History on the Tiger Moth Plane

The Tiger moth is a derivated version of the DH60 Gipsy Moth. In 1928, the RAF Kaje trainers were obsolete. The performances of the De Havilland Gipsy Moth made the command consider this aicraft as a possible basic trainer for the pilots as well as for the ground crews. They chose the De Havilland D.H. Gipsy Moth, and subsequently bought three of them, together with the right to manufacture them under licence. The RAF then requested the Gipsy moth to be modified as the front pilot could not eject himself being blocked under the topwing, anhilating any parachuting excercise. the result was for De Havilland to create a modified version with the same fuselage, but with the top wings pushed forward a bit in order to let the front pilot the possibility to eject himself and have an improved view. The famous Gipsy Major

engine has beem upgraded into a more powerful version, the 120 hp Gipsy III, and later the 130 hp Gipsy Major. They were reversed upside down to offer a better visibility to the front pilot and avoid oil projection on the wind screen. The aircarft was then fitted with a 2.1 gallons external oil tank and a pump to constantly reinject the oil going down in the cylinder in to the shaft room. The model was called Tiger Moth.

This classic British trainer made its first flight on October 26, 1931. It is one of a number of models of light aircraft named for moths in recognition of designer Geoffrey de Havilland's interest in moths and butterflies. It became popular with the RAF throughout the United Kingdom as well as the civilian aviation market. In Britain, 8,101 were manufactured plus 2,751 more in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. During WWII, most Royal Air Force pilots trained in Tiger Moths including Americans who flew with the Eagle Squadrons before the U.S. entered the war. In the United Kingdom, Tiger Moths performed a variety of roles in addition to that of primary trainer including submarine patrol, air ambulance, and even prisoner evacuation. The U.S. Army Air Forces in 1942 ordered 200 from de Havilland of Canada as the PT-24, but these were never delivered and were diverted to the Royal Canadian Air Force instead.

Originally produced as a development of the well-known Gipsy Moth the Tiger Moth went on to become one of the world's most famous training aircraft. During the Second World War it provided the majority of RAF pilots with their elementary flying training. After the Dunkirk evacuation, in 1940, almost any anti-invasion idea was considered; just three of the more extraordinary Tiger Moth conversions are given below:

- In August 1940, 350 Tiger Moths were fitted with light bomb racks. These aircraft were to undertake the bombing of enemy troops attempting a landing.
- The 'paraslasher'; a scythe-like blade fitted to a Tiger Moth and intended to cut parachutist's canopies as they descended to earth. Flight tests proved the idea, but it was not officially adopted.
- The Tiger Moth 'human crop sprayer' used a tank fitted in the front cockpit with powder dispensers located under the wings. The tank would be filled with 'Paris Green', an extremely poisonous insecticide. It was intended that low flying aircraft would dust the German troops as they waded ashore.

Fortunately none of these ideas had to be used, leaving Elementary Flying Training Schools to their vital role of pilot training. Some Tiger Moths were alson constructed with a fuselage made of a wooden frame to be used a artillery flying target. The RAF used these remote controled airplane to train their flak. Only one tiger of this type survived.

History on SDR.

SDR was built in the 1940’s and was used as an Airforce trainer. It was based in Bankstown during the 1950’s and was purchased by an enthusiast in Victoria who had undertaken a major restoration project. The owner went about restoring the aircraft and the project was completed in 1989. This aircraft is now near brand new.This aircraft won the 1996 best restored Tiger Moth in Australia Award.