SAM 27

The De Havilland Tiger Moth first flew in 1931. It arrived between the Curtiss Jenny (JN4) and the Stearman (PT17). You'll recognize it by the de Havilland trademark fin, the swept-back wings, the long slender fuselage, and the narrow cowl (housing an inverted in-line 130HP Gypsy Major engine).

This page is about the GWS Tiger Moth

Span 30 in. Weight 71/2 to 8 ozs.

Your Individual Color Scheme

You need this to distinguish yours when flying in formation.

In the Air Together

Colorful airplanes fly alongside each other. They thrill spectators and pilots alike. Even if the formation's a little ragged. Cameras click...

Looks after itself

It recovers from stalls and steep turns all by itself (if you let it). Just like it has its own pilot up there. What more could you want from a trainer?

Slow, slow...

Realistic scale flying speed. Time to think. On final it just hangs in the breeze as you nudge it down. Perfect three point landings...

Dawn Patrol

The early morning calm. Alone in the sky. You fly like a pro.

Main Wheels

Mandatory: Replace the funky GWS wheels with ultralight wheels with tires. Then you adjust or replace the gear to maintain prop clearance.

Steerable Tailwheel

This adds realism as you taxi to your takeoff position. Anchor the tail wheel mount to fuselage, not the rudder.

Wing Brace

Add a single thread from mid-span of the upper wing => under the fuselage => to mid-span on the opposite upper wing. Now you can loop forever.

Propellor

GWS's favorite orange prop looks wrong. Paint it or use marker pen for streaky wood grain effect.

Panel

Courtesy of tigermothsquadron.com. Visit them for more valuable information and insight.

Gluing

For joining top wings,and cabane and interplane struts, gap filling CA worked fine. Wet everything with accelerator first, then apply CA carefully, then more accelerator.

Reno (airborne) start. 15 second countdown to maneuver for position at starting line (at upwind end of field). Race downwind to turnaround line. Race back upwind to the finish line (same as start line). Strategy: Fly high downwind to ride the wind shear. Scale speed downwind can reach 200 mph. Dive to burn off height and return upwind hugging the ground. Scale speed across finish line can be as slow as 15 mph.

Take off at 2 second intervals. Follow the leader in line astern formation for two low passes over the runway. See who can stay in formation. Sounds easy.

The low speed and responsiveness make spot landings a joy. Fly low and slow and chop the power.

Taxi to the runway and emulate the full size plane's long, tail-high takeoff, and dead straight climb out.

Hang in the breeze on final and make a three-pointer with the stick all the way back at touchdown.

Make a wheel landing, touching down on the main gear. Then hold the tail high (for three seconds) as you roll out.

Short field takeoff. Horse it off in three airplane lengths.

How many touch and goes in 60 seconds? Get comfortable making steep turns close to the ground first. Forget style. Just go for it.

How many loops can you do in 60 seconds? Time starts from takeoff roll. This takes strategy.