show was broadcast via FM radio, giving you the choice over whether you want to listen or not, as the case may be; another unique touch.

The show kicked off with the BBMFs Spitfire Mk XVI TE311 and Spitfire Mk Vb AB910. At the time of the show the BBMF had not received their full PDA, and as such their presence was limited to several flypasts; a welcome sight across the Old Warden Skyline, bringing the old familiar and, recently missed sound of Merlin Power.

The flying, for the main part was up to the Shuttleworth standard, otherwise known as superb! The first of the visiting aircraft, the Duxford based Catalina “Miss Pickup” operated by Plane Sailing gave an impressive display getting down low for a notable amount of the display, proving to be quite agile for such a large old lady.

The display of the day undoubtedly came from John Romain of the Aircraft Restoration Company in his Hispano Buchon “Yellow 10”, currently carrying a temporary JG27 Desert Scheme. It was an astonishing display from the ARCO boss who really flew the socks off his Merlin powered Steed.

It was also worth noting that the Hurricane Heritage operated Harvard gave a stellar performance, which was incidentally the pilots first public display before taking on displays in Hurricane R4118.