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Mélanie Astles, pioneer for women in air sports, to inspire audiences in spectacular performance, Q&A session, and meet-and-greet.
Old Warden, 1 April 2026 – Shuttleworth, visitor attraction and event venue home to some of the world’s oldest airworthy examples of historic aircraft and Regency Swiss Garden, is delighted to announce that Mélanie Astles, one of world’s top female pilots, will be displaying at its Festival of Flight on 27–28 June 2026.
Astles, the first and only woman to compete in the Red Bull Air Race and the first female pilot to win a Red Bull Air Race event (Challenger Class, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 2017), will perform an aerobatic display in her Extra 330SC on both days of the Festival of Flight, Shuttleworth’s flagship air show. In addition to her breathtaking display in the sky, visitors will have the opportunity to hear Astles speak in inspiring Q&A sessions tailored for younger audiences and meet the trailblazing pilot in meet-and-greets.
James Butt, Aviation Coordinator at Shuttleworth, commented: “We’re excited that Mélanie Astles will be joining us for the Festival of Flight. She’s one of the most talented aerobatic pilots in the world and her display is guaranteed to be a real highlight of the programme. What makes it even more special is that visitors will also be able to hear directly from Mélanie during Q&A sessions and meet her, giving young aviation fans a chance to be inspired by someone who has broken new ground in the sport.”
Mélanie Astles added: “I am delighted to be making my Shuttleworth debut at Festival of Flight. The event has established itself to become a firm staple in the European air show calendar and I am greatly looking forward to performing. With so many families attending, it is a fantastic opportunity to inspire young people and encourage the next generation of pilots.”
About Mélanie Astle
Born in Rugby, England, and raised on the French Riviera, Mélanie Astles dreamed of becoming a pilot from a young age. At 18, she left school and worked to support herself. Despite the challenges, she continued to pursue her dream, passing the DAEU (the French equivalent of the baccalaureate) and obtaining her private pilot’s licence at 22. Astles quickly rose to prominence in French aerobatics, winning her first Champion of France title in 2007 and going on to win six further national titles. In 2015, she joined the France Unlimited team, which was the best team at date in its discipline.
In 2016, Astles made history by becoming the first and only woman to compete in the Red Bull Air Race series. In 2017, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, she became the first female pilot to win a Red Bull Air Race event, claiming victory in the Challenger Class. Recent accolades include a 5th place finish out of 65 pilots at the FAI World Aerobatic Championship 2023 in Las Vegas, USA (Advanced category), the 2024 British Aerobatics Open title (Unlimited category), and two Neil Williams Trophy wins (Unlimited, 2019 and 2024). At the 2025 RAF Cosford Air Show, Astles won the Ted Coningsby Display Award with 390 points in a public vote, confirming her status as a crowd favourite.
About the Festival of Flight
The Festival of Flight is Shuttleworth’s flagship weekend-long air show, taking place on 27– 28 June 2026. Across the weekend, Shuttleworth aims to fly its entire Collection of aircraft from 1909 to the 1950s, and the 2026 event also stars visiting aircraft and pilots, including Mélanie Astles and The Flying Bulls. The Festival of Flight sees more free ground attractions than ever before spread across the entire Shuttleworth site. From simulators to fun fair
rides, stunt shows, parades, interactive Discovery Zones plus Shuttleworth House and Swiss Garden to explore, there’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained.
To find out more about Festival of Flight and book your tickets, click here.
All aircraft appearances are subject to weather and serviceability.
