Join in the fun at the Brobenah airfield at Leeton, NSW, to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the ubiquitous Tiger Moth.

Keen enthusiasts initiated this event in 2010 and are keen for it to grow, especially as people experience the fantastic all-grass airfield and country hospitality as flying goes back to its roots.


Developed from the DH 60T Gipsy Moth Trainer, the original DH 82 Tiger Moth, with an inverted 120 hp Gipsy III engine, first flew on 26 October 1931, and was subsequently adopted as the standard trainer of the RAF. On the outbreak of World War II, the Tiger Moth II, or DH 82A, was selected as the basic trainer for the Empire Air Training Scheme and the first RAAF aircraft, A17-1, was delivered in May 1940.

In Australia, the local de Havilland Company built 1,085 Tiger Moths of which 732 were delivered to the RAAF and the remainder were shipped overseas to other training schools. As well as acquiring a number of RAF-serialled Tiger Moths, the RAAF also impressed 21 civilian versions including some of the original DH 82 Tiger Moths with Gipsy III engines. Altogether 861 Tiger Moths appeared on the RAAF register.

Although primarily employed as trainers, a few Tiger Moths were camouflaged and used operationally with army co-operation units in New Guinea. The Tiger Moth remained in RAAF service for almost 17 years, and several Tiger Moths were also transferred to the RAN after World War II. Eventually, on 9 January 1957, the last 10 RAAF Tiger Moths were flown from Point Cook to Tocumwal for disposal.