deHavilland DH.82 Tiger Moth
Though Geoffrey deHavilland was successful with the DH.60 Moth series of trainers and light aircraft, he felt the design could be improved--the pilot would have difficulty bailing out of the front cockpit because of the placement of the fuel tank, and the Moth had poor ground clearance. With this in mind, deHavilland moved the top wing forward and reduced the distance between the wings; he also added an uprated Gipsy III engine. The result was at first designated DH.60T, T standing for trainer, but it soon acquired the nickname "Tiger," which led to the aircraft being named Tiger Moth. DeHavilland felt that this was practically a new design, and so it was designated the DH.82. The first flew in October 1931.
The Tiger Moth was a perfect trainer, and it would quickly replace other primary trainers in Royal Air Force service. It was liked not just for its easy handling and maintenance, but also because it could be somewhat difficult in spins and stalls--the Tiger Moth would not be completely forgiving of a green pilot. This was an advantage, as new pilots would learn how to get out of bad situations that would kill them in a more advanced aircraft; it would also weed out anyone who had no business flying. Tiger Moths were in such demand by both military and civilian customers that deHavilland had trouble producing any other design.
By the beginning of World War II in 1939, the DH.82 was the primary trainer for the British Empire. As training programs grew exponentially, civilian-owned Tiger Moths were impressed into military service. Because deHavilland was also going to be producing combat aircraft (such as the Mosquito), production was turned over to other companies, such as deHavilland Canada and Morris. By war's end, practically every pilot who served in the RAF or associated air forces of the Empire had started off in the Tiger Moth. By 1945, when production ended, nearly 9000 had been built.
Because so many were available and because of its superb reputation, war surplus Tiger Moths were quickly bought by pilots around the world; in Europe, with no real competition (as there was in the United States with Beech and Cessna), the DH.82 became the most favorite sport flyer for decades to come; the British Fleet Air Arm still had a flight in service as late as 1970. Homebuilt kits were also offered to enthusiasts. Today, the Tiger Moth is still a relatively common sight at warbird and sport flying meets.
This is not per se a "real" Tiger Moth; it's a homebuilt version. It was built by a Washington flyer in 2008 and flown for almost a decade before being retired and donated to the Tillamook Air Museum in Oregon. The color scheme could be a prewar RAF one; most wartime training schemes were either overall yellow or camouflage over yellow. It looks good, though--this aircraft is pristine, and in theory still flyable.
deHavilland DH.82 Tiger Moth
Though Geoffrey deHavilland was successful with the DH.60 Moth series of trainers and light aircraft, he felt the design could be improved--the pilot would have difficulty bailing out of the front cockpit because of the placement of the fuel tank, and the Moth had poor ground clearance. With this in mind, deHavilland moved the top wing forward and reduced the distance between the wings; he also added an uprated Gipsy III engine. The result was at first designated DH.60T, T standing for trainer, but it soon acquired the nickname "Tiger," which led to the aircraft being named Tiger Moth. DeHavilland felt that this was practically a new design, and so it was designated the DH.82. The first flew in October 1931.
The Tiger Moth was a perfect trainer, and it would quickly replace other primary trainers in Royal Air Force service. It was liked not just for its easy handling and maintenance, but also because it could be somewhat difficult in spins and stalls--the Tiger Moth would not be completely forgiving of a green pilot. This was an advantage, as new pilots would learn how to get out of bad situations that would kill them in a more advanced aircraft; it would also weed out anyone who had no business flying. Tiger Moths were in such demand by both military and civilian customers that deHavilland had trouble producing any other design.
By the beginning of World War II in 1939, the DH.82 was the primary trainer for the British Empire. As training programs grew exponentially, civilian-owned Tiger Moths were impressed into military service. Because deHavilland was also going to be producing combat aircraft (such as the Mosquito), production was turned over to other companies, such as deHavilland Canada and Morris. By war's end, practically every pilot who served in the RAF or associated air forces of the Empire had started off in the Tiger Moth. By 1945, when production ended, nearly 9000 had been built.
Because so many were available and because of its superb reputation, war surplus Tiger Moths were quickly bought by pilots around the world; in Europe, with no real competition (as there was in the United States with Beech and Cessna), the DH.82 became the most favorite sport flyer for decades to come; the British Fleet Air Arm still had a flight in service as late as 1970. Homebuilt kits were also offered to enthusiasts. Today, the Tiger Moth is still a relatively common sight at warbird and sport flying meets.
This is not per se a "real" Tiger Moth; it's a homebuilt version. It was built by a Washington flyer in 2008 and flown for almost a decade before being retired and donated to the Tillamook Air Museum in Oregon. The color scheme could be a prewar RAF one; most wartime training schemes were either overall yellow or camouflage over yellow. It looks good, though--this aircraft is pristine, and in theory still flyable.