de Havilland Tiger Moth G-ANRF
See the vintage Tiger Moth take the skies again at
Scotland's National Airshow at the National Museum of Flight on
Saturday 28 July 2012.
Learning to fly
One of the world's great light
aircraft designs, the Tiger Moth was built as an improved version
of the earlier DH.60 Moth family, first flying in 1931. During the
Second World War the Tiger Moth served as the RAF's standard basic
trainer, many ex-service examples ended up in civilian service
post-war in a multitude of roles; many of these still fly
today.
From the outset, the Tiger Moth proved
to be an ideal trainer, simple and cheap to own and maintain
although control movements required a positive and sure
hand.
Tiger Moth G-ANRF ©
David Cyster
Operational history
By the start of the Second World War,
the RAF had 500 of the aircraft in service and large numbers
of civilian Tiger Moths were produced to meet the demand for
trainers. Over 7,000 Tiger Moths were produced, of which 4,000
were built during the war specifically for the RAF, nearly half
being built by Morris Motor Company at Cowley, Oxford.
Tiger Moth G-ANRF at the Airshow
- Tiger Moth G-ANRF was built by Morris
Motor Company in 1941
- In service with the RAF and
subsequently as a training aircraft with a civilian flying
group in Norfolk
- In 1974, it was purchased by the
current owner, David Cyster and dismantled in need of some
"tender loving care".
- Restored to its original flying
condition by 1977.
- First Tiger Moth to fly to Australia
as part of the 50th anniversary of the first solo flight from
England to Australia undertaken by Squadron Leader Bert Hinklet on
7 February 1928.
- Now based at the Glenrothes airstrip
in Fife.
Please note all
information is correct at the time of publishing. Flights and
timings are subject to change, prevailing weather conditions and
operational requirements.