Blackburn Monoplane Type D

Another photo of one of the old ladies of Old Warden airfield, near Biggleswade.

This is apparently the "oldest airworthy aircraft of British origin anywhere in the world", it says on the Shuttleworth website page devoted to this aircraft.

The engineer pictured was tending quite lovingly to the engine, scraping off excess carbon buildup with an Opinel folding knife (those things get everywhere).

He told me that the radial engine revolved around a crankshaft fixed in the aircraft, and that the wings were warped by the pilot to roll the aircraft. Its maximum airspeed at 1,000ft was 60mph. It must take skill to make this machine fly safely.

What a testament to those who flew it originally.