Recreating the de Havilland Tiger Moth

Ride along on a Microsoft Flight Simulator journey through history in the first airplane that most British pilots in WWII learned to fly.

Patrick Chovanec

Monday, May 06, 2024 at 04:49 PM ET

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The de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth, recreated in 'Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020.' [Courtesy: Patrick Chovanec]

Key Takeaways:

The de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth, designed in 1932, was a primary military trainer known for being "easy to fly but difficult to master," making it ideal for developing foundational pilot skills.
During World War II, the Tiger Moth was instrumental in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), safely training thousands of Allied pilots across Canada, Australia, and other Empire locations, providing a crucial advantage.
Beyond its training role, some Tiger Moths were converted into "Queen Bees," the world's first remote-controlled drone aircraft, used for anti-aircraft gunnery practice.
With nearly 8,700 built, the Tiger Moth continues to be popular among private pilots and enthusiasts today, with many still flying and making appearances in films.

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Today in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, I’m flying the de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth, the airplane that trained thousands of pilots from across the British Empire to take to the air in World War II.

Born in 1882, Geoffrey de Havilland was the second son of a village pastor. At an early age, he displayed a mechanical interest and pursued a career as an automotive engineer, building cars and motorcycles. Frustrated at work, in 1909 he received a gift of 1,000 pounds from his grandfather to build his first airplane, just a few years after the Wright brothers had made their first flight.