De Havilland DH.71 Tiger Moth

Lore & Background

The DH.71 Tiger Moth was a low-wing monoplane based on the earlier Moth biplanes, with a stressed plywood covering. Its cockpit was designed around test pilot Hubert Broad to maximize streamlining, resulting in fuselage sides sloped outward to accommodate his shoulders. It had fixed conventional landing gear with a tail skid. The first aircraft, G-EBQU, first flew from Stag Lane Aerodrome on 24 June 1927 fitted with an 85 hp ADC Cirrus II engine to check handling, which was later replaced with Major Halford's prototype engine, by then named the Gipsy. The second example, G-EBRV, was fitted with a Cirrus engine and first flew on 28 July 1927.

Both aircraft were entered for the 1927 King's Cup Race at Hucknall on 30 July; G-EBQU was withdrawn but Broad flew G-EBRV in the race, retiring because of handling problems. In August 1927 Broad flew G-EBQU over a 62-mile closed circuit to set a new record for Class III Light Aircraft of 186.47 mph. Five days later he flew to 19,191 ft without oxygen in an attempt to break the altitude record for its category. For these record attempts the aircraft was fitted with new wings of reduced span, 19 ft.

G-EBQU was exported to Australia in 1930 and registered VH-UNH. On 17 September 1930 it crashed when the engine cut out while practising for an air race, killing pilot David Smith. The second airframe was displayed outside de Havilland's Hatfield factory and was destroyed there on 3 October 1940 during an air raid. A replica, G-ECDX, was constructed by Steve Jones between 1994 and 2024 and is currently airworthy in the UK.

Reader's Guide

The DH.71 Tiger Moth is significant as a dedicated high-speed research aircraft that directly contributed to the development of the Gipsy engine, which later powered many de Havilland designs. Its streamlined monoplane configuration, tailored around a single pilot, represented a departure from the biplane Moth lineage and demonstrated the potential for light aircraft to achieve competitive speeds. The two examples were used for record attempts, including a Class III speed record of 186.47 mph and an altitude record of 19,191 ft without oxygen, showcasing the capabilities of both the airframe and the new engine. The loss of the first aircraft in a fatal crash in Australia and the destruction of the second during wartime highlight the fragility of such specialized machines. The construction of an airworthy replica in the 21st century underscores the enduring interest in this rare type, which served as a testbed for innovations that influenced later de Havilland products. Its legacy lies in its role as a stepping stone between the Moth biplanes and faster, more streamlined aircraft.