The name English Electric is well known in aviation circles. Before it was subsumed into the British Aircraft Corporation, it had produced the Lightning interceptor and the Canberra bomber. The Lightning might have got more glory, but the Canberra was by far the more successful type with excellent performance. However, there is a lesser-known type that came from the company a long time before.

I first heard of the Wren when I read about it in Roly Beamont’s book. He was the chief test pilot at English Electric, and he described this vintage aircraft with very limited power that the company restored and hopped along the runway at Warton many years before I worked there. The aircraft now lives at Old Warden and it was brought out to fly during the Shuttleworth Festival of Flight. It was towed up to the far end of the field in preparation for its flight. The conditions were smooth, so it was going to be able to perform.

Having read that it was not over-endowed with power and that the Warton tests had involved some basic hops along the runway, this was what I had anticipated would be the case here. However, they were more ambitious. After flying the length of the field, a turn was made for a return run. I have to admit, when I first saw the turn, I did fear that all was not well. The whole flight was at low level, so the turn was also low. The angle made it look like the plane was heading for the trees. However, this was quite normal and in control. Even so, every turn made me tense up slightly. I guess by the end of the flight, I was getting used to it. Even so, it was quite unlike most flying I have watched.

Multiple passes were made during the flight. The light was definitely playing ball along certain parts of the passes so I was able to grab quite a few shots. It’s not the most elegant looking plane and I imagine the view for the pilot is pretty minimal. Even so, as rarities go, it is right up there so to see it fly was a nice result.