De Havilland Tiger Moth

{{Short description|1930s British military trainer aircraft}} {{About||the earlier monoplane also called "Tiger Moth"|de Havilland DH.71 Tiger Moth|other de Havilland Moth aircraft|de Havilland Moth}} {{Redirect|Tiger Moth|the group of moths|Arctiini||Tiger moth (disambiguation)}} {{Lowercase title}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{Use British English|date=March 2018}} {{Infobox aircraft |name =DH.82 Tiger Moth |image =DH 82A Tiger Moth - N81DH.jpg |caption =A Tiger Moth in 1989 |type =[[Trainer (aircraft)|Trainer]] |manufacturer =[[de Havilland|de Havilland Aircraft Company]] <br> [[de Havilland Canada (1928–1986)|de Havilland Canada]] |designer =[[Geoffrey de Havilland]] |first_flight =26 October 1931 |introduction = February 1932<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.ww2warbirds.net/ww2htmls/dehatigerm.html|title= The De Havilland Tiger Moth |first=Frans|last=Bonné|website= WW2 Warbirds |access-date=5 May 2018|url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304104253/http://www.ww2warbirds.net/ww2htmls/dehatigerm.html|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> |retired = 1959 |status = In service for civil use |primary_user =[[Royal Air Force]] |more_users =[[Royal Canadian Air Force]]<br/>[[Royal Australian Air Force]]<br/>[[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] |produced = 1931–1944 |number_built =8,868<ref>{{citation |url= http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=314 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070927194816/http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=314 |title=De Havilland Tiger Moth (D.H.82) |access-date=12 August 2010 |website=British aircraft |date=1 July 2006}}</ref> |unit cost = |variants = [[Thruxton Jackaroo]] |developed_from = [[de Havilland DH.60 Moth]] }}

The '''de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth''' is a 1930s British [[biplane]] designed by [[Geoffrey de Havilland]] and built by the [[de Havilland|de Havilland Aircraft Company]]. It was operated by the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) and other operators as a primary [[trainer (aircraft)|trainer]] aircraft. In addition to the type's principal use for ''[[ab initio]]'' training, the [[World War II|Second World War]] had RAF Tiger Moths operating in other capacities, including [[Maritime patrol aircraft|maritime surveillance]] and defensive anti-invasion preparations; some aircraft were outfitted to function as armed [[light bomber]]s.

The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until it was replaced by the [[de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk|de Havilland Chipmunk]] during the early 1950s. Many of the military surplus aircraft subsequently entered into civilian operation. Many nations have used the Tiger Moth in both military and civilian applications, and it remains in widespread use as a recreational aircraft. It is still occasionally used as a primary training aircraft, particularly for pilots wanting to gain experience before moving on to other [[Conventional landing gear|tailwheel]] aircraft. Many Tiger Moths are now employed by companies offering trial lesson experiences.

==Design and development== ===Origins=== Geoffrey de Havilland, the company's owner and founder, had sought to produce a light aircraft superior to two of his previous designs, the [[de Havilland Humming Bird]] and [[de Havilland DH.51]].<ref name = "jackson 3"/> From earlier experience, de Havilland knew the difficulty and importance of correctly sizing such an aircraft to appeal to the civilian market, such as touring, [[Trainer (aircraft)|trainer]], [[flying club]], and [[private aviation]] customers; the firm had great success with a scaled-down version of the DH.51, the [[de Havilland DH.60 Moth]].<ref name = "jackson 3">Jackson 1966, p. 3.</ref>

The first aircraft to bear the name Tiger Moth was the [[de Havilland DH.71 Tiger Moth]].<ref name = "jackson 4">Jackson 1966, p. 4.</ref> De Havilland had developed successively more capable [[de Havilland Gipsy|Gipsy]] engines, and the company had produced the new low-winged [[monoplane]] aircraft to test them.<ref name = "jackson 3 4">Jackson 1966, pp. 3–4.</ref> Improvements made on the Tiger Moth monoplane were incorporated into a military trainer variant of the DH.60 Moth, the DH.60T Moth – the ''T'' standing for both 'Tiger' and 'Trainer'.<ref name = "jackson 4"/>

The DH.60T Moth had several shortcomings, thus was subject to several alterations, such as the adoption of shortened interplane struts to raise the wingtips after insufficient ground clearance was discovered while it was undergoing trials at [[RAF Martlesham Heath]].<ref name = "jackson 4"/> As a result of the Martlesham trials, a favourable report for the type was produced, which in turn led to the type soon being formally adopted as the new basic trainer of the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF). A single prototype, designated the DH.82 Tiger Moth, was ordered by the British [[Air Ministry]] under [[List of Air Ministry specifications|Specification]] 15/31, which sought a suitable ''[[ab initio]]'' training aircraft.<ref name = "jackson 4"/>

One of the main changes from the preceding Moth series was improved access to the front [[cockpit]], since the training requirement specified that the front-seat occupant had to be able to escape easily, especially when wearing a [[parachute]].<ref name="auto">Bain 1992, p. 43.</ref><ref name = "jackson 4"/> Access to the front cockpit of the Moth's predecessors was restricted by the proximity of the aircraft's fuel tank, directly above the front cockpit, and the rear [[cabane strut]]s for the upper wing. The solution adopted was to shift the upper wing forward but sweep the wings back to maintain the same centre of lift.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.classicaircraft.ca/flightline_frameset.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023131701/http://www.classicaircraft.ca/flightline_frameset.htm |archive-date=23 October 2007 |title=de Havilland Tiger Moth 82A |publisher=Collingwood Classic Aircraft Foundation |access-date=12 August 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name = "jackson 4"/> Other changes included a strengthened structure, fold-down doors on both sides of the cockpit, and a revised exhaust system.<ref name="auto"/>

On 26 October 1931 the first 'true' Tiger Moth, the prototype ''E6'', made its [[maiden flight]] at [[Stag Lane Aerodrome]], [[Edgware]], London, flown by de Havilland Chief Test Pilot [[Hubert Broad]] .<ref>McKay 1988, p. 6.</ref><ref name = "jackson 4"/> Shortly thereafter construction of the first 35 production aircraft for the RAF, designated ''K2567-K2601'', began following the issuing of [[List of Air Ministry specifications|Specification]] T.23/31; in addition two [[Float (nautical)|float]]-equipped [[seaplane]]s, ''S1675'' and ''S1676'', were built according to Specification T.6/33.<ref name = "jackson 4"/>

===Design=== The de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth is a [[Airplane Single Engine Land|single-engined]], [[biplane]], [[taildragger]] [[aircraft]] with two seats in [[tandem]] configuration. It was developed principally to be used by private touring customers as well as for pilot instruction for both military and civilian operators. It is typically powered by a [[de Havilland Gipsy]] III 120 hp engine; later models are often fitted with more powerful models of this engine, while some have been re-engined by third-party companies.

One characteristic of the Tiger Moth design is its differential [[aileron]] control setup. The ailerons (on the lower wing only) on a Tiger Moth are operated by an externally mounted circular bell crank, which lies flush with the lower wing's fabric undersurface covering. This circular bell crank is rotated by metal cables and chains from the cockpit's control columns, and has the externally mounted aileron pushrod attached at a point 45° outboard and forward of the bell crank's centre when the ailerons are both at their neutral position. This results in an aileron control system operating with barely any travel down at all on the wing on the outside of the turn, while the aileron on the inside travels a large amount upwards to counteract [[adverse yaw]].

