Tiger Moth used for towing gliders

@ Halcyon days, That would’ve been after May 1968 when the Battle of Britain filming ended at Seville Spain and 27 Buchons & 3 Heinkel 111s were flown from Tablada airbase Spain to Madrid, San Sebastion, Nantes, Jersey, Manston and on to Duxford for filming the UK air sequences. There’s another thread on this website covering the Battle of Britain film.

I had a few aero tows in a glider behind Tiger Moth G-AGYU from Whatfield in Essex (Close to Wattisham)
In the late 60s- (1966/7)
On one occasion remember being airborne in the glider with Heinkel 111s (Casa’s) and 109s (Buchons) and a Mitchell flying not too far away as they were filming the Battle of Britain film in the area.

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In 1968 line up of 4 more Tiger Moths +2 Austers
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Dunstable Downs 1968 National Gliding Championships
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Many New Zealand Tigers were utilized in the glider-towing role during the 1960s.
That activity filled in the awkward gap between aero club/aerial topdressing work and becoming cherished antiques.

The ones that I can quickly identify are:
ZK-AIA ex ZK-AGI
Zk_AIL ex T5764 NZ661
ZK-AIW ex T5753 NZ660
ZK-AKC ex NZ847
ZK-ALM ex NZ841
ZK-APM ex G-ACWB NZ737
ZK-AQA ex N9254 NZ863
ZK-ARJ ex G-ADLU NZ735
ZK-ATI ex R5006 NZ899
ZK-ATZ ex NZ1405
ZK-AVI ex A17-367 VH-BBR
ZK-BAA ex T6564 G-AMKN
ZK-BAD ex T6200 G-AMNF
ZK-BAT ex G-AFSH X5106 G-AFSH
ZK-BBK ex T8253 G-AMNE
ZK-BCB ex T7386 G-AMMN
ZK-BCO ex T5699 G-AMTT
ZK-BCZ ex NZ1475
ZK-BFF ex T5807 G-ANBW
ZK-BJO ex T7392
ZK-BME ex NZ1493
ZK-BSO ex NZ1433
ZK-BVN ex DE883 G-ANSU ZK-BGY

plus there would have been a number of others that remained in personal ownership while being used by the local gliding club.

http://tugpilots.co.uk/aircraft/tug-fleet/towing-history-at-lgc/

All three Tiger Moths that have been registered in Finland were used for glider towing.

My father towed gliders in an 82c at Sarnia in the late ’50s.

Performance was marginal. He says he flew with one hand on the “release” all the time.

Originally Posted by Sim

Lucky over my shoulder shot of Capstan 2 seater Bill May if memory serves was the Capstan gliding instructor.
Bill Fey had procured the 3 Tigers. Claude Woodhouse checked me out for towing with the Tiger Moths.
Shelley Curtis was Coventry Gliding Club CFI
Last edited by Sim; 9th May 2018 at 14:14.

Lovely pics Sim – thanks for posting – love the shot of the Capstan on tow 🙂

My Tiger used to tow banners in the Netherlands in her previous guise as PH-ALG.
Probably towed gliders as well. We took the climb prop off of it as it flew like it was stuck in second gear.
Currently registered CF-MAD.

Andy

Ref old post #11 above. My Moth Major is fitted with “An ‘ook” and we have a Ka7, Swallow, and a Skylark 3F which it will be used for for towing.

Deffo Booker. You can see the empty M40 motorway on the final flight, must have been just before it opened.

”On a glider flight, Drummond survives an airborne attempt on his life by Helga. Unidentified location.” http://www.reelstreets.com/films/some-girls-do/

Yes I would say Booker as well

That looks like Booker to me.

Nice bit of video on Youtube. Don’t know where unfortunately but it seems to be filming of part of a Bulldog Drummond story “Some Girls Do” which is also on Youtube

Sim

Weary Willie (G-ALWW) is still based at a glider field – namely Bidford / Bickmarsh. I last photographed it tugging a vintage glider into the air there only a few years ago. It may still be in use for that occasionally SFAIK, although it is not the usual aircraft used there for that purpose now.

The West Wales Gliding Club used G-AOYU at Withybush, where I photographed it in 1963.

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Husbands Bosworth from Tiger Moth summer 1969
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Capstan speck in the distance from Tiger Moth Weary Willie
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Lucky over my shoulder shot of Capstan 2 seater Bill May if memory serves was the Capstan gliding instructor.
Bill Fey had procured the 3 Tigers. Claude Woodhouse checked me out for towing with the Tiger Moths.
Shelley Curtis was Coventry Gliding Club CFI

Interesting to see this old thread rejuvenated. In the earlier posts mention is made of Belgian Tiger Moth tugs. When in St Hubert on a visit in 1959 I was towed in Rhönlerche OO-ZUA by Tiger Moth OO-EVO, and later at Le Zoute in Goevier OO-SZC by OO-ZAC. I even managed to take a photo on the latter occasion of the tug from my cockpit.

A few more Dunstable T Moths http://www.fly13.co.uk/Tug/Fleet/Old%20Tug%20Fleet.htm

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Dunstable Downs home of London Gliding Club

National Gliding Competition 1968