October 2024 marks 90 years since the 1934 MacRobertson Air Race, and The Shuttleworth Collection includes none-other than the very race winning aircraft: the de Havilland DH.88 Comet G-ACSS. To celebrate the anniversary, Shuttleworth’s upcoming Race Day Air Show (6 October) will feature a mock air race in tribute to this hugely popular aircraft.

The MacRobertson Air Race saw over 20 aircraft set off from RAF Mildenhall on a multistage flight from the United Kingdom to Australia. With a prize of £15,000 – that’s £900,000 in today’s money – on the line, there was huge excitement and media coverage surrounding this racing challenge. Shuttleworth’s very own Comet DH88, piloted by Charles W.A. Scott and Tom Campbell Black, covered the (approx.) 11,300 miles in 70 hours and 54 minutes, winning them the race and setting a new point-to-point world record. The aircraft itself was designed and built by de Havilland in just 10 months and had a top speed of 227mph.

The Comet is a much-loved part of The Shuttleworth Collection and regularly features in its seasonal air shows. To celebrate the fantastic history of this aircraft, the upcoming Race Day Air Show (6 October) will see a mock air race including as many of the types of aircraft that took part in the original race as possible. In true racing spirit, the aircraft will also cross the finish line following the exact order of the original race, culminating in a solo display from the Comet.

James Butt, Aviation Co-ordinator, said, “We are extremely fortunate to have the very aircraft that won the MacRobertson Air Race in our Collection here at Shuttleworth. This is a big anniversary and so we want to mark it appropriately at our last Air Show of the season where racing is the focus.”

Race Day brings together icons of the aviation and the motor vehicle industry for a dramatic day of action both on Shuttleworth’s grass runway and in the skies above Old Warden Aerodrome.As well as a flying display from 2-6pm, Race Day will feature veteran vehicle and bike sprint demonstrations, and a brilliant range of ground entertainment including the Armed Forces Rally Team, the Jez Avery Stunt Show, the Dakar Rally Team, and our interactive Discovery Zones. Visitors can also browse various trader stalls and pick up delicious food and drink on site.

Join Shuttleworth to mark this 90th anniversary and discover more about the racing past of its patron and Collection. Tickets for Race Day 2024 are available from £32.50 via www.Shuttleworth.org.

Tags: 2025, News, September, Shuttleworth