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DH82a Tiger Moth
The prototype DH82 Tiger Moth E-6 (later G-ABRC) flew for the first time on 26th October 1931.
Intended from the outset for a primary training role, the DH82 Tiger Moth was developed from the DH60T Moth Trainer by the adoption of the inverted Gipsy III engine.
A modified centre section allowed the front seat occupant (Instructor) to escape more easily in emergencies and this was achieved by moving the centre section forward of the front cockpit. Wing sweep was then required to restore the centre of gravity position together with increased lower wing dihedral to improve tip clearance. These key features distinguish the Tiger Moth from the Moth or Moth Major.
Initially, the RAF only ordered 35 dual-control aircraft with the company designation DH82 although this was quickly followed by another for a further 50, powered by the DH Gipsy Major 1 engine. These were known as DH82a or to the RAF ‘Tiger Moth II’.
In February 1932 the Moth entered service at the RAF Central Flying School at RAF Upavon in Wiltshire although by the outbreak of World War II the RAF these were supplemented by a large number of commandeered civil aircraft.
DH82 Tiger Moth (R-5130) 1940
During the full production run of over 8,800 aircraft, over 4,000 were built during the war years with over 50% of that number being built at Morris Motors in Cowley in order to free up capacity at Hatfield for the production of the DH98 Mosquito.
Nowadays, the DH82 Tiger Moth is part of what appears to be a growing family of original and restored Moths spread around the world.
The introduction of the Gipsy Major engine resulted in a change of designation to DH82A and the Tiger Moth rapidly became the standard trainer for civilian and RAF use and was widely exported.
Tiger Moths, like its fore-runners, were also built by De Havilland Canada although their variant feature Menasco engines and are known better as DH82C Menasco Moths. Canada created 1,548 aircraft as well as an additional 200 Tiger Moths for the USAAF Lend-Lease scheme which were designated PT-24 before being delivered to the Canadian Air Force.
Initially, De Havilland Australia produced 20 aircraft from UK built components which lead to a further 1,070 being built at Mascot Aerodrome near Sydney.
Other overseas manufacturing added to the tally with 23 aircraft being built in Sweden as the SK.11, 91 by OGMA in Portugal, 38 in Norway and 133 in New Zealand. There are also records showing that an unquantified ‘large number’ of kits were also assembled around the world.
DH82 Queen Bee
A pilotless derivative, the Queen Bee, was developed for use as a gunnery training target, 320 being built at Hatfield and 60 by Scottish Aviation at Prestwick. Final numbers are unknown as so many aircraft were destroyed without first receiving either registration or record.
A further development of the Tiger Moth was the Thruxton Jackaroo which was a conversion of 18 x DH82’s, carried out by Thruxton Aircraft in Wiltshire and a single conversion by Rollason’s at Croydon Airport in 1960. A four-seat cabin biplane, the Jackaroo saw little success with 3 of the aircraft eventually ending up as crop sprayers.
The Tigers Moth was also the basis for the DH83 Fox Moth which utilised re-rigged wings and converted fuselage to accommodate a passenger cabin with the pilot still operating in an open cockpit.
Officially retired from service in 1959, Tigers and many other Moths continue to the a pilots first taste of the air which is something still favoured by many Airline Captains during the ‘downtime’.
