<!-- This article is a part of
WikiProject Aircraft. Please see
WikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout. -->
The
de Havilland DH.71 Tiger Moth was a single-seat
monoplane, designed to research high-speed flight and test replacement
engines for the
Cirrus engine. The plane was designed around its test pilot, Hubert Broad, to make it as streamlined as possible: this resulted in the fuselage sides being sloped outwards in order to accommodate his shoulders. The first aircraft built (G-EBQU) was initially fitted with an 85 hp Cirrus engine to check its handling characteristics. This was then replaced with
Major Halford's prototype engine, by then named the
Gipsy. The second example, G-EBRV, was fitted with a Cirrus engine.
Both aircraft were entered for the 1927
King's Cup race but 'QU was withdrawn in order to be tuned for record-breaking purposes. Broad flew 'RV in the race but retired.
In August 1927, Broad flew a 62-mile (100 km) closed-circuit record for Class III Light Aircraft of 186.47 mph (300.09 km/h). Five days later he flew to 19,191 ft (5,849 m) without oxygen in an attempt to break the altitude record for its category. For these record attempts the aircraft was fitted with a new set of mainplanes with a reduced span of 5.79 metres.
In 1930, the first DH.71 crashed when the engine cut out while practising for a race in
Australia, killing pilot David Smith. The second airframe was for...
Read More