Airfix De Havilland Tiger Moth (1:48)

Included

Plastic model, prints and instructions.

The package does not contain glue, brushes, paints or other accessories.

Description

Plastic model Airfix A04104 - de Havilland D.H.82a Tiger Moth aircraft in 1:48 scale for gluing. The kit contains 91 pieces, wingspan 184 mm, difficulty 3.

Template information:

Although the classic Havilland Tiger Moth must be considered one of the most important aircraft in the history of British aviation, it rarely receives the public recognition it deserves and usually remains in the shadow of more dazzling types such as the Supermarine Spitfire or Mosquito also from de Havillanda. And yet, without thousands of Tiger Moths to prepare endless hordes of pilots for military and civilian service, Britain and its Commonwealth would be in real trouble during World War II. Most pilots who switched to a number of different types of Allied aircraft during the war learned their craft on this classic training machine.

The DH.82 Tiger Moth, which followed a successful series of biplanes, took off for the first time in October 1931. It was the result of the company's founder's desire to create an aircraft that would surpass its predecessors and at the same time be attractive enough to win interest of several different airlines. Proof of the success of this plan was the immediate order of the RAF, which saw the new machine as an ideal candidate for the primary training platform for novice pilots preparing to fly the latest front-line aircraft. This first order was relatively modest, but was followed by several others, so when Europe entered the war in 1939, the British Royal Air Force already had 500 Tiger Moths at its disposal. Many other machines were then owned by aviation clubs throughout the country, many of which were also forced into military service because it was necessary to train as many pilots as possible. As their reputation grew, so did a number of orders from abroad, which forced de Havilland's production lines to take full turn in order to deliver this great aircraft.

From the perspective of a novice pilot, Tiger Moth was a relatively stable aircraft to fly, which was able to forgive occasional mistakes, but also had a few shortcomings in control. It has been popularly described as ‘an aircraft that is easy to fly but difficult to fly well’, making it an ideal primary / basic tool for training a large number of pilots preparing to enter the war. As Britain prepared for the impending invasion in the early summer of 1940, it was planned that even the moderate Tiger Moth could show his more aggressive face and support the Spitfire and Hurricane pilots he had previously trained. Ban Operation Banquet ’envisaged calling in every available aircraft to defend the British coast, attacking potential intruders by all available means. This would mean supplying offensive capabilities to even the least likely aircraft and equipping them with bomb bays. If the Germans really attempted an invasion at the time, there was a good chance that enemy troops on the ground would bury swarms of bomb-laden Tiger Moths, as Britain was ready to use all its might to prevent such a daring incursion from the mainland across the strait. Fortunately, with the help of this excellent pilot teacher and the determination of the British Royal Air Force, the Germans' plan was postponed indefinitely because the Luftwaffe failed to win the coveted victory in the air battle for Britain.

Many Tiger Moths have survived to this day and are admirable that this famous basic training aircraft still fulfills the same mission as in the 1930s, when it was first put into service. The great Tiger Moth thus gives aspiring pilots of historic aircraft the opportunity to gain valuable experience flying on a spur-powered machine before finally moving to Spitfires and Mustangs, with which they captivate crowds of spectators at air shows around the world.

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