From the outset, the Tiger Moth proved to be an ideal trainer, simple and cheap to own and maintain, although it required positive and prompt control movements. Some instructors preferred these flight characteristics because of the effect of "weeding out" the inept student pilot.<ref name="warbird"/>

===Production=== [[File: Interior of De Havilland aircraft factory, Rongotai, Wellington, 1939 or 1940.jpg|thumb|[[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] Tiger Moth aircraft with blind flying hoods for instrument training, early in the war]] The Tiger Moth quickly became a commercial success, and examples were sold to more than 25 air forces.<ref name = "jackson 4"/> In addition to the military demand, aircraft were also produced for the civilian market. At one point, the flow of orders for the Tiger Moth effectively occupied almost the entirety of de Havilland's capacity to manufacture aircraft, and little capacity could be spared to accommodate domestic customers.<ref name = "jackson 4 5">Jackson 1966, pp. 4–5.</ref> In 1932, de Havilland also developed an affordable [[air taxi]] from the Tiger Moth, using many of the main components of the former with a new plywood fuselage seating four people in an enclosed cabin; it was marketed as the [[de Havilland Fox Moth]].<ref name = "jackson 15">Jackson 1966, p. 15.</ref> Following the end of all manufacturing, third parties occasionally rebuilt Tiger Moths to a similar configuration to the Fox Moth, such as the [[Thruxton Jackaroo]].<ref name = "jackson 15 16">Jackson 1966, pp. 15–16.</ref>

In late 1934, 50 Tiger Moths of a more refined design, sometimes referred to as the Tiger Moth II, were delivered to the RAF; these aircraft adopted the [[de Havilland Gipsy Major]] engine, capable of generating 130 HP, and the use of [[plywood]] decking on the rear fuselage in place of fabric .<ref name = "jackson 5">Jackson 1966, p. 5.</ref> Throughout the period 1934–1936, production activity was centred upon meeting the demand for military trainers, including several contracts having been placed by the RAF to Specification T.7/35, along with export orders by seven overseas operators.<ref name = "jackson 6">Jackson 1966, p. 6.</ref> Civil examples were also being produced at this time, both for British private customers and to export customers in countries such as [[Ceylon]], [[Greece]], [[Lithuania]], [[Rhodesia]], [[Peru]], and [[Switzerland]].<ref name = "jackson 6 7">Jackson 1966, pp. 6–7.</ref>

After 1936, the gradual rate of acceleration of Tiger Moth manufacturing had reached the point where production capacity finally became able to exceed the demands from military customers alone.<ref name = "jackson 7">Jackson 1966, p. 7.</ref> By the outbreak of the [[World War II|Second World War]] a total of 1,424 Tiger Moths had been completed by both domestic and overseas manufacturing efforts.<ref name = "jackson 10"/> In 1941 de Havilland transferred principal manufacturing activity for the Tiger Moth from its [[Hatfield, Hertfordshire|Hatfield]] factory to [[Morris Motors|Morris Motors Limited]] at their facility in [[Cowley, Oxford]].<ref name = "jackson 11">Jackson 1966, p. 11.</ref>

In 1945, British Tiger Moth production was ended; by this point, Morris Motors had completed a total of 3,433 Tiger Moths.<ref name = "jackson 11"/>

Overseas manufacturing of the type commenced in 1937; the first such overseas builder was [[de Havilland Canada (1928–1986)|de Havilland Canada]] at its facility in [[Downsview, Ontario]]. In addition to an initial batch of 25 Tiger Moths that were built for the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] (RCAF), the Canadian firm began building fuselages, which were exported to the UK for completion.<ref name = "jackson 10">Jackson 1966, p. 10.</ref> Canadian-built Tiger Moths featured modifications to better suit the local climate, along with a reinforced tail wheel, hand-operated brakes (built by [[Bendix Corporation]]), shorter [[landing gear|undercarriage]] radius rods, and the legs of the main landing gear legs being raked forwards as a safeguard against tipping forwards during braking. In addition, the cockpit had a large sliding canopy fitted along with [[exhaust system|exhaust]]-based heating; various alternative undercarriage arrangements were also offered.<ref name = "jackson 11 12">Jackson 1966, pp. 11–12.</ref> By the end of Canadian production, de Havilland Canada had manufactured a total of 1,548 of all versions, including the DH.82C and American [[Menasco Pirate]]-engined variants (with opposing "right-hand"/"counter-clockwise" rotation to the left-hand/clockwise-running Gipsy Major) known as the Menasco Moth; this also included 200 Tiger Moths that were built under wartime [[United States Army Air Forces]] (USAAF) [[Lend-Lease]] orders, which were designated for paperwork purposes as the PT-24, before being delivered onwards to the RCAF.

Additional overseas manufacturing activity also occurred, most of which took place during wartime. [[de Havilland Australia]] assembled an initial batch of 20 aircraft from parts sent from the United Kingdom prior to embarking on their own major production campaign of the DH.82A, which resulted in a total of 1,070 Tiger Moths being constructed in Australia.<ref name = "jackson 11"/> In late 1940, the first Australian-assembled Tiger Moth conducted its first flight at [[Bankstown]], [[Sydney]]. Most Australian aircraft were delivered to the [[Royal Australian Air Force]] (RAAF), but several batches were exported, including 18 for the USAAF and 41 for the [[Indian Air Force|Royal Indian Air Force]].<ref name = "jackson 11"/>

In New Zealand, 132 Tiger Moths were completed by [[De Havilland (New Zealand) Company Limited|de Havilland Aircraft of New Zealand]];<ref name="production figures"/> 23 were built in Sweden as the Sk.11' by [[AB Svenska Järnvägsverkstädernas Aeroplanavdelning]], 91 were built in Portugal by [[OGMA]], and another 38 in Norway by [[Kjeller Flyfabrikk]] (some sources say 37 so the first may have been assembled from a kit) in addition to a large number of aircraft that were assembled from kits shipped from the UK.<ref name="production figures">Hannah 1982, p. 66.</ref><ref>Rimell 1992, p. 9.</ref><ref name = "jackson 11"/>

==Operational history== ===Introduction=== [[File:De Havilland DH-82 Tiger Moth ExCC.jpg|thumb|Canadian DH.82C Tiger Moth showing characteristic canopy]] The RAF ordered 35 dual-control Tiger Moth Is, which had the company designation DH.82.<ref>Bransom 1991, p. 41.</ref> A subsequent order was placed for 50 aircraft powered by the de Havilland Gipsy Major I engine (130 hp) which was the DH.82A or to the RAF Tiger Moth II. The Tiger Moth entered service at the [[RAF Central Flying School]] in February 1932. During the prewar years, increasing numbers of Tiger Moths were procured for the RAF and by overseas customers; by 1939, nearly 40 flying schools operating the type had been established, nine of which operated civilian-register models, as well.<ref name = "jackson 5 6">Jackson 1966, pp. 5–6.</ref>

From 1937 onwards, the Tiger Moth was made available to general flying clubs, production having been previously occupied by military customers. The type was used to replace older aircraft in the civilian trainer capacity, such as the older [[de Havilland DH.60 Moth|de Havilland Cirrus Moth]] and Gipsy Moth.<ref name = "jackson 7"/> By the start of the Second World War, the RAF had around 500 Tiger Moths in service. In addition, nearly all civilian-operated Tiger Moths throughout the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] were quickly impressed into their respective air forces to meet the wartime demand for trainer aircraft.<ref name = "jackson 10"/>

===Training=== [[File: Winston Churchill and the Secretary of State for War waiting to see the launch of a de Havilland Queen Bee radio-controlled target drone, 6 June 1941. H10307.jpg|thumb|[[Winston Churchill]], [[David Margesson, 1st Viscount Margesson|David Margesson]], and others waiting to watch the launch of a DH.82 Queen Bee target drone, 6 June 1941]]

