deHavilland Tiger Moth

The deHavilland DH82 Tiger Moth was developed as an improved version of the Gypsy Moth two seat trainer. By moving the center-section struts forward, the wings of the Tiger Moth could be swept back for better performance while maintaining the desired center of gravity.

DeHavilland delivered the first Tiger Moths in 1932. At the beginning of World War Two, barely 1,000 Tiger Moths had been produced. By the time the war ended there were more than 4,200. The total number of Tiger Moths produced exceeded 8,500 including those manufactured in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. South Africa, Rhodesia, and India also used Tiger Moths to train their pilots.

Most Tiger Moths were constructed from a composite wood and metal. A variant made entirely of wood covered in fabric was used to provide live target practice for the anti-aircraft gunners. The pilots for this version remained on the ground and flew the aircraft by remote control. Tiger Moths were very popular in the civilian market and were one of the original airplanes to pioneer the crop dusting industry.

The Fighter Factory’s Tiger Moth was built in 1940 by the Morris Motor Car Co. in Crowley, England under license from de Havilland. It served 12 years with the Royal Australian Air Force Training Command. After being stricken from the military records, the plane went from Australia to Singapore then to India and Canada before coming to the United States. This Tiger Moth is powered by a Gypsy Major engine producing 120hp and propelling the airplane up to 109mph.