It is with great sadness that I am informing you of the death of John Shuttleworth at Matamata air field today, 10/18/2016. John was as far as I know the first to use a rotary engine in an aircraft in NZ . He built and flew a 2/3 scale P51 Mustang. At this stage we have no information as to what may have happened . The CAA will investigate and hopefully we may know more in due course.

Andrew Campbell.

I am very sorry to hear that. Any info at all on what happened Andrew.

Paul Lamar


That is sad indeed.

I do not know John, but was lucky to fly in and out of that airport once.

Gordon Gao

Better pictures.

   From news reports for what that is worth ????

Apparently he was not wearing a shoulder harness and he hit his head on the instrument panel.


The dumb newspaper reporters also said he "dived" and "crashed" . Hardly the result of a dive. That was a good off runway dead stick landing. The airplane looks flyable.

Paul Lamar


Wearing no shoulder harness, that,s a bad habit that some older fellows can't shake, my buddy is one, says it's more hassle to get off in accident, I don't buy it, seems lazy to me.
Condolences to his family.

Steve Carlisle


Assume, since early email said it was a T51 that crashed, that it was a kit built Titan.  Is that the case.  Also, curious as to whether the several more 2/3 P51s at Tauranga Airport are Titans or some other kit or plans built  planes.  My favorite airplane.

Van Van


Not sure what plan the others used.  They are buddies and built the P51s together.  They are also buddies with Chris Wade but for some reason did not use his rotary set up.

Gordon Gao

Are you in Japan Gordon? If so I have an American rotor head friend
that lives in Komagain. North West of Tokyo.

Paul Lamar


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