Sunday, January 18, 2009

Wings Over Wairarapa # 2: de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth

After much thought, I thought that I would present most of the airshow images based on aircraft type or in display groups, with the exception of a few that will be "linked" together for various other reasons.

One of the most "common" aircraft at a New Zealand airshow would have to be the de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth. The Tiger Moth was known to generations of New Zealanders [somewhat older than myself I might point out!], firstly as a military, then civilian trainer and also as one of the earlier agricultural aircraft.

It is fair to say that New Zealand led the world in developing the practice of aerial application of agricultural chemicals, and the Tiger Moth led the way for New Zealand.

Alongside a couple of "stock" Tigers where a couple of ag variants. The most common noticeable feature of an ag Tiger is that the front cockpit is covered over [and used for the storage/ dispensing of the chemicals], although we were also privileged to see New Zealand's [and perhaps the world's] last spray-equipped Tiger being put through it's paces.

Top to bottom are:

ZK-BLK & ZK-BLV in formation/ribbon chasing [x 2]
ZK-AUZ, a former 'dung duster' from Wanganui Aero Work
ZK-ANL, New Zealand's only remaining spray-equipped Tiger Moth

de Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth, ZK-BLK & ZK-BLVde Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth, ZK-BLK & ZK-BLVde Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth, ZK-AUZde Havilland DH82A Tiger Moth, ZK-ANL

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