Shuttleworth Trust’s historic de Havilland DH.88 Comet G-ACSS Grosvenor House was badly damaged after overturning on landing at Old Warden in Bedfordshire during the Flying Proms air show on 15 August. The aircraft, the only airworthy example of the type and the 1934 MacRobertson Air Race winner, had one crew member on board and came to rest upside down after the incident.
The pilot was extracted from the aircraft and taken to hospital for assessment, later being discharged. No spectators or other people on site were reported injured. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service attended alongside the on-site emergency response, and the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch is expected to examine the circumstances. Shuttleworth kept the programme running after the response, with the orchestral performance continuing.
The extent of the damage has not yet been publicly confirmed, including whether the aircraft can be repaired. The event is a significant blow for Shuttleworth’s display programme because only two DH.88 Comets survive, with G-ACSP Black Magic still under restoration and G-ACSS the sole flying example of the rare racer.