1944 De Havilland DH82a Tiger Moth 20% Equity Share (SOLD)

Description

G-BTOG s/n 86500 previously NM192, F-BGCJ – Key Facts.

s/n 86500 is a late build aeroplane. (The last UK / Morris Motors build number is 86621.). The aeroplane originally delivered unassembled, as many were at this time, & subsequently returned to the manufacturer for rigging.

It never entered RAF service & was sold direct to France without acquiring a UK civil registration as per ‘demobbed’ aeroplanes. The aircraft has been restored as “stock” WW2 military Tiger Moth & finished in a unique WWII USAAF paint scheme representing of DE745 “Dorothy” of the 353rd Fighter Group at Goxhill in 1943, one of a handful of Tiger Moths loaned to the USAAF as a communications aircraft during WW2.

A brief history of the aeroplane is as follows:
– Taken on charge as NM192 notionally at 15 MU Wroughton 22.2.44; stored locally in ‘purgatory’; returned to Morris for erection 16.8.45.
– To 38 MU Llandow 26.9.45.
– To RAF Pershore 23.3.46 & ferried to French AF 30.3.46; arr Romorantin 31.3.46.
– Inspected at Persan 20.8.51 & regd F-BGCJ (CofR 21694) 27.8.51/13.9.51 to CIC de Persan Beaumont.
– Regd .53 to unknown owner, Le Plessis Belleville.
– Regd .54 to unknown owner, Angouleme.
– Regd .55 to Aero Club de Saintonge et d’Aunis, Saintes les Gonds. CofA suspended Saintes 26.11.69.
– Regn cld 14.12.72 as scrapped but actually ferried to Cranfield by Derek Wilcox, Northampton (with export CofA dated 21.7.71) for potential conversion to Curtiss Jenny for film (but film abandoned). Stored by Wilcox in a barn nr Thurleigh, Bedfordshire.
– Sold 12.90 to Paul Szluha & roaded to Audley End (said to be 18.1.90 – likely to be 18.1.91).
– Regd G-BTOG 5.9.91 to Paul Szluha, Cambridge.
– Sold 10.2.07 to Clive Denney & ptnrs, Braintree (for rebuild).
– Regd 2.3.07 to Stephen Barratt, trustee TOG Group, Bedford (11.18). Currently regd.
– Restored at Vintage Fabrics premises, Audley End. First post-restoration flight 1.2.22.

During the course of the aircraft’s restoration some of the more significant features incorporated include:
1. A late post –WW2 build Gipsy Major 1C unused since manufacture was acquired from Paul Lipman who conducted its un-inhibition, initial service & strip down inspection. Accordingly a genuine “zero hours” as opposed “zero-timed” engine.
2. All engine ancillaries refurbished & zero timed as part of the above.
3. New Hercules propeller.
4. New spinner.
5. New “old stock” engine bearers.
6. Lower wings & ailerons completely rebuilt with new Canadian/Davidson spars fitted.
7. New manufacture cowlings, firewall & fuel tank from &y Baxter, Nottingham.
8. Complete new flying control cables from Shuttleworth
9. Undercarriage refurbished (new bushes fitted)
10. New instrument panels
11. All leatherwork replaced (cockpit coamings, undercarriage gaiters). New seat cushions manufactured.
12. All fabric surfaces covered in Ceconite, painted Clive Denny of Vintage Fabrics.
13. Trig TY91 & TT21 Radio/intercom & Transponder discreetly installed.
14. All electrics including navigation lights & downward identity light functional.
15. Gosport tubes fitted.
16. New tyres & inner tubes fitted.
17. New custom fit Cambrai cover obtained.