History of the de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth
Origins: From Gipsy Moth to Tiger Moth
The Tiger Moth wasn’t designed from scratch—it evolved from the earlier DH.60 Gipsy Moth, a popular 1920s light aircraft.
By the early 1930s, the RAF needed a modern primary trainer that:
Allowed pilots to jump out easily with a parachute
Provided excellent visibility
Was stable but responsive
Was robust enough for hard landings by student pilots
The Gipsy Moth’s cockpit layout made bail-out difficult, so Geoffrey de Havilland redesigned the wings to move the upper wing forward and up, creating the DH.82 Tiger Moth.
It first flew 26 October 1931.
Adoption by the RAF
The Tiger Moth quickly became the RAF’s standard elementary trainer. It replaced a mishmash of older biplanes and standardized basic pilot instruction.
Key points:
Official RAF designation: Tiger Moth Mk I (DH.82), later DH.82A
Powered by the de Havilland Gipsy Major engine (130 hp)
Open cockpits with slight instrumentation
Gentle stall characteristics but capable of aerobatics
Designed so a new pilot couldn’t easily get into unrecoverable trouble
By the mid-1930s it was the RAF’s backbone for ab-initio training.
The de Havilland Tiger Moth in the BCATP (1939–1945)
Why the Tiger Moth Was Chosen for the BCATP
When Canada signed the 1939 agreement to host the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, the allies needed a rugged, reliable, and forgiving aircraft for Elemental Flying Training Schools (EFTS) — the first stage of pilot training.
The Tiger Moth was the obvious choice because:
It already served as the RAF’s primary trainer.
It had excellent handling characteristics for novice pilots.
It was simple to maintain and repair in remote prairie locations.
Its low landing speed made it ideal for short airstrips carved into farmland.
de Havilland Canada could produce it domestically, easing shipping loads from Britain.
As a result, the DH.82 Tiger Moth became the backbone of elementary pilot training in Canada.
Canadian Production Highlights
Built by de Havilland Aircraft of Canada Ltd. (Downsview, Ontario)
Total Canadian Tiger Moths produced: 1,548
Canadian designation: DH.82C
Differences in the Canadian DH.82C
Canadian conditions (especially winter) required modifications:
Sliding canopies (most RAF Tigers were open cockpit)
Heated cockpits
Wider undercarriage for snow-covered grass fields
Hand-operated brakes (replacing the RAF toe brakes)
Continental winterization including cabin heat and engine cold-weather kit
Optional ski landing gear for deep-snow Prairies
These modifications made the DH.82C a uniquely Canadian variant purpose-built for the BCATP.
Tiger Moth Schools
Tiger Moths at Specific BCATP Schools
Over 20 EFTS stations in Canada operated Tiger Moths. Notable examples include:
No. 1 EFTS – Malton, Ontario
No. 2 EFTS – Fort William, Ontario (also near DHC’s production plant)
No. 5 EFTS – High River, Alberta
No. 6 EFTS – Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
No. 11 EFTS – Cap-de-la-Madeleine, QC
No. 15 EFTS – Regina, Saskatchewan
No. 16 EFTS – Edmonton, Alberta
No. 17 EFTS – Stanley, Nova Scotia
These schools collectively graduated tens of thousands of pilots from Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and many European allies.
