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De Havilland
Tigermoth, Miss Sophie, D-ETHC. This aircraft was
previously VT-CZV before it was inducted into the service of the IAF in
early 1950s. Photo Courtesy : http://www.miss-sophie.org
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Right from Independence, the IAF was
operating the De Havilland DH.82 Tigermoth as a primary trainer for its training needs.
The Tigermoth also equipped several auxillary squadrons raised by the IAF. These aircraft
were excellent trainer aircraft and were operated till the end of 1957 by the Auxillary
squadrons before being phased out. It is not known as to what happened to the nearly 150
airframes operated by the IAF. Though many have been lost in attrition, as many as 50+ of
the Tigermoths may have been disposed off to private operators and flying clubs.
Towards early 1980, Ten Tigermoth airframes
were bought by a UK company after these were found in storage in Chennai. All the aircraft
had civilian registrations and also had service with the Indian Air Force. The airframe
serial number list is given below.
| Three De Havilland Tigermoth
fuselages , which includes VT-DOU in the foreground, formerly HU-483
of the Indian Air Force as found in Chennai. Photo Courtesy : Simon Watson |
 |
 |
More Tigers! A stack of six
Tigermoths from the Cache exported from Chennai. VT-DOZ was
formerly HU-504 of the Indian Air Force. Photo Courtesy : Simon Watson |
One of this batch of Tigermoths which made
its way to Germany as Miss Sophie. This aircraft was procured from UK and is
operated as D-ETHC. The aircraft has the colors RAF Training scheme with
serial N-6740. The aircraft started service with this serial during WW2
with the RAF before moving to the civlian register as G-AISY. The aircraft
then came to the Indian Civilian registry in July 1948 as VT-CZV before
it was acquired by the Indian Air Force. Its IAF Identity is not known.
Two other airframes were registered on the
UK Registry. VT-DOW became G-BINH and VT-DPE became
G-BUJY. G-BINH flew for a short while in the 80s before
encountering an accident. The remaining airframes were sold to a South African consortium.
The aircraft were shipped to South Africa in January 2000 and are still believed to be
there.
| Aircraft Type |
Serial No |
Other Id |
Current
Location |
| DH-82 Tigermoth |
HU-187 |
Later VT-DPC |
in South Africa |
| DH-82 Tigermoth |
HU-483 |
Later VT-DOU |
in South Africa |
| DH-82 Tigermoth |
HU-488 |
Later VT-DOW |
G-BINH - Under restoration in UK |
| DH-82 Tigermoth |
HU-492 |
Later VT-DOX |
in South Africa |
| DH-82 Tigermoth |
HU-498 |
Later VT-DOY |
in South Africa |
| DH-82 Tigermoth |
HU-504 |
Later VT-DOZ |
in South Africa |
| DH-82 Tigermoth |
HU-511 |
Later VT-DPA |
in South Africa |
| DH-82 Tigermoth |
HU-708 |
Later VT-DPB |
in South Africa |
| DH-82 Tigermoth |
HU-858 |
Later VT-DPE |
G-BUJY - Under restoration in UK |
| DH-82 Tigermoth |
HU-887 |
Later VT-DPH |
in South Africa |
| DH-82 Tigermoth |
- |
Later VT-CZV |
Currently D-ETHC in Germany "Miss Sophie" |
Sources:
1. Flypast Magazine July 2000 issue, Key
Publishing.
2. Miss-Sophie.org
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