Now you can relive a part of world history when you fly your own replica of the DeHavilland Tiger Moth. You will sense the moments in history when thousands of British Commonwealth pilots were learning to fly in preparation for their part of World War II. With your leather helmet, goggles, gauntlets, and flying coat, you can relive some of the glory in aviation’s golden age. All of the excitement, charm, and nostalgia will be yours-except the expense of owning and maintaining the original DH82 Tiger Moth.
After flying the FP R-80 Tiger Moth, KITPLANES magazine writer, Ben Millspaugh said, “She flies beautifully. Ground handling is exceptionally easy and I’d recommend this airplane to anyone who is a first-time builder or any pilot with little or no tail dragger time.”
Design
The R-80 Tiger Moth is 80% scale of the original DeHavilland DH82a Tiger Moth.
Construction
- The R-80 Tiger Moth is recommended for both first-time and experienced builders.
- Only basic tools are needed in construction.
- Builder assistance is readily available by phone or fax.
- Realistic estimates put construction time at 700 hours.
- Wood has been called “Nature’s Composite” and the R-80 construction is straight-forward and strong. Aircraft grade state-of-the-art epoxy adhesives are used throughout.
- Considerable time has been spent on the design and structural integrity. Initially, the airframe was designed by an aeronautical engineer. A design engineer was then brought in to assist during the actual construction and modification stage. The airframe was then tested, by an independent firm that specializes in structural analysis, to a limit of six positive and three negative g’s. At one point in this test, over 6,000 pounds of sandbags were on the R-80’s airframe-and it didn’t break. Properly constructed, this is an exceptionally strong aircraft!
Dutch
English
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Spanish