Tiger Moth
de Havilland · United Kingdom · first flew 1931 · light aircraft
The Tiger Moth is a 1930s British biplane trainer that taught a generation of RAF and Commonwealth pilots the basics of flight.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.29 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Biplane with staggered, swept-back upper and lower wings
- Open tandem cockpits and a slim, inverted-engine cowling
- Fixed tailskid undercarriage with simple wire bracing
Look for the staggered, distinctly swept biplane wings and the slim inverted Gipsy engine cowling. The open tandem cockpits and fixed tailskid gear confirm the type. Wire bracing between the wings completes the classic interwar trainer silhouette.
Specifications
- The Tiger Moth has a length of 7.29 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.94 m (29 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 175 km/h (109 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 (pupil and instructor).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Geoffrey de Havilland developed the DH.82 from the earlier Moth family, sweeping the wings to ease cockpit access and exit for parachute-equipped trainees. First flown in 1931, it was adopted as the RAF's standard elementary trainer. Production ran to well over eight thousand airframes built in Britain and across the Commonwealth.
Variants
The principal service version was the DH.82A with a Gipsy Major engine and revised decking. Many were later civil-registered for club flying, glider towing and crop work. The Queen Bee was a radio-controlled target derivative.
Where you'll see it
The type is a fixture of the British vintage scene, with airworthy examples flying regularly at the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden. Numerous privately owned Tiger Moths appear at airshows nationwide, and the de Havilland Aircraft Museum preserves the lineage. It remains one of the most numerous flyable warbird-era trainers in the UK.
Related aircraft
- de Havilland DH.80A Puss Moth
- de Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth
- de Havilland DH.86 Express
- de Havilland DH.87 Hornet Moth
- Berliner-Joyce OJ-2
- Breda Ba.25
- Caproni Ca.113
- Fairchild 22
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