The DH 82 de Havilland Tiger Moth was a wood and canvas tandem cockpit training biplane with the student sitting in the front cockpit, it was designed by Captain Geoffrey de Havilland in 1930 from the existing 1925 DH 60 de Havilland Gipsy Moth for the RAF as a primary trainer. The main changes to the Gipsy Moth design were to make it easier for the pilots, especially the student pilot, to "bale out" when encumbered by a parachute should it be necessary, to achieve this fold-down cockpit access doors were added, the fuel tank mounted on the centre of the upper wing on the Gypsy Moth partially blocked the front cockpit exit was moved forward by moving the whole upper wing forward with it's cabane struts and then fitting new swept back wings to move back the wings centre of lift to it's original position (these changes can clearly be seen on the above picture).
The de Havilland Tiger Moth entered service in 1931 and by the time production ended in 1944 a total of 8,868 aircraft had been produced. Although built for the RAF who operated the Tiger Moth until 1952 it was operated by numerous allied air-forces most notably the RCAF, RAAF, RNZAF, USAAF and the RIAF. The last Tiger Moths to serve in a military role were a small number purchased second hand by the Royal Navy in 1956 and operated for three years as "target tugs" and "air experience" aircraft.
As Tiger Moths were retired from military service they were invariably purchased by flying clubs, commercial concerns and individuals, as a result several hundred remain flying today and can be seen regularly flying throughout the world.
De Havilland DH82a Tiger Moth (DH 82A) Specifications:
Crew: Student & instructor
Length: 23 ft 11 in (7.34 m)
Wingspan: 29 ft 4 in (8.94 m)
Height: 8 ft 9 in (2.68 m)
Wing area: 239 ft² (22.2 m²)
Empty weight: 1,115 lb (506 kg)
Loaded weight: 1,825 lb (828 kg)
Engine: Single 130 hp (100 kW) de Havilland Gipsy Major I inverted inline four cylinder
Maximum speed: 109 mph at 1,000 ft (175 km/h at 300 m)
Range: 302 miles (486 km)
Service ceiling 13,600 ft (4,145 m)
Rate of climb: 673 ft/min (205 m/min)
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De Havilland DH82a Tiger Moth Military Trainer Plane Picture and Information
