You can't have Hurricane & Spitfire pilots without elementary trainers to teach them the ropes. Some shots of the legendary Tiger Moth & Maggie. Most WWII RAF pilots took their first faltering steps on one or other of these types.

The Collection's own Tiger in it's wartime camouflage. Note the diamond on its back. Anyone know what that is for?


A very nice Tiger in its peacetime scheme. Think this must be based at Old Warden. Charlie?


I'd like to know more of this one's history. It has a fabric-covered rear fuselage top decking & no anti-spin strakes. Also larger than usual front cockpit doors. Looks like a very early Tiger although according to the records it was built in 1942.



Peter Holloway's immaculate Maggie. This would be the pre-WWII scheme.


What they progressed to, sometimes after very few hours. Most fighter pilots would have done advanced trainng on the Harvard or Miles Master, unfortunately not represented today. (Plenty of Harvards still around but not a single example of the Master. )
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[img]http://www.simviation.com/yabbuploads/da-owmp20025.jpg

A nice Chipmunk, successor to the Tiger Moth. This one is in similar markings to the Chippies in the ATC (Air Training Corps) Air Experience Flight back in the 50s - 60s. Fond memories.


I put this one in to make up the weight. Nice display by the RAF Glider & Soaring Association.

Was the diamond to show a recon or commanders plane?
Great pictures Doug, you got a good shot of that glider too.

Wow, they just get better.

Very Nice photos..

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Mmm, it was the one giving pleasure flights, so maybe the operating company have decided it makes sense to pay rent to base it somewhere where it can have (at least ) two days of fairly solid custom per month...

I noticed a little Jodel is now resident in the newest hangar too...

Hooboy. Nice. I really like the Tiger better without the strakes... although I'd think differently if I found myself stalling one!

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Uhh... yes, I know. I mentioned stalling because that's the first step in spinning.... but I have a hard time believing a Moth would bite like that.

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Aha- I was right (maybe)... wish I'd learned on the "spin&recover" program, rather than the now-trendy "recognize&recover". Spins are fun (when they're planned)!

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Thanks Richie. I didn't confirm it but Felix was correcr - as usual. Quote:

I never quite figured out whose benefit this was for. I reckon it would be impossible to see from either cockpit in the aircraft.

PS. It apparently worked like litmus paper. Changed colour if exposed to poison gas.