Time Period: Interwar Period
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Type: Trainer Aircraft, Biplane
Manufacturer: de Havilland
de Havilland Tiger Moth Overview
The de Havilland Tiger Moth is a renowned biplane aircraft that gained popularity primarily as a training aircraft. It was designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer de Havilland in the 1930s.
The Tiger Moth features an open-cockpit design with tandem seating, allowing for an instructor and a student pilot to sit one behind the other. It is characterized by its distinctive biplane configuration, with two wings—one upper wing and one lower wing—connected by struts. The wings are of equal span and have ailerons for control.
Initially developed as a successor to the de Havilland Gipsy Moth, the Tiger Moth proved to be an excellent training platform for military pilots, particularly during World War II. It was used by air forces around the world, including the Royal Air Force (RAF), as a primary trainer for new pilots. The aircraft’s stability, maneuverability, and forgiving flight characteristics made it well-suited for teaching basic flying skills such as takeoffs, landings, and aerobatic maneuvers.
Beyond its role as a training aircraft, the Tiger Moth also found use in various civilian applications. It was employed in aerial agriculture, as a joyride aircraft, and even in air racing and aerobatic displays. Its enduring appeal has made it a favorite among vintage aircraft enthusiasts, and many Tiger Moths remain in operation today, offering pilots and passengers a nostalgic experience of flight.
The de Havilland Tiger Moth holds a significant place in aviation history as an iconic biplane that has left an indelible mark on the world of aviation, both as a military trainer and as a symbol of the Golden Age of flight.
de Havilland Tiger Moth Specifications
- Crew: 2
- Length: 23 ft 11 in (7.29 m)
- Wingspan: 29 ft 4 in (8.94 m)
- Height: 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m)
- Wing area: 239 sq ft (22.2 m2)
- Empty weight: 1,115 lb (506 kg)
- Gross weight: 1,825 lb (828 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 19 imp gal (23 US gal; 86 L)
- Powerplant: 1 × de Havilland Gipsy Major I 4-cylinder air-cooled inverted in-line piston engine, 130 hp (97 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
de Havilland Tiger Moth Performance
- Maximum speed: 109 mph (175 km/h, 95 kn)
- Cruise speed: 67 mph (108 km/h, 58 kn)
- Range: 302 mi (486 km, 262 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 13,600 ft (4,100 m)
- Rate of climb: 673 ft/min (3.42 m/s)
de Havilland Tiger Moth Armament
- up to 8× 20 lb (9.1 kg) bombs