De Havilland Built Just Two DH-71 Aircraft In 1927

The full-size recreation of the De Havilland DH-71 Tiger Moth Racer built by Steve Jones successfully completed its maiden flight on November 26, 2024. De Havilland built only two of its racers in 1927.

The replica was built in the 1990s principally by Ron Souch, who used drawings by a friend who was an aircraft draftsman. Since none of the original drawings by De Havilland had survived, he recreated the design based on a three-view, photographs, press articles, and an intimate knowledge of De Havilland’s design techniques.

When issues with stressing of the wing spars and undercarriage emerged, the project was paused. Jones was looking for a hangar-mate for his other aircraft project, a Comper Swift, ended up purchasing the DH-71 in 2016.

Jones spurred the project to life again by commissioning redesigns of some of the components, re-sparring the wings, and other items. The final examination of the assembled aircraft was performed by the staff of the Light Aircraft Association, and the modified engine and its Hercules propeller were demonstrated in ground runs in November 2024, more than thirty years after the project was initiated.

When the replica DH-71 first lifted off from the grass runway, it was a sight not seen in Britain in 95 years!

FMI:  www.lightaircraftassociation.co.uk/