DH82 Tiger Moth Image Gallery
of
DH82 Tiger Moth production
DH82 Tiger Moth tailplane and fuselage production 21st February 1939
DH Tiger Moth & ATA
DH82 Tiger Moth & Air Transport Auxilliary female ferry pilots at Hatfield
DH82 Tiger Moth EM836
DH82 Tiger Moth (EM836) ground view
DH82 Tiger Moth 15 aircraft
DH82 Tiger Moth 15 aircraft on ground (including NL826)
DH82 Tiger Moth
DH82 Tiger Moth preparing for flight
DH82 Tiger Moth at Panshangar
DH82 Tiger Moth at Panshangar, with aircraft being prop swung (DE637 to rear)
DH82 Tiger Moth 15 aircraft
DH82 Tiger Moth (T6953/G-ANNI) taxying at Woburn in August 2014
DH82 Tiger Moth at Panshangar
DH82 Tiger Moth performing a steep bank at Panshangar
DH82 Tiger Moth (L6923) air to air
DH82 Tiger Moth (L6923) air to air
DH82 Tiger Moths at The London Aero Club
DH82 Tiger Moth numerous aircraft (including G-ADJB & G-AJH) at The London Aero Club 26th September 1935
DH82 Tiger Moth (G-AKXG) with Spray Fit and with pilot operating control lever
DH82 Tiger Moth (G-AKXG) with Spray Fit and with pilot operating control lever
DH82 Australian Tiger Moth
DH82 Tiger Moth (VH-NWM) Australian aircraft - close up of cockpits April 2013
DH82 Tiger Moth - Danish AF
DH82 Tiger Moth (S-13) Danish Air Force pilot with John de Havilland
DH82 Tiger Moth (G-ADWJ)
DH82 Tiger Moth (BB803 G-ADWJ) fly past Henstridge June 2014
DH82 Tiger Moth (G-AOJK)
DH82 Tiger Moth (G-AOJK) landing at Woburn August 2014
DH82 Tiger Moth at Woburn in August 2014
DH82 Tiger Moth (G-AHOO) at Woburn in August 2014
DH82 Tiger Moth at Woburn in August 2014
DH82 Tiger Moth (G-AHOO) at Woburn in August 2014
DH82B Queen Bee preparing for launch
DH82B Queen Bee (K8669) preparing for launch
DH82B Queen Bee
DH82B Queen Bee K8669 leaving land-based catapult
DH82B Queen Bee leaving catapult
DH82B Queen Bee (K8642) leaving catapult after launch
Variants
|
DH.60T Moth Trainer
/ Tiger Moth
|
Military training version of the De Havilland. |
|
DH.60 Moth
8 built
|
First prototypes. |
| DH.82 Tiger Moth | Configuration aircraft were re-named Tiger Moth. |
| DH.82 Tiger Moth I | Two-seat primary trainer aircraft, powered by a 120 hp (89 kW) De Havilland piston engine. |
| DH.82A Tiger Moth II | Two-seat primary trainer aircraft, powered by a 130 hp (97 kW) De Havilland Gipsy Major piston engine and fitted with a hood over the rear cockpit for blind flying instruction. |
|
DH.82B Tiger Moth III
1 built
|
Improved variant with a De Havilland Gipsy Major III engine, a wider fuselage and larger fin - The designation is often applied to the Queen Bee in error. |
|
DH.82C Tiger Moth
1,523 built
(inc Menasco Moths & PT24's)
|
Cold weather operations version, fitted with sliding perspex-canopies, cockpit heating, brakes, tail wheels and metal struts. Powered by a 145 hp (108 kW) De Havilland Gipsy Major piston engine. |
|
DH.82C-2 Menasco Moth I
10 built
|
DH.82C fitted with Menasco D-4 Super Pirate 125 hp inline inverted 4-cylinder engine (due to shortages of Gipsy Major). Primarily as radio trainers - distinguishable from DH.82C by opposite rotation of propeller and reversal of the cowling openings. |
|
DH.82C-4 Menasco Moth II
125 built
|
As DH.82C-2 but with reduced fuel capacity and further detail alterations - One example survives and is on display at Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa. |
|
DH.82C-4 Menasco Moth III
1 built
|
Fitted with American AT-1/AR-2 radio and intended as a radio trainer from outset but project cancelled when shortages of British radios and engines was resolved - The sole example (RCAF 4934) was converted from Menasco Moth II. |
|
DH.82 Queen Bee
405 built
|
Unmanned radio-controlled target drone used Tiger Moth wings and for economy a wooden fuselage based on that of the DH.60 Moth. The Queen Bee was intended to be operated from either floats or wheels. |
|
PT-24 Moth
200 built
|
United States military designation for the DH.82C ordered for Lend-Lease to the Royal Canadian Air Force. Built by De Havilland Canada. |
|
Thruxton Jackaroo
19 conversions
|
Four-seat cabin biplane, modified from existing DH.82A airframes by widening the gap between the fuselage longerons.
|
Specification (DH82A)
| Powerplant | One 130hp De Havilland Gipsy Major, or (DH83C) one 145 hp Gipsy Major 1C |
| Span | 29 ft 4 in Maximum Weight 1,825 lb |
| Capacity | Pilot and passenger or instructor and pupil |
| Maximum Speed | 104 mph |
| Cruising Speed | 90 mph Range 300 miles |
Number built
| DH82a, b & c | Approx 8,800 |
| DH82 Queen Bee | 380 |
Survivors
Numerous examples of the Tiger Moth are still flying today (an estimated 250).