The Tiger Moth became the primary trainer throughout the Commonwealth and elsewhere. It was the principal type used in the British [[Commonwealth Air Training Plan]], where thousands of military pilots got their first taste of flight in a Tiger Moth. The RAF found the Tiger Moth's handling ideal for training fighter pilots. Generally docile and forgiving in the normal flight phases encountered during initial training, when used for aerobatic and formation training, the Tiger Moth required skill and concentration to perform well; a botched manoeuvre could cause the aircraft to stall or spin. From 1941 onwards, all military and many civilian Tiger Moths were outfitted with antispin [[Strake (aeronautics)|strake]]s positioned on the junction between the fuselage and the [[leading edge]] of the tailplane, known as Mod 11'; later on, the [[aileron]] mass balances were removed for improved spin recovery performance.<ref name = "jackson 10"/>

===Gunnery target drone=== In 1935, the '''DH.82 Queen Bee''', a [[Unmanned aerial vehicle|pilotless]], radio-controlled variant of the Tiger Moth, appeared for use in training antiaircraft gunners. Use of the word [[Target drone|drone]], as a generic term for pilotless aircraft, apparently originated from the name and role of the Queen Bee (i.e. the word drone is a reference to the male bee, which makes one flight in search of the female queen bee and then subsequently dies).<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324110404578625803736954968 "The Flight of 'Drone' From Bees to Planes"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831175442/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324110404578625803736954968 |date=31 August 2017 }} ''Wall Street Journal'', 26 July 2013</ref><ref>[https://fortunascorner.com/2013/07/28/the-flight-of-drone-from-bees-to-planes/ "The Flight Of ‘Drone’ From Bees To Planes"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831173812/https://fortunascorner.com/2013/07/28/the-flight-of-drone-from-bees-to-planes/ |date=31 August 2017 }} ''Fortuna's corner''</ref> The DH.82 had a wooden fuselage, based on that of the DH.60 Gipsy Moth (with appropriate structural changes related to [[cabane strut]] placement) and the wings of the Tiger Moth II.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Popular Mechanics|author=Hearst Magazines|title=Radio Controls Robot Plane On Pilotless Flight|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wN8DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA551|date=October 1935|publisher=Hearst Magazines|page=551}}</ref> Queen Bees retained a normal front cockpit for test-flying or [[Ferry flying|ferry flights]], but had a radio-control system in the rear cockpit to operate the controls using pneumatically driven [[Servomechanism|servos]].

In total, 400 were built by de Havilland at Hatfield and a further 70 by [[Scottish Aviation]].<ref>[http://www.captainnevillesflyingcircus.org.uk/page16.htm "Queen Bee G-BLUZ, Aircraft History."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822164153/http://www.captainnevillesflyingcircus.org.uk/page16.htm |date=22 August 2010 }} ''Captain Neville's Flying Circus.'' Retrieved: 31 August 2010.</ref> There were nearly 300 in service at the start of the Second World War.

===Coastal patrol=== In December 1939, owing to a shortage of [[maritime patrol aircraft]], six [[Flight (military unit)|flight]]s of Tiger Moths were operated by [[RAF Coastal Command]] for surveillance flights over coastal waters, known as "scarecrow patrols". The aircraft operated in pairs and were armed only with a [[Very pistol]]. The intention was to force any encroaching [[U-boat]] to dive; one aircraft would then remain in the vicinity while the other would search for a naval patrol vessel that could be led back to the spot.<ref>Carter 2004, p. 17.</ref> Because they were not radio equipped, each aircraft also carried a pair of [[homing pigeon]]s in a wicker basket to call for help in case of a forced landing at sea. A 25-lb (11.5 kg) bomb was sometimes carried, but no record shows one being dropped in action.<ref>Lake 2010, pp. 7–8.</ref>

===Anti-invasion preparations=== In the aftermath of Britain's disastrous campaign in France, in August 1940 three proposals for beach defence systems were put forward; 350 Tiger Moths were fitted with bomb racks to serve as light bombers as a part of [[Operation Banquet]]. A more radical conversion involved the "paraslasher", a scythe-like blade fitted to a Tiger Moth and intended to cut [[Fallschirmjäger (World War II)|parachutists']] canopies as they descended. Flight tests proved the idea, but it was not officially adopted. The Tiger Moth was also tested as a dispenser of [[Paris green]] rat poison for use against ground troops, with powder dispensers located under the wings.<ref>[http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/de-havilland-tiger-moth-ii/ "de Havilland Tiger Moth II."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518100914/http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/de-havilland-tiger-moth-ii/ |date=18 May 2013 }} ''rafmuseum.org.'' Retrieved: 20 July 2010.</ref>

===Postwar=== [[File:DH.82A Tiger Moth Coupe G-ANSA Baginton 20.08.55 edited-2.jpg|thumb|Tiger Moth Coupe with spatted undercarriage at [[Coventry Airport]] in 1955]] [[File:DH.82A Tiger Moth PH-NIS Hilversum 12.03.67 edited-3.jpg|thumb|left|A Dutch Tiger Moth at [[Hilversum Airport]] in 1967 has the extended fin area required by the Dutch authorities]] [[File:JamesAviation.jpg|thumb|Early aerial topdressing conversion of the Tiger Moth at the [[Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa]] in 2009]]

In the postwar climate, impressed Tiger Moths were restored to their former civilian operations and owners.<ref name = "jackson 12">Jackson 1966, p. 12.</ref> Accordingly, large numbers of Tiger Moths were made available for sale to flying clubs and individuals. Relatively few new light aircraft were being manufactured at the time to take its place.<ref name = "jackson 12 13">Jackson 1966, pp. 12–13.</ref> Due to the type being inexpensive to operate and the aforementioned factors, the Tiger Moth was met with an enthusiastic reception across the civilian market. Additionally, it was put to use for new roles, including aerial advertising, aerial ambulance, aerobatic performer, crop dusting, and [[Gliding|glider tug]] work.<ref name = "jackson 12"/>

In the air-racing market, Tiger Moths were converted to a single-seat configuration, often temporarily.<ref name = "jackson 13"/> Several aircraft were extensively modified for greater speed; these changes included alterations such as the removal of the centre-section fuel tank, [[alternative fuel]] tank configurations, all-new elevators, custom-designed [[fuel injector]]s, and the recovering of the fuselage with lighter-weight fabric.<ref name = "jackson 13 14">Jackson 1966, pp. 13–14.</ref> Three particular aircraft, ''G-APDZ'', ''G-ANZZ'' and ''G-ANMZ'', were accordingly rebuilt and were used in international competitions; the design changes led to substantially improved performance during inverted flight.<ref name = "jackson 14">Jackson 1966, p. 14.</ref>

Ex-RAF examples were imported to the Netherlands during the postwar era and used to equip the Dutch National Flying School at [[Ypenburg]].<ref name = "jackson 14 15">Jackson 1966, pp. 14–15.</ref> These aircraft were required by the Dutch civil aviation authorities to be fitted with a larger dorsal fin, incorporating an extended forward fillet to the fin, to provide for additional area; this requirement was also extended to privately owned Tiger Moths in the Netherlands.<ref name = "jackson 14"/>

The Tiger Moth might be confused at first glance with the Belgian-designed [[Stampe SV.4]] aerobatic aircraft, which had a very similar design layout; both aircraft made use of a similar main landing gear configuration, a slightly sweepback wing, and an alike engine/cowling design. Several Tiger Moths were converted during the 1950s to a ''Coupe'' standard, which involved the installation of a sliding canopy over both crew positions, not unlike the Canadian-built [[Fleet Finch#Design and development|Fleet Finch]] biplane trainers that had worked beside the Tiger Moth in RCAF service as trainers in Canada during the type's wartime years.<ref name = "jackson 13"/>

