Anyone ever been in a TigerMoth?

[Luther Moore]

I have to choose between flying a TigerMoth or a small plane.Any ideas what to choose?

[Andy Wright]

Tiger, no question, mate. Given your interests it would help with understanding your research.

My first flight in a Tiger was in VH-USB which, incidentally, was also the first aircraft I helped restore.

[phil]

tigermoth, no question.

I was lucky enough to get a flight in the Historic flight's tiger moth at Ohakea. Fantastic experience.

[baronbeeza]

It seems to be a strange question. Is it a real Tiger Moth or one of the newer scale versions ?

Why are you going flying ?

I have worked for the Tiger Club in the UK where we operated the oldest one still flying in the world. They have been around for a while now so many of us will have flown them.

They were the C150/Tomahawk of their day.

I am sure the hourly rate will be higher than a 'normal' modern day training aircraft. That would not deter you from doing a few flights if you had the opportunity though.

Enjoy the experience.

[Luther Moore]

Cheers guys.

I see the Tiger Moth wins, I was leaning towards the Tiger Moth for the history in it but the open cockpit seems freaky as i'm scared of hights,but that wont stop me.

From what I know it is a real Tiger Moth but it is only a joy ride,i'm no pilot. I'm pretty sure you take the controls for a bit,either way it should be fun.

www.redballoon.com.au/flying-experiences/flying-lessons/tiger-moth-training-introductory-flight
www.redballoon.com.au/flying-experiences/scenic-flights/tiger-moth-scenic-flight-30-minutes
www.redballoon.com.au/flying-experiences/flying-lessons/light-aircraft-sydney-harbour-training-flight

[baronbeeza]

It will be a great experience. I would not worry about the open cockpit.

It will not be a flying lesson, I can tell you now that learning to fly in a Tiger is not at all like most flight training aircraft. Intercoms in both types has made a huge difference though.

It will be a great experience and one that many people don't get these days.

I would actually recommend all pilot trainees experience something different during their training.
A good cross country flight in a glider for example would be a real education for many fresh PPL's.
A 2 or 3 hour flight out of Omarama would astound many new power pilots.

I think the increasing number od sport aircraft does provide an opportunity or the open air biplane type experience.
There is only one real Tiger Moth experience though. The Gypsy even sounds different to a Rotax.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

My first flight in a Tiger Moth was back in 1975 at Bridge Pa.

At the time, I was a student pilot flying PA28-140s, although I was more interested in jumping out of aeroplanes than actually flying them. One of the older jumpers at Bridge Pa was a chap called Oswald (Aussie) Simmonds, who had learnt to fly at Bridge Pa back in the 1950s, beginning his training while he was still a high school student. Aussie had gone all the way through to his PPL flying Tiger Moths with the Hawke's Bay & East Coast Aero Club. At the time when I was around in the mid-1970s, a chap called Bill Shaw owned a Tiger Moth which he kept at Bridge Pa and as him and Aussie were close mates, he used to let Aussie take his Tiger up flying whenever he wished. So I got to spend many hours in the front cockpit of Bill Shaw's Tiger while Aussie indulged in aerobatics over the Heretaunga Plains. Usually, he would hand over control to me and let me have a play, including indulging in a bit of very amateur aerobatics myself.

I never got my PPL (I was always more into jumping out of aeroplanes, and flying gliders than flying power planes), but I got a huge buzz out of all those hours I spent in Bill Shaw's Tiger Moth with Aussie. They are a magic way to fly!

BTW....I actually did two jumps from Bill Shaw's Tiger Moth, riding up side-saddle in the front cockpit with my legs dangling over the side and with a C-cat instructor from HB&ECAC flying the Tiger. That particular activity stopped when one of the other jumpers decided to be an idiot and turn off the front cockpit mag switches as he jumped over the side, stuffing things up for all of the rest of us. There's always one clown who has to ruin things!

