DH 82 Tiger Moth T-7230 ........0195

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Currently active, T-7230 is regularly flown at air shows. Finished in all-yellow 1950's RAF training scheme. 6 cards, 3 yellow Astrolux, 3 Ivorex: cards includes self adhesive decals, etched and cast metal, moulded wheels, resin cast cowling and propellor, rigging cable.

c/no 83720 - G-AFVE RAF Serial T-7230

Allocated to 20 MU Aston Down, 718/40. and taken on charge 14/8140, T 7230 was issued to 3 EFTS Watchfield,16/9/40. In windy conditions after the passage of a sudden storm, T 7230 was manoeuvring at 50 ft in an attempt to avoid other aircraft on the ground, when she spun off a turn and "hit the airfield." Allocated to DH Witney for repairs, 23/12/40, T 7230 was test flown by resident test pilot Flt. Lt. Richard Jones, 28/3141. Posted to 5MU Kemble, 3/4//41, the aircraft was issued to 24 EFTS Luton, 21/5/41; 9 MU Cosford,27/7/46; 2 Grading Unit, Kirton in Lindsey, 20/8/52; 9 MU Cosford, 2/3/53. Declared non effective stock 16/6/53, and offered for sale as Lot 13, 9 MU Cosford,18/8/53, T 7230 was sold to W.A. Rollason Ltd. 4/11/53, and placed in store at Croydon and later Rochester. Sold to Philip Swinstead and Ptnrs.,1/78, and registered with period letters G-AFVE,1/2/78, the airframe was found to be in poor condition when delivered to Geoff Masterton at Worplesdon,1/78. Much of the tail end had suffered damage through neglect and bad storage. G AFVE was registered to Swinstead Aviation Ltd., 20/7/81. The aircraft was moved to new premises at Chessinglon in 1982, by which time the fuselage frame was substantially complete and standing on a rigged undercarriage. Two of the wings were discovered to have broken spars and all four wings were subsequently rebuilt and covered at Old Warden, where the oil soaked floor was also replaced. Painted blue and silver, the first post-restoration flight was undertaken by British Aerobatic Champion, Peter Kynsey,1/83, and the C of A was issued 7/2/83? but persistent engine problems hampered flying activity until the following year, by which time G-AFVE had moved into a permanent home at Hamble, although registered to Air Swift Ltd., Fairoaks, 4/6/84; Philip Swinstead, Chessington,16/10/84. The aircraft moved to Denham 11/88 and was sold to Miss Anna Walker, 29/8/89. Anna Walker offered the aircraft on loan to the Tiger Club at Redhill who were temporarily reduced to one Tiger by the summer of 1989, but the aircraft was sold to Richard Parker, Denham, 26.1.90, joining a collection of classic training aircraft under the title of Parker Airways, taking on an all-yellow colour scheme with early 1950's RAF markings. Two prospective owners of the aeroplane whose individual projects were victims of the Chilbolton Aviation collapse, joined forces to acquire G-AFVE when the Parker Airways fleet was disbanded, and the aircraft is now owned and registered to M.Paul and Commander Philip Shaw, Denham.

T-7230, always immaculately turned out, is well known for its frequent displays up and down the country during the air-show season, and as such was a natural choice for a Hooton AirCraft model to show-off the aeroplane in the all-yellow RAF post-war training scheme which many consider to be the natural colouration for the Tiger.

Hooton AirCraft are indebted to Philip Shaw for information on T-7230.