De Havilland Dh-82a Tiger Moth

Single Piston

The de Havilland Tiger Moth is the biplane that taught a generation to fly. First flown in 1931, this fabric-covered, open-cockpit trainer became the primary ab-initio aircraft for the Royal Air Force and Commonwealth air forces throughout the Second World War, with over 8,800 built across Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Its forgiving handling, rugged construction, and distinctive staggered-wing configuration made it ideal for converting civilian pilots into military aviators under the Empire Air Training Scheme, and thousands of wartime pilots earned their wings in the Tiger Moth before progressing to Spitfires, Hurricanes, and Lancasters. Powered by a 130-horsepower de Havilland Gipsy Major inline engine, the Tiger Moth cruises at around 90 knots with a service ceiling near 14,000 feet—modest figures that belie its historical significance. Its tandem cockpit layout, with the instructor seated behind the student, became the template for military trainers worldwide. After the war, hundreds of surplus Tiger Moths entered civilian service as crop dusters, glider tugs, and pleasure aircraft, roles many continue to fill today. The type remains a fixture at airshows and vintage fly-ins, prized for its authentic open-cockpit experience and surprisingly spirited aerobatic capability—it's fully certified for loops, rolls, and spins, making it as much fun as it is historically important. SkyMeter has tracked 29 flights across 8 airframes and 4 operators over routes, with ROYAL NEWCASTLE AERO CLUB the most frequently observed operator.