de Havilland Tiger Moth
Last updated: 2026-04-21
The de Havilland Tiger Moth is a 1930s open-cockpit biplane trainer powered by a 130 hp de Havilland Gipsy Major engine, used to train over 7,000 Commonwealth pilots during WWII and still flown at heritage aviation clubs. It is a workhorse of European EASA general-aviation training fleets, used at both DTO and ATO operators for hour-building and rating progression. undefined
What is the de Havilland Tiger Moth used for in flight training?
The Tiger Moth was the RAF's primary ab-initio trainer from 1932 through WWII, and its demanding tailwheel handling, open cockpit, and manual systems taught pilot discipline that produced the finest generation of combat pilots in history. Today, Tiger Moths are maintained by heritage clubs across the UK, France, and the Netherlands. The Tiger Moth experience flight and type checkout programmes offered by heritage operators are among the most sought-after historical flying experiences in European aviation.