My airshow season got underway on Sunday 7th May with the first show this season at The Shuttleworth Collection. Amazingly the weather came good for the afternoon and other than being a little breezy was perfect for an air display. 

It was interesting to compare this show to the May premiere show last year when the Collection were still struggling with the new CAA regulations and display distances. I came away last year feeling distinctly glum, not only that much of Old Warden's unique character as a display venue had been lost, but also with a heavy sense of foreboding about what was to come at other displays. Thankfully since then the Collection has worked with the CAA to secure various dispensations and I can happily say that this display was a glorious return to form with beautiful, close, topside curving passes the order of the day. Clearly it is safer for everyone that the aeroplanes are displayed over the airfield, rather than high and far away over the woods...

All of which means there was good photographic opportunities afforded by the flying and the sunshine. As usual at the beginning of the season though it takes me a few airshow days to get back up to speed on panning and general steadiness so I didn't quite get the results I might have done otherwise. In any case there is a selection I'm happy with in the gallery here.

Hawker Hurricane I