History

The DH60 biplane was initially designed as tourer/trainer for the civilian market. A single prototype was ordered by the RAF in 1931 who sought a basic trainer aircraft. With some modifications the aircraft was accepted into service as the DH 82 Tiger Moth.

Tiger Moths were built initially for the RAF but by 1937, the aircraft was offered to the Civilian market.

By 1939, nearly 40 flying schools operated the type.

At the start of WW2, there were 500 in service with the RAF and all civilian machines were impressed into service.

Tiger Moths were manufactured internationally from 1937 with large numbers built in Canada and Australia.

Some were also built in New Zealand, Sweden, Portugal and Norway.

In Australia, 1070 were built mostly for the RAAF but some were exported to the USAAF and RIAF.

In addition to its use as a trainer, the RAAF utilised the Tiger Moth for army cooperation missions in New Guinea.

The aircraft depicted is from 12 Local Air Supply Unit, Kiariva PNG.

Airfix 1/72 kit completed by Steve Pulbrook in 2019.

Data

MODEL: DeHavilland DH-82a Tiger Moth

ROLE: trainer and utility aircraft

TIME PERIOD: 1931 -

ENGINES: one deHavilland Gipsy Major I four cylinder air-cooled inverted in-line piston engine of 97kW

WING SPAN: 8.94m

LENGTH: 7.92m

GROSS WEIGHT: 828kG

MAXIMUM SPEED: 175km/h

RANGE: 486 km.

CREW: 2

SCALE: 1/72

KIT:

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