The Tiger Moth: Allied Britain's Top Trainer
The de Havilland Tiger Moth is a biplane that dates to the 1930's. It was originally designed to train fighter pilots in the British Royal Air Force during World War II.
Biplanes are fixed-wing planes with two sets of wings: one above and one below the cockpit, on a level with the bottom of the fuselage. Most biplanes have open cockpits and two seats; the navigator and gunner sits in front, and the pilot sits in back.
De Havilland, the company that manufactured the Tiger Moth, was a British manufacturer specializing in biplanes. It was founded in 1920, and made military aircraft for the British government and private planes for the general public.
The Tiger Moth was preceded by the popular de Havilland Moth, the plane that essentially brought flying to the general public. The Moths were cheap to make, easy to fly, and small enough to fit into tight spaces in private hangars. Most people who owned a private plane during the years between World Wars I and II owned a Moth.
The Tiger Moth's closest relative, however, was the DH Gipsy Moth. The Gipsy Moth was the plane of choice among long-distance aviators, including Amy Johnson, Jean Batten, and the Prince of Wales.
To make the Tiger Moth, engineers altered the front seat of the Gipsy so that pilots could evacuate in flight with a parachute. They also strengthened the frame and provided easier access to both cockpits.
The new design became the RAF's top trainer during World War II. It was cheap, low-maintenance, and a bit of a challenge to fly. The Air Force preferred this quality, as they felt it helped to distinguish pilots with a natural talent for flying from those with no aptitude.
Not all Tiger Moths were trainers, however. During the war, some served as bombers, while others were fitted with radio controls and used as target practice.
Some wartime modifications were quite successful, while others never made it out of the drawing board. The unsuccessful add-ons included a "paraslasher," or long blade beneath the plane for slashing enemy parachutes; and the "human cropduster," which was modified with canisters of poison gas to spray on enemy forces from above.
There were plenty of Tiger Moths left over after the war, and the civilian market was quick to adopt them as popular private flyers. Like the original and Gipsy Moth, these planes were easy to own and fun to fly--and they were useful, too. Ex-military Tiger Moths soon became crop-dusters; tow-planes for advertisement banners; acrobatic show planes; and even aerial ambulances.
Today, at least 250 Tiger Moths are still in circulation as civilian aircraft. In addition, many are on display in museums all over the world--in England, Poland, Canada, and New Zealand. A ride in a Tiger Moth is an unforgettable experience. It's not just a plane; it's a part of history.