[planecrazy4]

ive flown in a few old aircraft with the likes of a couple tiger moths ZK-BSN and ZK-BFF and also chipmunk ZK-TAz steaman ZK-XAF harvards NZ1091,NZ1096 and i have to say that the best experience was it a tigermoth as theres nothing like the sound of a gypsy major and the wind in your face but i do have to say a chipmunk is nearly as good!!!!

[efliernz]

Yup - Tiger hands down

My first non-commercial flight was in Tiger BAT at the Hawera flyin 1985. Topped it off with a flight in the Dominie

Pete

[Luther Moore]

It will be great to see and fly in what the RNZAF boys trained in.

I'm sure if you can jump out of the plane Kiwi i'll be fine sitting in it.

So..are these ones not real Tiger Moths?I wonder if i'll get to wear the old school flight gear.

[Dave Homewood]

I was very lucky to have a flight in the RNZAF Historic Flight's iger Moth at Wigram, and I thoroughly loved it. You will too Luther, it's a really great experience that you'll never forget.

[11SQNLDR]

I've had two Tiger flights, one out of Bridge Pa when I was a Hastings local (need to look up the rego) & like Dave have flown in the RNZAF Historic Flight's NZ662 from Rangiora to Wigram

[Luther Moore]

I can't wait!You all talked me into it ;D

It must be cold up there?

[johnnyfalcon]

I fly GA light aircraft (including cub) but the Tiger ride overrides the others by far in my opinion. Once airborne there's no sense of insecurity due the open cockpit any more than a modern plane, but a real sense of FLYING! Grab the chance, they don't always come along these days, and it will never be cheaper! And you'll be too excited to notice the cold :-)

[flyjoe180]

What they said!

[Darren Masters]

Mate, go the Tiger Moth! You will never look back! Be sure to share with us here when you do. To answer a few questions. I flew GA for years (and still do to stay current in that field) and then went on to microlights. My machine that I own is open air and I simply love it! Such a freedom with the wind in your face/being able to have your arms out etc. I can't describe it but other that have flown open air will know what I am talking about. You will not have a fear of heights as you are literally flying and it's just you, the machine and the air up there. You have magnificent views for miles! As for the temperature, in winter I wear a thermal flying suit, for summer mornings a lighter Nomex flying suit (if flying really early). Summer days and afternoons mate just the jeans and the t-shirt. It's roughly a 3 degree decrease in altitude per 1000ft so you will not freeze

[jonesy]

I wish!! My old man was an instructor during WW2 in these so its been a dream to go for a flight. And living in beautiful Tauranga with a plentiful supply of open cockpit aircraft available to take me whats holding me back???
Oh yeah thats right-the crippling mortgage, wife and cash vacuuming kids.....sigh.
Apart from that I'm there!!!

[Peter Lewis]

After several Tiger Moth flights over the years, (both restored and 'as is' varieties)I confess I don't really like the experience very much.

Noisy draughty beasts that vibrate your fillings out, lack of baggage space, and short range. Even the coupe versions seemed to be quite well ventilated.

But what else do you expect? They were, after all, designed as an military basic trainer. Comfort and range were not high on the spec sheet.

I'm told that the Gypsy Moths were superior for private flying operations - may be DargonflyDH90 can comment?

[Luther Moore]

I guess there is only one way to find out.Either way It will still be good to know what its like.

[DragonflyDH90]

I have flown a Tiger Moth once or twice

The Gypsy is a superior creature in many ways but still draughty and noisy. I dont find the Tiger vibrates, in fact they are very smooth, likely just wind buffet as opposed to vibration. A lot of Tigers I fly have a long range tank which roughly gives you 1.5hrs more endurance than your bladder will hold, standard Tiger has approx 2.5hrs endurance with 0.5hr reserve and the aux tank gives another 1.5hrs. The two combined will get you a long way.

As Peter mentioned they were definitely not designed for comfort or range in mind, very few british aircraft were designed with comfort in mind, especially for the pilot.

You will not regret flying in the Tiger, fantastic aircraft, great experience and I still love flying them.....x 100......