Background:
The ' DH 83 Fox Moth' was produced early in 1932 to fill a market request for a small and inexpensive air-taxi. Designed by A.E.Hagg, the Fox Moth was a direct development of the Tiger Moth. To keep production costs down, Hagg used the mainplanes from the Tiger Moth.
With less sweep back and stagger, and tail unit, the undercarriage main sprung legs and engine mounting, were mated to an entirely new wooden plywood covered fuselage with an open cockpit for the pilot and a small forward cabin. The Fox Moth, although having a greater fuselage cross-section than the Tiger Moth, had superior speed.
The prototype, G-ABUO made its first flight in March 1932. It was then shipped to Canada for evaluation on floats and skis by Canadian Airways Ltd. 'UO, it was later re-registered locally as CF-API, and such was the Canadian interest in the aeroplane that DH decided to produce the Fox Moth in its Toronto factory. A total of 154 planes went into production; 54 were manufactured in Toronto, two were built in Australia, and the remaining 98 at D.H's London Stag Lane Factory. (Forty six of these were exported).
In its first summer of operation, the Fox Moth G-ABUT, piloted by W.L.Hope, won the Kings Cup Air Race at 124.13 mph!
The majority of Fox Moths were fitted with the Gipsy Major engine, and some were fitted with sliding hoods. One customer for the Moth was the Prince of Wales who purchased G-ACAJ. This registration was changed to the double suffixed G-ACDD as a Royal privilege. 'DD' was based at Hendon. The Prince sold the machine, and it went to Belgium as OO-ENC at the end of 1933. The new owner, Guy Hansez, eventually returned it to De Havilland..
The fox moth belonging to the Prince of Wales.
In August 1934 De Havilland Aircraft Co. received a formal order for two Fox Moth aircraft for operation in Newfoundland.
Serial No's 4093 VO-ABC and 4094 V0-ADE
supplied with wheels , skis , and floats.
CONSTUCTION:
Fuselage -wood , employing a new method of construction achieving full protection against all climate effects.
Wings- wood, fabric covered.
Engine - Gipsy Major. 130 h.p. 4-cylinder-in-line air cooled inverted type, specially protected against salt water corresion.
Instruments:
Standard Instruments:
Airspeed Indicator
Revolution Indicator
Aneriod
Oil pressure gauge
Inclinometer
Watch and holder
D.H. strut airspeed indicator
Compass
Hughes MK III latest model incorporating micro compass adjuster.
Additional instruments:
Smith's turn and bank indicator
Reid & Sigrist fore and aft level
Upholstery:
Blue lower cabin
Upper portion and seats GREY
Special colour scheme
All covered surfaces ALUMINIUM.
top of top planes and tail planes ORANGE .
Fuselage:
ALUMINIUM with ORANGE top
Struts and undercarrage: ALUMINIUM
Registration Letters : BLACK
Basic
Cost of aircraft:
One thousand one hundred and eighty eight British Pounds.
Of the 98 aircraft produced in England, Nos. 93 and 94 were bought by Imperial Airways London for the Newfoundland Goverment Air Service.
November 09, 1934, VO-ADE took to the air over St. John's for the first time - a test flight of 15 minutes. This marked the start of The Little Moth's service to Newfoundland.
VO-ADE in the channel in front of the hanger at Quidi Vidi Lake, St.John's Newfoundland.
The following pages are from the D.H. 83, De Havilland Moth instruction manual.
Manufactured by the De Havilland Aircraft Company LTD., Stag Lane, Edgware, Middlesex, England.
On the 24 February 1941, VO-ADE made its last official flight from St. John's to the Newfoundland Airport (Gander). From this Airport it proceeded to take part in the search for the Aircraft that had crashed with the co-discoverer of insulin, Dr. Frederick Banting on board . Thirty minutes after leaving the airport, the plane landed at the crash site. (The first aircraft at the scene).
On March 08, 1941, VO-ADE left Gander for the last time with Captain Fraser at the controls to head for St. John's. The air service that had served the Dominion of Newfoundland was disbanded. Captain Fraser had been ordered to take the train back to Town as his services were no longer required, and the aircraft was to be turned over to the RCAF.
For the man who had visited most of his native country by air, the thought of a train ride was not in the cards. On the pretext of a test flight, before giving this aircraft entrusted to his care to Canada, he set his course for Town. On arrival Captain Fraser received three weeks extra pay to dismantel the plane and send it to the Canadians stationed at Gander. .
VO-ADE took its last ride as the property of the Newfoundland Goverment by train. As a last comment on the situation, the plane was sent to the Canadians complete with a black bow painted on the nose of the plane. It was painted by Captain Fraser ' in mourning for the Newfoundland Air Service and Imperial Airways.'