After the development of [[aerial topdressing]] in New Zealand, large numbers of ex-[[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] Tiger Moths built in that country and in the United Kingdom were converted into [[agricultural aircraft]]; at the time, this was a pioneering use for aircraft.<ref name = "jackson 12"/> In this role, the front seat was commonly replaced with a hopper to hold [[superphosphate]] for aerial topdressing. A large number were also used to deploy [[insecticide]] in the crop-sprayer role, for which several alternative arrangements, including perforated piping being installed underneath the mainplanes or the placement of rotary atomisers on the lower mainplane, were used.<ref name = "jackson 12"/>

[[Royal Navy]] Tiger Moths used as target tugs and "air experience" machines became the last military examples when that service purchased a batch of refurbished ex-civilian examples in 1956.<ref>McKay 1998, p. 57.</ref> One became the last biplane to land on an aircraft carrier ({{HMS|Eagle|R05|6}}) in the [[English Channel]] during the summer of 1967. On takeoff, the wind over the deck allowed the aircraft to fly, but it was slower than the carrier, which turned hard to starboard to avoid a possible collision.{{citation needed|date = May 2012}} These planes remained in service until the early 1970s.{{citation needed|date = May 2012}}

The Tiger Moth (and to a lesser extent, the similar Belgian [[Stampe-Vertongen SV.4]]) had been often used as a stand-in for rarer aircraft in films, sometimes having been extensively modified to outwardly resemble the aircraft it was depicting.<ref name = "jackson 16">Jackson 1966, p. 16.</ref> Three aircraft were converted by [[Croydon]]-based Film Aviation Services Ltd for use in the filming of the 1962 movie [[Lawrence of Arabia (film)|''Lawrence of Arabia'']]; one Tiger Moth became a replica of a [[Fokker D.VII]], while two aircraft resembled the [[Rumpler C.IV|Rumpler C.V]] to depict these types for the film.<ref name = "jackson 16"/> Several Tiger Moths were used in the crash scenes in ''[[The Great Waldo Pepper]]'', standing in for the [[Curtiss JN-4|Curtiss JN-1]].{{citation needed|date = May 2012}} Due to the popularity of the design and the rising cost of flyable examples, a number of replicas (scale and full-sized) have been designed for the homebuilder; these include the [[Fisher R-80 Tiger Moth]] and the [[RagWing RW22 Tiger Moth]].{{citation needed|date = May 2012}}

==Flying characteristics== [[File:DH 82 A Tiger Moth D-EBKT.jpg|thumb|left|DH.82A Tiger Moth in 2005]] The Tiger Moth responds well to control inputs and is fairly easy to fly for a tail-dragger. Its big "parachute" wings are very forgiving, and it stalls at a speed as slow as 25 knots with power. Its stall and spin characteristics are benign. It has some adverse yaw and therefore requires rudder input during turns.<ref name=RAAF>"Pilot's Notes for Tiger Moth Aircraft." ''R.A.A.F. Publication No. 416'', February 1941.</ref> The Tiger Moth exhibits the fundamental requirements of a training aircraft, in being "easy to fly, but difficult to fly well"; the aircraft's benign handling when within its limits make it easy for the novice to learn the basic skills of flight. At the same time techniques such as [[coordinated flight]] must be learnt and used effectively, and the aircraft will show up mishandling to an observant instructor or attentive pupil. As training progresses towards more advanced areas, especially [[aerobatics]], the skill required on the part of a Tiger Moth pilot increases. The aircraft will not, like some training aircraft, "fly its way out of trouble" but will instead stall or spin if mishandled. However the stall and spin remain benign, again showing up deficient piloting without endangering the aircraft or the crew. These characteristics were invaluable to military operators, who must identify between pilots with the potential to go on to fly [[fighter aircraft]], those more suited to lower-performance machines and those who must be relegated to non-pilot aircrew positions.{{citation needed|date=June 2014}}

Because the Tiger Moth has no electrical system, it must be started by hand. Being a tail-dragging biplane, taxiing also requires care. The pilot cannot see directly ahead, so the lower wing can hit obstructions, and it is susceptible to gusts of wind on its inclined, large, upper wing.<ref name=RAAF/> [[File:dehav.dh82a.tigermoth.g-acdj.arp.jpg|thumb|A 1933-built Tiger Moth]] The takeoff is uneventful, and it has a reasonable rate of climb. However full power should not be maintained for more than a minute to avoid damaging the engine.<ref name=RAAF/>

The Tiger Moth's biplane design makes it strong, and it is fully aerobatic. However it has ailerons only on its bottom wing, which makes its rate of roll relatively slow for a biplane; and, as stated previously, the ailerons on a Tiger Moth normally operate with a heavy degree of designed-in differential operation (mostly deflecting up, hardly at all downwards) to avoid [[adverse yaw]] problems in normal flight. Most manoeuvres are started at about 90 to 110 knots, and it has a Velocity Never Exceeded (VNE) of 140 knots. It is important to lock the automatic slats (leading edge flaps) during aerobatic manoeuvres.<ref name=RAAF/>

There are two methods of landing. "Wheeler" landing involves pushing the plane on to the runway at a moderate speed with just the main wheels on the ground, with the tail held up until speed reduces. It does not tend to bounce. Unlike most taildraggers, slow speed [[Conventional landing gear|three-point landings]] are quite difficult because there is not enough elevator authority to bring the tail down to the correct three-point attitude.{{original research inline|date=March 2015}} This means that the tail needs to be brought down sharply at just the right speed in order for the angular momentum{{original research inline|date=March 2015}} to carry it down sufficiently.<ref name=RAAF/>

The open cockpit allows pilots to move their heads over the side to see the runway during approach and landing. As the aircraft is a tail dragger, it is essential to land it straight with no sideways movement, to avoid ground loops.<ref name=RAAF/>

One often undocumented feature is that the carburettor de-icing mechanism is activated automatically when the throttle is reduced. This means that when an engine is running poorly due to ice the pilot must reduce power even further and then wait for the ice to melt.<ref name=RAAF/>

