ma haviland 82a tiger moth - De Haviland 82A Tiger Moth by pbratt

The Tiger Moth was the last in a series of open cockpit biplanes which started with the De Haviland 60 Moth of 1925, the first prototype flying in October 1931. Deliveries of the DH82 to the RAF began in November 1931 with an initial order of 35. Other orders followed and by September 1939 more than 40 flying training establishments equipped with the Tiger Moth were operational. Production was switched to the more powerful DH82A in 1934 with the more powerful Gypsey Major engine. The outbreak of war in September 1939 led to a massive increase in Tiger Moth production, not just in England, but in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India. In total 8796 Tiger Moths were built, production ending in 1945. The Tiger Moth remained in RAF service until 1955, and a great many Tiger Moths remain flying.