History

The Fox Moth was a biplane transport built up from DH 82 Tiger Moth components, with a large cabin behind the engine, and the pilot's cockpit moved aft. 154 built. This rather unusual design accommodates four passengers in enclosed cabin, the pilot occupying an outside "dicky" seat aft of the wings. Its was fast for its type, and a speed model piloted by Captain WL Hope won the 1932 King's cup at 124 mph.

The Fox Moth was designed in England in 1932 as a light, economic transport, and was built using as many Tiger Moth components as possible. De Havilland  aalso designed a special stretcher for the Fox Moth, in order that it could operate as an air ambulance. One Fox Moth was first registered in 1932 to Flt Lt EH Fielden on behalf of HRH The Prince of Wales. As part of the Royal Flight the cabin featured matching folding tables and leather upholstery.

De Havilland designer AE Hagg evolved the Fox Moth in 1932 to meet a perceived need for a light transport aircraft with good performance, economical operation and low initial cost. To standard Tiger Moth components, he added a new plywood-covered wooden fuselage, locating the pilot in an open cockpit (which was later covered in a canopy) behind an enclosed cabin which accommodated up to four passengers. The prototype was later shipped to Canada for trials on floats and skis with a total of 98 Fox Moths being built. Post war the Fox Moth was produced in Canada mainly to keep the plant in production, but also to satisfy the increasing need for new bush aircraft. All the Canadian modifications made to the Tiger Moth were also applied to the Fox Moth. Of the 53 produced, 39 remained in Canada, most of which were operated in float/ski configuration, and gave years of satisfactory service.
 

The Fleet Air Arm possessed one impressed De Havilland Fox Moth, DZ213, which equipped 781 squadron at Lee on Solent from June 1941 til at least Setember 1943 when it is known to have gibve, amongst others, air experience to sea cadets.

Fleet Air Arm history

     De Havilland D.H.Fox Moth
     Total FAA 1939-1945:        1
     First delivered to RN:          1941
     First squadron 1939-1945:    781 sqdn 6.1941 (DZ213)
     Operational squadron:          None
     Last served with RN            1943

A number of Fox Moths survive worldwide including three airworthy examples in the UK, two in Canada and two in New Zealand.

 The orange DH83 Fox Moth, ZK-ADI, and the dark blue one, ZK-AEK, then belonged to Air Travel (NZ) Ltd.,
New Zealand's first operating airline.

Two airworthy Fox Moths - ZK_ADI and ZK-AEK -  The photograph was taken in their old haunt, the West Coast of New Zealand, south of Hokitika. ZK-ADI now lives at Old Mandeville Airfield (NZ) and ZK-AEK at the Wanaka based Alpine Fighter Collection (NZ).

Alpine Fighter collection in New Zealand: The Alpine Fighter Collection Fox Moth was first registered in 1932 to Flt Lt EH Fielden on behalf of HRH The Prince of Wales. As part of the Royal Flight the cabin featured matching folding tables and leather upholstery. In 1933 the aircraft went to a Belgian owner before being shipped to New Zealand in 1935 for use by Air Travel on its West Coast route, based at Hokitika. ZK-AEK was used to carry passengers and freight between the isolated settlement of Haast and Hokitika, pausing en route at any point that required service. Restoration completed in May 1993.

National Aviation Museum in Canada preserved DH 83 CF-FGL: The museum aircraft was built in 1947. It was owned by a number of operators, then purchased, restored, and flown for Maxwell W. Ward in the 1980s. This Fox Moth was presented to the museum in 1989.

Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre: Preserved Replica CF-BNO Replica under construction of CF-BNO, originally of Parson's Airways of Kenora, Ontario.

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Associations and reunions

• Croydon Aircraft Company Ltd specialise in the manufacturing and restoration of de Havilland and vintage aircraft.
• The de Havilland Moth Club

 

FURTHER INFORMATION   NZFP Museum Fox Moth in New Zealand  Fox Moths in Canada Fox Moth in Canadian Northern aviation history Croydon Aircraft Company Ltd  http://www.themoth.co.nz/CAC.html  Sturtivant, R. & Burrow, M (1995) 'Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939 to 1945'  Published by Air Britain (Historians) Ltd, 1995 ISBN: 085130 232 7

Created 3-4-1999, Modified 3-4-2000

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