==Variants== [[File:WCAM Tiger Moth.jpg|thumb|[[de Havilland Canada (1928–1986)|de Havilland Canada]] DH.82C in [[British Commonwealth Air Training Plan|Commonwealth Air Training Plan]] "trainer yellow" at the [[Western Canada Aviation Museum]] (note the skis)]] ;DH.60T Moth Trainer/Tiger Moth :Military training version of the De Havilland [[de Havilland Gipsy Moth|DH.60 Moth]]. First eight prototype DH.82 configuration aircraft were named Tiger Moth.<ref>Bransom 1991, p. 33.</ref> ;DH.82 Tiger Moth (Tiger Moth I) :Two-seat primary trainer aircraft. Powered by a 120 hp (89 kW) [[De Havilland Gipsy|de Havilland Gipsy III]] piston engine; renamed ''Tiger Moth I'' in RAF. ;DH.82A Tiger Moth (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. Named ''Tiger Moth II'' in RAF. ;DH.82B Tiger Moth III :Improved variant with a [[de Havilland Gipsy Major|de Havilland Gipsy Major III]] engine, it had a wider fuselage and larger fin. First flown on 1 October 1939 only one was built. In some references the designation is erroneously applied to the Queen Bee. ;DH.82C Tiger Moth :Cold weather operations version for the [[RCAF]]. Fitted with sliding perspex canopies, cockpit heating, brakes, tail wheels and metal struts. Wheels were moved forwards by 9.75" to compensate for the installation of brakes by changing the angle of the undercarriage legs. Powered by a 145 hp (108 kW) de Havilland Gipsy Major piston engine. 1,523 built (including Menasco Moths and PT-24). ;DH.82C-2 Menasco Moth I :DH.82C fitted with [[Menasco D-4 Super Pirate]] 125 hp inline inverted 4-cylinder engine due to shortages of Gipsy Major engines. Because of the reduction in power, they were used primarily as radio trainers. Externally distinguishable from 82C by opposite rotation of propeller and reversal of the cowling openings. 10 built. ;DH.82C-4 Menasco Moth II :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]]. 125 built. ;DH.82C-4 Menasco Moth III :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.<ref name="Menasco serials">{{cite web|url=http://www.ody.ca/~bwalker/RCAF_4900_4949_detailed.html|title=This web page has moved|work=ody.ca|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426002519/http://www.ody.ca/~bwalker/RCAF_4900_4949_detailed.html|archive-date=26 April 2012}}</ref> [[File:1944 de Havilland DH-82B Queen Bee (RAF LF858, private G-BLUZ) at 2018 Cotswold Airport Revival Festival, Gloucestershire, England 29Sept2018 arp.jpg|thumb|Privately owned ex-RAF 1944 de Havilland DH.82B Queen Bee in England]] ;DH.82 {{visible anchor|Queen Bee}} :A target drone for anti-aircraft gunnery training. It could be flown unmanned under radio-control, but was also fitted with a cockpit so it could be flown by a pilot. Tiger Moth wings were used and, to reduce cost, a wooden fuselage based on that of the DH.60 Moth (but with the structural changes associated with the [[cabane strut]]s having been relocated as per the standard Tiger Moth) was used. Between 1935 and 1943, 412 were built in float and wheeled versions.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk/aircraft/de-havilland-dh82b-queen-bee/|title=de Havilland DH82B Queen Bee |author= |date= |website=de Havilland Aircraft Museum |publisher= |access-date= 2021-06-06}}</ref> As of 2008, the sole remaining airworthy Queen Bee resided at [[RAF Henlow]], England. ;PT-24 Moth :United States military designation for the DH.82C ordered for [[Lend-Lease]] to the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]]; 200 were built by de Havilland Canada. ;Thruxton Jackaroo {{Main|Thruxton Jackaroo}} :Four-seat cabin biplane, modified from existing DH.82A airframes by widening the gap between the fuselage longerons. 19 were converted in the United Kingdom. ;DH.83 Fox Moth :Used many Tiger Moth components including wings (rerigged to remove sweep), tail and undercarriage with a new fuselage featuring an enclosed cabin for the passengers, and an open cockpit for the pilot. Built in both the United Kingdom before the Second World War and in Canada after the war. ;I2H :[[Brazilian Navy]] designation of the DH.82.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Brazilian Military Aircraft Designations |url=https://designation-systems.net/non-us/brazil.html |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=designation-systems.net}}</ref> ;I2H1 :Brazilian Navy designation of the DH.82A.<ref name=":0" /> ;B.F.10 :({{langx|th|บ.ฝ.๑๐}}) [[Royal Thai Armed Forces]] designation for the Tiger Moth Mk.II.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thai Military Aircraft Designations |url=https://designation-systems.net/non-us/thailand.html |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=designation-systems.net}}</ref>

==Operators== [[File:DH82A Tiger Moth A17-561 2.jpg|thumb|DH.82A Tiger Moth in [[RAAF]] markings]] [[File:RMM Brussel Tiger Moth.JPG|thumb|Tiger Moth, [[Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History]], Brussels, Belgium (2011)]]

===Military operators=== ;{{AUS}} *[[Royal Australian Air Force]] *[[Royal Australian Navy]] – [[Fleet Air Arm (RAN)]]. ;{{BEL}} *[[Belgian Air Force]] (31 operated from 1945) ;{{BRA}} *[[Brazilian Air Force]] *[[Brazilian Naval Aviation (1916–1941)|Brazilian Naval Aviation]] ;{{flag|Burma|1948}} *Burma Volunteer Air Force *[[Burma Air Force]] ;{{flag|Canada|1921}} *[[Royal Canadian Air Force]] *[[Royal Canadian Navy]] ;{{flag|Ceylon}} *[[Royal Ceylon Air Force]] ;{{flag|Democratic Republic of Congo|1960}} *Force Aérienne Congolaise ;{{CZS}} *[[Czechoslovak Air Force]] – One aircraft in service from 1945 to 1948. ;{{DNK}} *[[Royal Danish Air Force]] ;{{EGY}} ;{{FIN}} *[[Finnish Air Force]] ;{{FRA}} *[[French Air Force]] ;{{Flag|Vichy France}} * [[Vichy French Air Force]] ;{{flag|Nazi Germany}} *''[[Luftwaffe]]'' (small numbers)<ref>Ketley and Rolfe 1996, p. 11.</ref> ;{{flag|Kingdom of Greece}} *[[Royal Hellenic Air Force]] ;{{flag|British Raj}} *[[Royal Indian Air Force]] ;{{IND}} *[[Indian Air Force]] The Tiger Moth served as the primary basic trainer for the Indian Air Force during its formative decades. Thousands of Indian pilots received their first flying experience on this aircraft between the 1930s and 1950s.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gupta |first=Anchit |title=Trainer Aircraft of the IAF: The First Steeds |url=https://iafhistory.in/2023/11/14/trainer-aircraft-of-the-iaf-the-first-steeds/ |website=IAFHistory |date=14 November 2023 |access-date=5 May 2025}}</ref>

