Tiger Moth G-ACDA was the prototype Gipsy Major powered DH82A Tiger Moth and joined the de Havilland School of Flying in 1933


Tiger Moth G-ACDA - Delta Alpha was the first prototype Gipsy Major powered DH82A Tiger Moth and joined the de Havilland School of Flying in February 1933. She then served with the RAF as BB724 before being disposed of in 1943 and purchased by a Devonshire landowner and put into storage until being purchased by Richard Biddle in 1977. Following a full restoration she was badly damaged hitting a pylon after only 20 minutes of flight in a forced landing during test flying, was then subsequently rebuilt again by the same owner only to suffer further considerable damage in a hangar fire. In 1997 she was purchased by Bryn Hughes and in 2008 following a meticulous restoration took to the air once again at the hands of Dennis Neville who along with Scott Butler were both privileged to fly Delta Alpha. The de Havilland Tiger Moth is a 1930s biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and was operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and others as a primary trainer. The Tiger Moth remained in service with the RAF until replaced by the de Havilland Chipmunk in 1952, when many of the surplus aircraft entered civil operation. Many other nations used the Tiger Moth in both military and civil applications, and it remains in widespread use as a recreational aircraft in many countries. It is still occasionally used as a primary training aircraft, particularly for those pilots wanting to gain experience before moving on to other tailwheel aircraft, although most Tiger Moths have a skid. Many are now employed by various companies offering trial lesson experiences. Those in private hands generally fly far fewer hours and tend to be kept in concours condition. The de Havilland Moth club founded 1975 is now a highly organized owners' association offering technical support and focus for Moth enthusiasts. The Tiger Moth trainer prototype was derived from the DH 60 de Havilland Gipsy Moth in response to Air Ministry specification 13/31 for an ab-initio training aircraft.


Size: 4899px × 3246px
Location: Shoreham, West Sussex, UK
Photo credit: © Avpics / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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