Woburn Moth Meet 2004

The worlds largest gathering of Moth aircraft is held every year at the beautiful grounds of Woburn Abbey,Bedford.

The sheer dedication to restoration and flying these lovely aircraft can be seen in the rows of De Havilland types that grace the all grass airfield,what could be a more fitting scene than this ? the Duchess of Bedford flew her De Havilland DH.60 Moth from here back in the thirties from the very same area of grass.

These photographs were taken on the Saturday 21-08-2004 and give an interesting cross section of what is still flying De Havilland Moth wise in the UK-

Easy does it ! the beautiful De Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly G-AEDU lifts off from the strip at Woburn,quite a strong crosswind was blowing,the picturesque setting and the lake are evident in this view.

The stately Dragonfly warming up,the aircraft was the executive machine of its day in the thirties,this one is owned by Torquil Norman and kept at Rendcomb.

Another interesting flying shot as the Dragonfly glistens in the afternoon sun at Woburn.

A steady taxy uphill at Woburn for the Dragonfly G-AEDU.

Hard to believe that as N190DH she was once rotting away in America uncared for,after being shipped to the UK she was totally rebuilt to fly again.

Like any De Havilland aeroplane she looks good from any angle.

The gleaming result of thousands of hours of hard work.

Long live De Havilland Aeroplanes-The Dragonfly in all her glory.

De Havillands reply to a twin Tiger Moth was the DH.84 Dragon,used successfully by Hillman Airways and Railway Air Services and for use in remote areas,this one is also owned by Torquil Norman and based at the ex World War one airfield at Rendcomb.

The high standard of finish and workmanship has to be seen to be believed,a fitting memorial to the talents of the De Havilland empire.

The high aspect ratio wing of the Dragon can be seen to good effect in this view.

Reliability and functional lines were the feature of the Dragon,whether in the highlands or on a beach she was at home.

G-ECAN DH.84 Dragon shows her three quarter rear view.

Ogma built Chipmunks in Portugal which were designated as the T.20,the Portuguese air force used them to good effect training thousands of pilots on these elegant machines.

The pale blue colourscheme looks effective on the Chipmunk,Polish designer and first machines built by De Havilland Canada.

A17-48 a Tiger Moth finished in Royal Australian air force colours.

Note the tailwheel for operation from runways,the tail skid ( spoon) was ideal for the Tigers brakeless operations,as the aircraft slowed down the skid dug into the grass and serves as a brake.

Chipmunks as far as the eye can see,demobbed examples are quickly snapped up by private buyers.

Two Gipsy Moths and a brace of Tigers at Woburn.

G-AAHY is a DH.60M metal Moth with a Gipsy 1 motor,formerly Swiss air force CH-480.

Composite rebuild by John Pothcary is G-AAOR,the bulk of the parts came from EC-AAO and is a DH.60G.

G-AAWO is another composite rebuild which used the parts from G-AAHI,another DH.60G.

'British Heritage' DH.80A Puss Moth G-AAZP was the former De Havilland Chester social club aircraft.

The Puss Moth shows her rear lines and stately vintage beauty.

Thanks to the skills of the late Ben Cooper G-ACEJ DH.83 Fox Moth was saved from extinction,a Beech Musketeer landed on top of her at Old Warden and she burst into flames,the metal fittings were salvaged and the remarkable result shown here evolved into another airworthy machine.

In good company alongside a Puss Moth,G-ACEJ was formerly operated from the beach at Southport where Sidney Giroex flew two Fox Moth's on pleasure flying duties G-ACCB was the other which is now on rebuild in Nuneaton.

G-ACMN Leopard Moth takes off at Woburn,this is the former Alvis Ltd hack which was based at Baginton and flown by the managing director J.J.Parkes.

Henry Labouchere purchased G-ACMN when Alvis closed its aviation division at Baginton,the aircraft is now based at Langham.

G-ACUS is a composite Leopard Moth built from HB-OXA & HB-OXO,she is now part of Torquil Normans collection of De Havilland machines.

Over the lake ! G-ACUS clears the strip at Woburn.

My old Hornet Moth G-ADKC,formerly based at Baginton after a spell at R.A.F Binbrook she still flys on a regular basis,several Hornet Moths graced the Woburn skyline.