;{{flag|Pahlavi Iran}} * [[Imperial Iranian Air Force]]- 99 imported and 10 built locally in 1938–39<ref name=Iran>{{cite web |url=http://www.artiklar.z-bok.se/Iran-2.html |title=Index |access-date=30 January 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822221739/http://artiklar.z-bok.se/Iran-2.html |archive-date=22 August 2010 }} 26 November 2011</ref> ;{{flag|Iraq|1924}} *[[Iraqi Air Force]] ;{{ISR}} *[[Israeli Air Force]], and its [[Aviron flying school|pre-state organisations]] *[[Palavir]] *[[Sherut Avir]] ;{{JOR}} *[[Royal Jordanian Air Force]]<ref>''Air International'' September 1975, p. 112</ref> ;{{flag|Malaya}} * Malaya Auxiliary Air Force ;{{NLD}} *[[Royal Netherlands Air Force]] *[[Dutch Naval Aviation Service]] ;{{flag|Dutch East Indies}} *''Vrijwillige Vliegers Corps''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aviahistoria.com/2017/07/07/vvc-program-cepat-pelatihan-pilot-militer-hindia-belanda/|title=VVC : Program Cepat Pelatihan Pilot Militer Hindia Belanda|website=aviahistoria.com|date=7 July 2017|access-date=1 April 2021|language=id}}</ref> ;{{NZL}} [[File:Tiger Moth Blue.jpg|thumb|DH.82A Tiger Moth in [[Royal Norwegian Air Force]] markings]] *[[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] **[[No. 1 Squadron RNZAF]] **[[No. 2 Squadron RNZAF]] **[[No. 3 Squadron RNZAF]] **[[No. 4 Squadron RNZAF]] **[[No. 42 Squadron RNZAF]] ;{{NOR}} *[[Norwegian Army Air Service]] ;{{PAK}} *[[Pakistan Air Force]] ;{{POL}} *[[Polish Air Force]] (1 bought for tests before 1939)<ref>Morgała, Andrzej Morgała (2003). ''Samoloty wojskowe w Polsce 1924–1939''. Warsaw: Bellona, p. 304. {{ISBN|83-11-09319-9}} (in Polish)</ref> *[[Polish Air Forces in France and Great Britain|Polish Air Force in Great Britain]] ;{{POR}} *[[Portuguese Army|Portuguese Army Aviation]] *[[Portuguese Naval Aviation]] *[[Portuguese Air Force]] ;{{flag|Rhodesia}} *[[Rhodesian Air Force]] ;{{flag|Saudi Arabia}} *[[Royal Saudi Air Force]] ;{{flag|Spanish Republic}} *[[Spanish Republican Air Force]] ;{{flag|Spanish State}} *[[Spanish Air Force]] ;{{flag|South Africa|1928}} *[[South African Air Force]] ;{{flag|Southern Rhodesia}} *[[Southern Rhodesian Air Force]] ;{{SRI}} *[[Sri Lankan Air Force]] ;{{SWE}} *[[Swedish Air Force]] ;{{THA}} *[[Royal Thai Air Force]]<ref name= "worldairforces.com">{{citation|url=http://www.worldairforces.com/countries/thailand/thl.html| publisher = World Air Forces | work = Historical Listings | title = Thailand (THL)|access-date=30 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120125054737/http://www.worldairforces.com/Countries/thailand/thl.html|archive-date= 25 January 2012}}</ref> *[[Royal Thai Navy]]<ref name="worldairforces.com" /> ;{{UK}} *[[Royal Air Force]]<ref name="worldairforces.com" /> **[[No. 24 Squadron RAF]] **[[No. 27 Squadron RAF]] **[[No. 52 Squadron RAF]] **[[No. 81 Squadron RAF]] **[[No. 116 Squadron RAF]] **[[No. 297 Squadron RAF]] **[[No. 510 Squadron RAF]] **[[No. 612 Squadron RAF]] **[[No. 613 Squadron RAF]] **[[No. 652 Squadron RAF]] **[[No. 653 Squadron RAF]] **[[No. 654 Squadron RAF]] **[[No. 656 Squadron RAF]] **[[No. 663 Squadron RAF]] **[[No. 668 Squadron RAF]] **[[No. 669 Squadron RAF]] **[[No. 670 Squadron RAF]] **[[No. 671 Squadron RAF]] **[[No. 672 Squadron RAF]] **[[No. 673 Squadron RAF]] *[[Fleet Air Arm]] ;{{flag|United States|1912}} *[[United States Army Air Forces]] ;{{URY}} *[[Uruguayan Air Force]] 18 DH 82 Tiger Moths operated in the Military Aeronautics between 1935 and 1949. ;{{YUG}} *[[SFR Yugoslav Air Force]] – 24 aircraft<ref>Yugoslav Air Force 1942–1992, Bojan Dimitrijevic, Belgrade 2006</ref> **[[2nd Training Aviation Regiment]] (1945–1948)

===Civil operators=== The aircraft is operated by many private individuals and flying clubs.

==Surviving aircraft== [[File:G-MOTH K2567 (8151583739).jpg|thumb|Tiger Moth K2567 (G-MOTH), in 2012. (Part of the Russavia collection in 1993.<ref>Military Aircraft Markings 1993</ref>)]] [[File:De Havilland 82A Tiger Moth II.jpg|thumb|Tiger Moth II preserved at the [[Polish Aviation Museum]], 2006]] [[File:De Havilland DH-82 Tiger Moth military airplane (Museu do Ar, Portugal).jpg|thumb|Portuguese de Havilland DH-82 Tiger Moth at the ''[[Museu do Ar]]'' (Portuguese Air Force Museum)]] [[File:De Havilland Tiger Moth (A17-711) at the RAAF Museum.jpg|thumb|de Havilland Tiger Moth (A17-711) in Second World War training colours at the RAAF Museum.]] [[File:Frontiers of Flight Museum December 2015 017 (de Havilland Tiger Moth).jpg|thumb|A de Havilland Tiger Moth at the [[Frontiers of Flight Museum]]]] [[File:Tiger Moth RTAF.jpg|thumb|De Havilland Tiger Moth in The [[Royal Thai Air Force Museum]]]]

Numerous examples of the Tiger Moth are still flying today (an estimated 250).<ref name="warbird">{{cite web|url= http://www.warbirdalley.com/tiger.htm|title= deHavilland D.H. 82 Tiger Moth|website=Warbird Alley |access-date=5 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916003011/http://www.warbirdalley.com/tiger.htm |archive-date=16 September 2017}}</ref> 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.