The number of airworthy Tiger Moths has increased as previously neglected aircraft (or those previously only used for static display in museums) have been restored.
|
DH82 Tiger Moth
(C-GWI)
|
Alberta Aviation Museum, Edmonton, Canada. www.albertaaviationmuseum.com |
|
DH82 Tiger Moth
(A-38 MLD)
|
Nationaal Luchtvaart-Themapark Aviodrome, Lelystad, Netherlands www.aviodrome.nl |
|
DH82 Tiger Moth
(RCAF 4841)
|
Canadian Air and Space Museum, Toronto, Canada www.casmuseum.org |
|
DH82C2 Moth
(RCAF 4861)
|
Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Ottawa, Canada www.casmuseum.techno-science.ca |
|
DH82C2 Moth
(RCAF 5875)
|
Canadian Museum of Flight, Langley, Canada www.canadianflight.org |
|
DH82C2 Moth
(RCAF 8922)
|
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, Hamilton, Canada www.warplane.com |
| DH82C Tiger Moth | Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada www.airmuseum.ca |
|
DH82C Tiger Moth (CF-IVO)
|
EAA AirVenture Museum, Oshkosh, United States www.eaa.org |
| DH82C Tiger Moth | Heritage Park, Calgary, Canada www.heritagepark.ca |
|
DH82 Tiger Moth
(HU-512)
|
Indian Air Force Museum, Palam, India.
www.indianairforce.nic |
| DH82C Tiger Moth | Israeli Air Force Museum, Hatzerim, Israel www.iaf.org.il |
|
DH-82A Tiger Moth
(VH-LOW )
|
Luskintyre Aviation Flying Museum, Luskintyre, NSW Australia www.luskintyreairfield.com.au |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(VH-IVN)
|
Mackay Tiger Moth Museum, Mackay, Australia. www.mackaytiger.com.au |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(VH-CYA)
|
Mackay Tiger Moth Museum, Mackay, Australia. www.mackaytiger.com.au |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(G-ANFW)
|
Malta Aviation Museum, Malta www.maltaaviationmuseum.com |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(G-ANRX)
|
De Havilland Aircraft Museum, London Colney, England www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk |
| DH82A Tiger Moth | Museo Aeronáutico "Coronel (Aviador) Jaime Meregalli" (es), Uruguay www.museos.gub.uy |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(CC-DMC)
|
Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio (es) Chile www.museoaeronautico.gob.cl |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(PP-ZTM)
|
Museu Aeroespacial, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil www2.fab.mil.br |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(CS-AEF)
|
Museu do Ar, Sintra, Portugal www.emfa.pt |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(ZK-BRL)
|
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, NZ www.tepapa.govt.nz/pages/home.aspx |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(N9510 / G-AOEL )
|
National Museum of Flight at RAF East Fortune in Scotland www.nms.ac.uk |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(N390H)
|
National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio, USA www.nationalmuseum.af.mil |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(G-ACDB)
|
Cole Palen's Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome,Rhinebeck, New York, USA www.oldrhinebeck.org |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(D-501/21)
|
PAF Museum, Karachi, Pakistan www.pafmuseum.com |
|
DH82 II Tiger Moth
(T-8209)
|
Polish Aviation Museum, Kraków, Poland www.muzeumlotnictwa.pl |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(VH-AWA)
|
RAAF Museum, RAAF Williams Point Cook, Australia www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(CF-DHQ)
|
Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin, Canada www.history.alberta.ca/reynolds |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(VH-CKF)
|
Royal Aero Club of Western Australia (Inc.), Jandakot, Australia www.royalaeroclubwa.com.au |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth II
(VH-FAS)
|
Royal Aero Club of Western Australia (Inc.), Jandakot, Australia www.royalaeroclubwa.com.au |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(OO-SOE)
|
Royal Museum of the Armed Forces/Military History, Brussels, Belgium www.klm-mra.be |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth II
(VQ-FAG)
|
Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum, Wigram, New Zealand www.airforcemuseum.co.nz |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(VH-ADW)
|
Royal Newcastle Aero Club, Rutherford, NSW, Australia www.rnac.com.au |
|
DH82C Tiger Moth
(CF-DHQ)
|
Saskatchewan Western Development Museum, Moose Jaw, Canada www.wdm.ca |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(G-ANKT)
|
Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden, Beds, UK www.shuttleworth.org |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(CX-123)
|
Sri Lanka Air Force Museum, Sri Lanka www.airforcemuseum.lk |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(VH-UVZ)
|
Temora Aviation Museum, Temora, Australia www.aviationmuseum.com.au |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(VH-CKF)
|
Temora Aviation Museum, Temora, Australia www.aviationmuseum.com.au |
|
DH82C Tiger Moth
(C-GMFT)
|
Western Canada Aviation Museum, Winnipeg, Canada www.royalaviationmuseum.com |
|
DH82A Tiger Moth
(YU-CHX )
|
Yugoslav Aeronautical Museum, Serbia www.milaviation.com |