The trouble with Tiger Moths is that they are permanently trying to have an accident, by wanting to go sideways, having lousy ailerons, a high centre of gravity, no brakes, poor crosswind cababilty and a fairly hostile pilot environment, ie very noisy and windy, and often cold. Usually they crumple up nicely, and protect their occupants.
In the 50’s they were a poor mans aeroplane, for people who could not afford to fly ‘modern’ Austers! Now, spares are scarce and a rebuilt engine might be around £20K .
Pay commercial rates, and a rebuild will usually be more than the aeroplane will sell for. As a type, it features pretty frequently in the accident reports, so small wonder that insurance rates are heading north.
All sounds pretty un-appealling, but still…… on the right day, over the rolling countryside, in the summer sunshine, looking through the wings and the wires,
there is something about a Tiger.
Still, I like traction engines too, and wouldn’t want to own one of them either !
Sign In