A number of aircraft have been preserved as museum displays (amongst others) at the: *[[Alberta Aviation Museum]], Edmonton, Canada<ref>{{cite web|url=https://albertaaviationmuseum.com/collection/aircraft-collection/dehavilland-tiger-moth/|title=albertaaviationmuseum.com}}</ref> *[[Aviodrome]] at [[Lelystad Airport]] in The Netherlands{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[Canadian Air and Space Museum]], [[Toronto]], Canada{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[Canada Aviation and Space Museum]], [[Ottawa]], Canada – two examples, 1 on display, 1 stored<ref>{{cite web|url= http://casmuseum.techno-science.ca/en/collection-research/artifact-de-havilland-tiger-moth.php|title=De Havilland D.H.82C Tiger Moth |website= Canada Aviation and Space Museum |access-date=5 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160704043717/http://casmuseum.techno-science.ca/en/collection-research/artifact-de-havilland-tiger-moth.php|archive-date=4 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://casmuseum.techno-science.ca/en/collection-research/artifact-de-havilland-menasco-moth.php|title=De Havilland D.H.82C2 Menasco Moth |website= Canada Aviation and Space Museum |access-date=5 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160703213120/http://casmuseum.techno-science.ca/en/collection-research/artifact-de-havilland-menasco-moth.php|archive-date=3 July 2016}}</ref> *Canadian Aviation Museum, [[Windsor,_Ontario|Windsor]], Canada<ref>{{Cite web |title=de Havilland Tiger Moth (CF-CIH) – Canadian Aviation Museum |url=https://devweb.canadianaviationmuseum.ca/museum/aircraft/de-havilland-tiger-moth/ |access-date=2025-09-14 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=22 August 2025 |title=Our Tiger Moth returned to the sky today! |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DNqN2mMz4na/ |access-date=13 September 2025 |website=Instagram}}</ref> *[[Canadian Museum of Flight]], [[Langley, British Columbia (city)|Langley]], Canada{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum]], [[Hamilton, Ontario|Hamilton]], Canada{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum]], [[Brandon, Manitoba|Brandon]], Manitoba, Canada{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[de Havilland Aircraft Museum]] in [[London Colney]], England<ref>{{cite web|title=De Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth |website=de Havilland Aircraft Museum |url=https://www.dehavillandmuseum.co.uk/aircraft/de-havilland-dh82a-tiger-moth/ |access-date=20 September 2025}}</ref> *[[EAA AirVenture Museum]], [[Oshkosh, Wisconsin|Oshkosh]], United States<ref name="N667EA">{{cite web |url= https://www.eaa.org/eaa-museum/museum-collection/aircraft-collection-folder/1942-de-havilland-dh82c-tiger-moth---n667ea-cf-ivo |title=1942 de Havilland D.H.82C Tiger Moth - N667EA (CF-IVO) |publisher=Experimental Aircraft Association |accessdate=2021-11-16 }}</ref> *Edenvale Classic Aircraft Foundation, Edenvale, Ontario, Canada. Flying C-GSTP ex- RAF NM201, *[[Swedish Air Force Museum|Flygvapenmuseum]] at [[Malmen Airbase]] near [[Linköping]], Sweden{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[The Hangar Flight Museum]], [[Calgary]], Canada<ref>{{cite web |title=DE HAVILLAND DH82C TIGER MOTH |url= https://thehangarmuseum.ca/our-collections/de-havilland-dh82c-tiger-moth |website=The Hangar Flight Museum |access-date=4 November 2022}}</ref> *[[Hellenic Air Force Museum]], [[Tatoi]]. [[Greece]]<ref>{{Cite web | url= https://www.haf.gr/history/museum/exhibits/ekthemata-entos-tou-ypostegou-leros/ | title=Εκθέματα Εντός του Υποστέγου ΛΕΡΟΣ}}</ref> *[[Imperial War Museum Duxford]], United Kingdom<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airframe Dossier 57484 |url=https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=57484 |access-date=26 August 2024 |website=Aerial Visuals}}</ref> *[[Indian Air Force Museum, Palam]] – 1 Airworthy Example for Vintage Flight Squadron<ref>{{cite news|url=https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/pune/cover-story/second-flight-of-the-tigar-moth/articleshow/31483510.cms|title=Second flight of the Tiger Moth|newspaper=[[Pune Mirror]]|date=24 January 2013|access-date=9 May 2020|archive-date=7 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507003118/https://punemirror.indiatimes.com/pune/cover-story/second-flight-of-the-tigar-moth/articleshow/31483510.cms|url-status=dead}}</ref> *[[Israeli Air Force Museum]], [[Hatzerim]], [[Israel]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[Kbely Aviation Museum]], [[Prague]], [[Czech Republic]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Khol |first1=Miroslav |last2=Rajlich |first2=Jiří |last3=Sýkora |first3=Jan |date= 2016 |title=Katalog Leteckého muzea VHÚ Praha |trans-title=Catalogue of Aviation museum VHÚ Praha |language=cs |location=Prague |publisher=Ministerstvo obrany České republiky - VHÚ Praha |isbn=978-80-7278-669-5}}</ref> *[[Luskintyre Airfield|Luskintyre Aviation Flying Museum]], [[Luskintyre]], New South Wales, Australia – Tiger Moth restorers and builders{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *Mackay Tiger Moth Museum, [[Mackay, Queensland|Mackay]], Australia{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[Malta Aviation Museum]] in Malta{{Citation needed|date= October 2016}} *{{Interlanguage link|Museo Aeronáutico "Coronel (Aviador) Jaime Meregalli"|es}} in Uruguay{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[Museo Nacional Aeronáutico y del Espacio]] in Chile{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[Museu Aeroespacial]], 25 km outside [[Rio de Janeiro]] in Brazil{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[Portuguese Air Force|Museu do Ar]], [[Sintra]], Portugal{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa]] in [[Wellington]], New Zealand <ref>{{cite web |url=https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/263540 |title=Te Papa Collections = Collection – DH82a Tiger Moth, ZK-AJO |author= |date=2025 |website=collections.tepapa.govt.nz |publisher=Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand |access-date=March 10, 2025}}</ref> *[[National Museum of Flight]] at [[RAF East Fortune]] in Scotland{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[National Museum of the United States Air Force]], [[Dayton, Ohio|Dayton]], Ohio, United States<ref>[https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/197392/de-havilland-dh-82a-tiger-moth/ "de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth."] National Museum of the US Air Force. Retrieved: 23 August 2015.</ref> *[[North Atlantic Aviation Museum]] in [[Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador|Gander]], [[Newfoundland]], [[Canada]]{{cn|date=January 2026}} *[[Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome]] in [[Rhinebeck, New York|Rhinebeck]]/[[Red Hook, New York|Red Hook]], New York, United States<ref>{{cite web |url=https://oldrhinebeck.org/dehavilland-dh-82-tiger-moth/ |title=Cole Palen's Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome = Collection – Golden Age Aircraft – DeHavilland DH.82 Tiger Moth |author= |date=2021 |website=oldrhinebeck.org |publisher=Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum |access-date=October 29, 2021 }}</ref> *[[PAF Museum, Karachi]], Pakistan{{Citation needed|date= October 2016}} *[[Polish Aviation Museum]] at the former [[Kraków-Rakowice-Czyżyny Airport]] in Poland{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[RAAF Museum]], [[RAAF Williams]] [[Point Cook, Victoria|Point Cook]], Australia{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[Reynolds-Alberta Museum]] in [[Wetaskiwin]], Canada<ref>{{cite web |title=Aviation |url= https://reynoldsmuseum.ca/aviation |website=Reynolds Museum |publisher=Government of Alberta |access-date=1 December 2019}}</ref> *[[Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and of Military History]], [[Brussels]], Belgium{{Citation needed|date= October 2016}} *Royal Aero Club of Western Australia, [[Perth]], Australia - Airworthy aircraft "Shirley Adkins", VH-CKF, used for hire and joyflights<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.regosearch.com/aircraft/au/CKF |title=RegoSearch | date=2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.royalaeroclubwa.com.au/aircraft/hire-an-aircraft/dh-82-tiger-moth/ |title=Royal Aero Club |date=2024 |publisher=Royal Aero Club of Western Australia}}</ref> *[[Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum]], [[Wigram]], New Zealand – 1 airworthy aircraft for historic flight{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[Royal Newcastle Aero Club]], [[Rutherford, New South Wales|Rutherford]], NSW, Australia – scenic and aerobatic joyflights in VH-RNI{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[Royal Thai Air Force Museum]], Bangkok, Thailand *[[Saskatchewan Western Development Museum]], [[Moose Jaw]], Canada{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[Shuttleworth Collection]] at [[Old Warden]], England<ref>{{cite web |title=de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth |website=Shuttleworth |url=https://www.shuttleworth.org/discover/collection/aircraft/de-havilland-dh82a-tiger-moth |access-date=20 September 2025}}</ref> *[[List of aircraft of the SLAF#Surviving SLAF aircraft|Sri Lanka Air Force Museum]], [[Sri Lanka]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[Temora Aviation Museum]], [[Temora, New South Wales|Temora]], Australia{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[Tiger Boys' Aeroplane Works & Flying Museum]], [[Guelph]], Ont. Canada{{Citation needed|date=September 2017}} *[[The Tiger Club]], Upminster, Essex, UK<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tigerclub.co.uk/experiences |title=Tiger Club Experiences | date=2019 |publisher=The Tiger Club}}</ref> *[[Vintage Wings of Canada]], [[Gatineau]], Qc. Canada{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[Western Canada Aviation Museum]] in [[Winnipeg]], Canada{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}} *[[Yugoslav Aeronautical Museum]], [[Serbia]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}}

===Privately owned=== Tiger Moths, type if known, and any history of the airframe: *William N. Thibault of Newport Beach, CA owns a registered 1935 Tiger Moth DH82A with a Gypsy Moth engine.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flightaware.com/resources/registration/N5444 |title=N5444 Aircraft Registration | date=2024 |publisher=flightaware.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=5444 |title=FAA Registry | date=2024 |publisher=faa.gov}}</ref> There are confirmed sightings of the aircraft at the Watsonville Municipal Airport in CA and Gillespie Field in El Cajon CA.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/registration/N5444 |title=Photo Library Registration: N5444 | date=2024 | publisher=abpic.co.uk }}</ref> The most recent photos of the aircraft have it flying out of the Santa Ynez CA airport.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/000188976.html | title=Aircraft N5444 Photo | date=2024 | publisher=airport_data.com}}</ref> It might have been previously owned by the Royal Air Force of the UK and Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya, the Uruguayan Air force. However, the Uruguayan Air Force wrote it off as a total loss in 1941, only for it to resurface in 1971 when it was issued a certificate of airworthiness after 30 years.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=27215|title=Aerial Visuals Airframe Dossier N5444 | date=2024 | publisher=aerialvisuals.com}}</ref> *Syndicate-owned 1940 Tiger Moth II C/N 83595 DH82A G-AXBW (formerly RAF reg. T5879), flying out of private airstrips in England as of July 2025.<ref>{{cite web|title=Aviation photos|url=https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/registration/G-AXBW|access-date=15 December 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Airport-data G-AXBW|url=https://airport-data.com/aircraft/G-AXBW.html|access-date=15 December 2025}}</ref> It was involved in an accident in 2018 but fully restored.<ref>{{cite web|title=AAIB Bulletin|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5b69b609e5274a1504efd533/DH82A_Tiger_Moth_G-AXBW_08-18.pdf|access-date=15 December 2025}}</ref> One co-owner was former [[Concorde]] pilot Captain John 'Stack' Butterley, who at the age of 82 died while flying in the Tiger Moth with another syndicate member in 2020.<ref>{{cite news|work=The News|last=Fatkin|first=Neil|date=20 October 2020|title=Family and colleagues pay heartfelt tribute to former British Airways Concorde pilot|url=https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/people/family-and-colleagues-pay-heart-felt-tribute-to-former-british-airways-concorde-pilot-3009583|access-date=15 December 2025}}</ref>

