DeHavilland DH82C Tiger Moth C-FDGC is a living part of Canada’s aviation heritage. Completed in February 1942 at the DeHavilland facility in Downsview that later gave
birth to the famous Beaver and Otter bush planes, this Tiger Moth was one of 1384
built in Canada for use in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP), and
joined with some 3000 other throughout the Commonwealth in offering the first taste
of flight to the many thousands of flight crew members trained in this magnificent undertaking, when Canada was accurately described as the “Airdrome of Democracy”.
Sixty years after the end of WW2, only a few examples of this superb aircraft remain in airworthy condition, and each year a few more fade from existence as time and fate take their toll.
The prototype Tiger Moth first flew on October 26 1931. The Royal Air Force
immediately recognized its potential, began taking delivery in 1932, and by the out-
break of WW2 in 1939 had over 1000 on strength. C-FDGC was serial number 1020 of DeHavilland of Canada’s 1384 examples and in all the years since her birth has logged
only 1400 total flight hours making her an extremely “young” aircraft despite her birth date. She has belonged to the Williams family since 1969 and has taken part in
numerous air shows, television commercials, and movies. In September 2004 “Delta Golf Charlie” completed a starring role in an upcoming TV series devoted to the BCATP the name of which has not as of the time of writing been determined but which “may” be either “Baker Flight” or “Reach for the Sky”. Either way, DGC is the yellow one with a black nose and 2 sets of wings!