The de Havilland Moth Club, 29th International Moth Rally
Belvoir Castle
August 20-21, 2011

The Duke and Duchess of Rutland should be congratulated for making their estate available for the de Havilland Moth Club to hold its 29th International Moth Rally. This is the first time the DH Moth Club has been to the recently created grass airstrip on the Belvoir Castle estate. The meeting commemorated the 80th anniversary of the maiden flight of a de Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth, which flew from the Stag Lane Aerodrome on October 26, 1931. Over 50 Tiger Moths attended over the weekend with another 20 de Havilland variants, such as the DH.60 Moth, DH.80 Puss Moth, DH.82 Queen Bee, DH.85 Leopard Moth, DH.87 Hornet Moth with and a DH.89 Dragon Rapide and DH.90 Dragon Fly. A further 15 DHC.1 Chipmunks and ten other guest aircraft made up the cast of one of this year’s most impressive gathering of classic aircraft.
Saturday was used as an arrivals day for most of the weekend’s attendees and enabled aircrew to meet old friends and discuss their highly prized aircraft. I overheard an American discuss with a Moth owner the DH.60's exhaust fitting, helping him to progress his own Moth renovation back home.
Sunday morning a few more Moths arrived in time for the afternoon's two hour air display. Prizes were later awarded by the DH Moth Club and presented to aircraft pilot owners by Henrietta, Duchess of Bedford (Woburn Abbey) and His Grace the Duke of Rutland (Belvoir Castle).
Pilots that I spoke to were all happy with the new venue, most of which had attended many of the meetings previously held at Woburn Abbey. The number of spectators however appeared to be well down on those that usually attended the very popular Woburn Abbey meetings. With the positive publicity following the event I would expect many more people to attend next year's anticipated event.

The Sunday afternoon air display

The only flyable DH.82 Queen Bee (G-BLUZ / LF858) making a successful aerial limbo run.

Left to right: Peter Finch in the DH.82 Queen Bee (G-BLUZ / LF858) with Scott Butler in DH.89a Tiger Moth (G-ACDA) Tricia Neville in DH.82A (Mod) Thruxton Jackeroo (G-ANZT) flying low over the cross-runway (which was never used despite the cross-wind). They were taking part in the aerial limbo as part of Captain Neville's Flying Circus. The village of Woolsthorpe by Belvoir is in the background.

Left to right: DH.60 Moth (G-AAHI) flown by Charlie Huke demonstrated his aerobatic skills. DH.60 Moth (G-AAMY) was flown as part of a three ship of DH.60's. Clare Tector in a Chilton DW.1 (G-AESZ '29') flew a stunning solo routine. The Chilton DW.1 was designed by two ex de Havilland apprentises, it first flew in 1937. DHC.1 Chipmunk (G-ALWB) was flown by Dennis Neville as part of a synchronised aerobatic routine. 

Left to right: Imaculate DH.89A Dragon Rapide (G-AGEG) flown by Mark Miller and DH.90 Dragon Fly (G-AEDU) flown by Torquil Norman performed as a superb double act. The Tiger Moth Diamond Nine taxied in at the end of the flying display and in style shut down their engines in unison.

The DH.60 Moth

Left to right: DH.60 Moth (G-AAWO)

Left to right: DH.60 Moth (G-AADR)

The DH.82A Tiger Moth

DH.82A Tiger Moth (G-AIXJ) flown by Duncan Green.

Left to right: DH.82A Tiger Moths (G-ATIGA, G-ATIGA, G-ANEN and G-ANJD).

Left to right: DH.82A Tiger Moths (G-BWVT, G-BWVT, G-AHIZ and G-APLU).

Left to right: DH.82A Tiger Moths (G-AHOO, G-AIXJ, G-ANRN and G-ANFM).

Left to right: DH.82A Tiger Moths (G-ADIA, G-AFGZ and G-AOJK).

Left to right: DH.82A Tiger Moths (G-EMSY, G-ANLS, G-ADGV and G-AODT).

Left to right: DH.82A Tiger Moths (G-AZZZ, G-ACDA, G-AJHS and G-AOBX).

Left to right: DH.82A Tiger Moths (G-AHAN, G-ANFL, D-EHHT and G-AHLT).

DH.82A Tiger Moth (DE470 / G-ANMY) it used to carry its civilian registration on the tail.

Left to right: DH.82A Tiger Moths (DE673 / G-ADNZ and DE470 / G-ANMY).

Left to right: DH.82A Tiger Moths (PG712 / PH-CSL and N6847 / G-APAL).

Left to right: DH.82 Queen Bee (LF828 / G-BLUZ) and DH.82A Tiger Moths ( T6953 / G-ANNI, R5136 / G-APAP and K2567 / G-MOTH).

Left to right: DH.82A Tiger Moths (T7909 / G-ANON, A17-48 / G-BPHR and DE623 / G-ANFI).

The DH.80A Puss Moth, DH.83 Fox Moth, DH.85 Leopard Moth and DH.87B Hornet Moth

The very attractive DH.87B Hornet Moth (G-AESE) landing with a gusting cross-wind.

Left to right: DH.80A Puss Moth (G-AAZP) and DH.83 Fox Moth (G-ACEJ).

Left to right: DH.85 Leopard Moths (G-AIYS and G-ACMN) and DH.87B Hornet Moth (G-ADKC).

DH.87B Hornet Moth (G-ADKC)

Left to right: DH.87B Hornet Moths (G-ADMT, G-AELO and G-AESE).

The DH.89A Dragon Rapide and DH.90 Dragon Fly

DH.90 Dragon Fly (G-AEDU)

The DHC.1 Chipmunk

Left to right: DHC.1 Chipmunks (G-ALWB, WB711 / G-APPM, ex Portuguese Air Force 1304 / G-HDAE and G-BWMX / WG407 '67').   

The DH Moth Club Helpers

The refuelling crew over-looked by the impressive Belvoir Castle

Flying with Pim

'Off-Roading', DH.82A Tiger Moth (N8233) with a strong cross-wind was forced off the grass runway and aborted the take-off

Left to right: DH.82A Tiger Moth (N8233 ex EM729) inscribed 'Rijks Luchtvaart School Holland (RLS)' it is based at Hilversum in Holland. On Sunday morning it was decided to remove the tail skid and fit a tail wheel.
Sitting in the front seat I was flown around the airfield for some shots of the recently created grass airstrip and of Belvoir Castle home of the Duke of Rutland who generously invited the DH Moth Club to hold its 29th International Moth Meeting.

The DH Moth Club representative types; DH.51, DH.53 Hummingbird, DH.60 Moth, DH.80 Puss Moth, DH.82 Tiger Moth, DH.82 Queen Bee, DH.83 Fox Moth, DH.84 Dragon, DH.85 Leopard Moth, DH.86, DH.87 Hornet Moth, DH.88 Comet, DH.89 Dragon Rapide, DH.90 Dragon and the DH.94 Moth Minor.  
Many of these types are or have been represented at the annual rally.