==Specifications (DH 82A)==

{{Aircraft specs |ref=The Tiger Moth Story,<ref>Bransom 1991, p. 261.</ref> The de Havilland Tiger Moth<ref name = "jackson 13">Jackson 1966, p. 13.</ref> |prime units?=imp  |crew=2 |length ft=23 |length in=11 |length note= |span ft=29 |span in=4 |span note= |height ft=8 |height in=9 |height note= |wing area sqft=239 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight lb=1115 |empty weight note= |gross weight lb=1825 |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity={{cvt|19|impgal|USgal l}} |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[de Havilland Gipsy Major I]] |eng1 type=4-cylinder air-cooled inverted in-line piston engine |eng1 hp=130 |eng1 note=

|more performance= |armament= up to 8× {{cvt|20|lb|1}} bombs |avionics= }}

==See also== {{Portal|Aviation|Canada}} {{External media|topic= |width=20% |float=right |video1=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nZoSqPmDR8 Period instructional video on flying the Tiger Moth] |video2=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_wIOAZ1lm0 In-cockpit footage of a preserved Tiger Moth conducting an instructional flight] |video3=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHhzIgbBjJ4 A Tiger Moth performing an aerobatic display routine] |video4=[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyb3hGRfjfc Compilation of footage from the 2005 Annual International de Havilland Moth Club rally]}} {{aircontent |related= |similar aircraft= * [[Boeing-Stearman Model 75]] * [[Bücker Bü 131|Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann]] * [[Fleet Finch]] * [[Focke-Wulf Fw 44]] * [[Gotha Go 145]] * [[Repülőgépgyár Levente II|Levente II]] * [[Polikarpov Po-2]] * [[Stampe-Vertongen SV.4]] |sequence= |lists= *[[List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force]] *[[List of aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force]] *[[List of aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and Royal New Zealand Navy]] *[[List of aircraft of the Spanish Republican Air Force]] |see also= }}

==References== ===Citations=== {{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography=== * {{cite journal |last1=Andersson |first1=Lennart |title=Histoire de l'aéronautique persane, 1921–1941: La première aviation du Chah d'Iran |journal=Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire |date=July 1998 |issue=76 |pages=2–12 |trans-title=History of the Persian Air Force, 1921–1941: The First Aircraft of the Shah of Iran |language=French |issn=1243-8650}} * {{cite book |last=Bain |first=Gordon |title=De Havilland: A Pictorial Tribute |location=London, UK |publisher=Airlife |year=1992 |isbn=1-85648-243-X}} * {{cite book |last=Bransom |first=Alan |title=The Tiger Moth Story |edition=4th |location=Shrewsbury, UK |publisher=Airlife Publishing Ltd. |year=1991 |isbn=0-906393-19-1}} * {{cite book |last=Bransom |first=Alan |title=The Tiger Moth Story |edition=5th |location=Manchester, UK |publisher=Crécy Publishing Ltd. |year=2005 |isbn=0-85979-103-3}} * {{cite book |last=Carter |first=Ian |title=Coastal Command 1939–1945: Photographs from the Imperial War Museum |location=London, UK |publisher=Ian Allan |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-7110-3018-3}} * {{cite journal |last1=Comas |first1=Matthieu |title=So British!: 1939–1940, les avions britanniques dans l'Armée de l'Air |journal=Avions |date=September–October 2020 |issue=236 |pages=38–61 |trans-title=So British!: British Aircraft in the French Air Force 1939–1940 |language=French |issn=1243-8650}} * {{cite book|last=Hannah|first=Donald|title=De Havilland Flypast Reference Library|publisher=Key Publishing|location=Lincs, UK|year=1982|isbn=0-946219 00-1}} * {{cite book |last=Hotson |first=Fred |title=The De Havilland Canada Story |location=Toronto, Canada |publisher=CANAV Books |year=1983 |isbn=0-9690703-2-2}} * {{cite book |last=Jackson |first=A. J. |title=The de Havilland Tiger Moth: Aircraft Profile No. 132 |location=Leatherhead, Surrey, UK |publisher=Profile Publications Ltd. |year=1966}} * {{cite book |last=Ketley |first=Barry |last2=Rolfe |first2=Mark |title=Luftwaffe Fledglings 1935–1945: Luftwaffe Training Units and Their Aircraft |location=Aldershot, UK |publisher=Hikoki Publications |year=1996 |isbn=0-9519899-2-8}} * {{cite book |last=Lake |first=Deborah |title=Growling Over the Oceans: Avro Shackleton — The Men and the Missions, 1951–1991 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EbveV8w0ofIC&pg=PT12&lpg=PT12 |publisher=Souvenir Press Ltd. |year=2010 |isbn=978-0285638761}} * {{cite book |last = Lawrence |first = Joseph |title = The Observer's Book Of Airplanes |location = London and New York |publisher = Frederick Warne & Co |year = 1945}} * {{cite magazine |title=The Arab Professionals: The Royal Jordanian Air Force |magazine=[[Air International]] |date=September 1975 |volume=9 |issue=3 |pages=111–117 |issn=0306-5634 |isbn=0-903234-28-9 |ref={{harvid|''Air International'' September 1975}} }} * {{cite book |last=McKay |first=Stuart |title=Tiger Moth |location=New York |publisher=Orion Books |year=1998 |isbn=0-517-56864-0}} * {{cite book |last=Rimell |first=Ray |title=Tiger Moth De Havilland DH82 Tiger Moth |series=Aeroguide Classics number 6 |publisher=Limewrights Ltd |location=Essex, UK |year=1992 |isbn=0-946958-38-6}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} {{Wikiquote}}

*[http://wcam.mb.ca/945/de-havilland-dh-82c-tiger-moth/ Western Canada Aviation Museum: De Havilland Tiger Moth (D.H.82c)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529054337/http://wcam.mb.ca/945/de-havilland-dh-82c-tiger-moth/ |date=29 May 2018 }} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927075441/http://www.historicaircraft.org/British-Aircraft/pages/DeHavilland-QueenBee-1.html A photograph of a de Havilland DH.82B Queen Bee] * [https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/items/browse?tags=Tiger+Moth Tiger Moth] at the International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive. Mainly as Royal Air Force (RAF) primary trainer aircraft. * [https://air-britain.com/pdfs/production-lists/DH82.pdf Tiger Moth Production History] this is a PDF list of all known Tiger Moth, DH.82/A, histories. {{Navboxes |title=Articles and topics related to the de Havilland Tiger Moth |state=collapsed |list1= {{de Havilland aircraft}} {{De Havilland Australia aircraft}} {{De Havilland Canada}} {{Aircraft manufactured in Canada}} {{USAF trainer aircraft}} {{Swedish military aircraft designations}} {{ADF aircraft designations}} {{Thai trainer designations}} {{AvN aircraft designations}} {{Spanish trainer aircraft}} }} {{Authority control}}

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