The Crossley’s purchased G-ADKC in 1937 – the first owner was Sir Kenneth Crossley – hence the KC. Crossley’s daughter was the first in the family to qualify as a pilot and introduced her father to flying, hence the purchase of ADKC. The daughter had a Gypsy Moth G-AAKC purchased in 1931 which she raced in the King’s Cup that year. AAKC went to South Africa where the Crossley’s had a ranch and it would appear to have been commandeered by the South African military. G-ADKC was requisitioned by the military in the UK in 1940. All this arises from "Crossley" by Eyre, Heaps and Townsin ISBN 086093 574 4. The Eyre is Mike Eyre, the guy restoring lady Crossley’s limousine.

G-ADKK Hornet Moth which was rebuilt at Wyberton,Boston,Lincs.

G-ADLY Hornet Moth.

G-ADMT Hornet Moth.

G-ADXT Tiger Moth,not an original registration but alloted as 'period'

Built from spare parts stored by Rollasons.

G-AFGZ Tiger Moth,actually G-AMHI which was involved in a crash at Petersfield 25-07-58.

Totally rebuilt airframe.

De Havilland DH.90 Moth Minor's in airworthy condition are now getting rare birds,G-AFPN was the only example present at Woburn.

G-AGEG Tiger Moth being man-handled,this example is owned by Torquil Norman at Rendcom.

Quite a chequered history being ex D-EDIL,Royal Netherlands air force A-32,Dutch civil PH-UFK.

G-AGHY Tiger Moth,another hybrid having been built from surplus Rollason airframe spares.

Doctor Ursula Hamiltons former Hornet Moth G-AHBL now owned by Henry Labouchere at Langham,the aircraft still has a few of the attachment fittings from the floats that it once had as CF-BFN.

Three lovely Hornet Moths lined up at Woburn for the 24th Moth rally.

G-AHUV Tiger Moth.

Woburn was celebrating 70 years of the Dragon Rapide aircraft and the Air Atlantique historic flight sent along the former Fox's Glacier Mints G-AIDL,this much travelled aircraft has seen service with a lot of companies including Midland Metal spinning company,Southern Joyrides & Air Carmarthon.

G-AIDS 'The Sorceror' Tiger Moth.

G-AIXJ Tiger Moth is a rebuild that uses odd parts from other aircraft.

G-AIYS Leopard Moth is immaculate.

G-AJHS Tiger Moth spent a while in Holland with the Vliegend museum at Seppe.

G-AJVE Tiger Moth incorporates parts from G-APGL on its extensive rebuild in 1981.

G-ALWW 'Weary Willie' lives at Bidford and was the former Sir W.G.Armstrong Whitworth flying group aircraft.

G-ANEM Tiger Moth,former EI-AGN from Ireland.

G-ANEN Tiger Moth,ex Belgium OO-ACG.

G-ANLD Tiger Moth,ex OO-DPA.

G-ANMY Tiger Moth also wears DE470.

G-ANZT Thruxton Jackaroo is a magnificent rebuild by Skysport Engineering from Rotary Farm,Hatch,one of only two now active in the UK due to many being de-converted back into Tiger Moths.

G-AOBX Tiger Moth now active again after many years of storage.

G-AOJH Fox Moth,a coupe version that spent a while in Pakistan as AP-ABO,she was imported into the UK by Northwest Air Travel and used for joy rides.

G-AOJK Tiger Moth with a Gipsy Moth and another Tiger.

G-APAM a former Jackaroo converted back into the more popular Tiger Moth.

G-APMX Tiger Moth.

G-APYG Chipmunk,formerly OH-HCB from Finland.

G-ARAZ Tiger Moth.

Cathy Silks Tiger Moth G-AVPJ from Bericote Farm,Kenilworth.

G-AZZZ Tiger Moth is former French military and F-BGJE.

G-BFHH Tiger Moth another ex French military machine and F-BDOH.

G-BHUM Tiger Moth much travelled ex Indian VT-DGA & VT-DDN,South African air force 4622.

G-BPAJ Tiger Moth,a complex rebuild from parts of G-AMNN & G-AOIX.

G-BWVT Tiger Moth with a tailwheel.

Atmospheric shot of Hornet Moth taking off at Woburn.

K2572/G-AOZH Tiger Moth.

NL750/G-AOBH Tiger Moth,rebuild status not clear.

R5136/G-APAP Tiger Moth in authentic WW2 EFTS colourscheme.

T5879/GAXBW Tiger Moth,painted in authentic University Air squadron colours.

T6953/G-ANNI Tiger Moth is a rebuild of a machine that crashed at Yieldon,Beds in 1963,the colourscheme of red/white cheqs represents a very early aerobatic team.