Flying the Prince's DH-83 Fox Moth 

I was born in Romford, Essex, in 1929. As a child I rode the Hillman busses to Clacton, a nice resort in those days. In the mid thirties My Father took me to an air show at "Maylands". I remember the main guest was Gracie Fields, the renowned vocalist. I am now 91 years old but remember those events quite well.

Just rewatched. Just as delightful as the first time. 🙂

I've always felt that de Havilland effectively melded art with functionality in creating some of the most elegant, graceful designs that ever flew.

A look inside the passenger section would be good!

Unusual and very rare. Just 10 in existence.

Just wonderful, sir. What a joy it is to hear "pilot" spoken.

Pilot/AME/A&P of 30+ years here. WELL DONE ! She a beauty.

What a beautifully kept machine. Thank you de Havilland for introducing beauty to aviation and making aircraft an art form.

In 1957 I flew, during my initial training period on Austers and Tiger Moths at the Karachi Flying Club, our only Fox Moth for 20 hours. The sorties were 30 minutes each. Initially it was hair raising as she ground looped on every landing because the brakes worked after you pulled the lever and pushed the rudder pedal in the desired direction. After a few interesting landings we learned to only use the brakes when the aircraft was almost at walking speed. All in all a pleasant aircraft to fly--although it nearly killed me on my first flight, when a large oil leak caused the engine to overheat on my second take off. There was a certain beauty on those biplanes that is never forgotten. Nice video!

With such well-documented history this thing has to be priceless!

Fascinating! My grandfather owned a DH60 Gypsy Moth during the inter war years, which he sold at the outbreak of war, joined the RAF VR as a Flying Instructor, and after hostilities ceased, and general aviation returned, he continued flying with a Miles M2 Hawk. He passed in 1986.....

I grew up and lived most of my life in Guelph. I took my ground school classes at Guelph Air Park. Always loved watching the Tiger Moths turning over my house when they departed out of 32. This is a beautiful bird. I bet you had a blast flying her.

What an elegant, and rare, old bird. A treat to fly along with you. Thanks!

Stuck in the hell hole of restrictions , staring at my cold garden for months, this is simply blissful to watch . I know a firm local to me is restoring a fox and I miss my regular visits. Thank you.

I subscribed. Great video here. Of special interest to me because my father was a Yank pilot assigned to Sculthorpe AFB and was also the instructor for a local flying club that bought a DH Tiger Moth around 1955. My dad took me up in it a couple times because his students wanted to get rid of me as I was a horrible horrible tease. I hereby apologize and apologize about that! Don't remember the location of the field that was used (it was only a field to me) but the Tiger Moth and the Vulcan were my favorite planes at the time. My father was killed in 1956 over Belgium on a return flight from Germany on a KB-50. It was the first one of five that ended up blowing up before they determined the cause. What is also cool to me is that I discovered that I am the descendant of 5 Welsh kings. While we were there, we thoroughly enjoyed the experience of living in England (Hindringham and Ringstead). I tried being a pilot like my dad but was not able to think fast enough. I am an analyzer like my mother. So I became a Fllght Simulator Engineer and that worked out pretty well. Cheers!

Wonderful Dave. I was lucky enough to have a good look at this aircraft at Gatineau in 2014 when I was on detachment in Ottawa (I’m a British 737/787 pilot from Liverpool). Thanks for a great film. Happy Flying!

Absolutely brilliant content... perfect mix of technical info with screenshots, history, practical operation of the aircraft and just overall enjoyment. Hope you continue to make many more!

Can I just say, thank you for this. When I was a child growing up in New Zealand my grandad was a pilot and showed me Warbirds Over Wanaka videos, and there was a feature of the restoration of this airframe at the start of the video, showing rib building, wing construction etc in some detail. It's absolutely brilliant to have an in cockpit ride of the very same machine that I fell in love with at about 7 years old 😂

Gorgeous plane; interesting history and a most enjoyable commentary. Thank you - I very much enjoyed this video.

The switches actually all work in the same sense - up for 'off', down for 'on', which is the standard in the UK (domestic house switches work like that here). I know the mag switches say 'off' in the 'down' position, but if you think about it, when the switch is down it's 'on', grounding out the mag. Flick it up, and it breaks the ground circuit, so the switch is actually 'off' when it's up. I have 35 years of Chipmunk flying as a part owner, so that lovely engine sound brought it all back for me. I think the Chippy wheel brakes are the best design yet, though I always had them fully off for take off and landing - if you need some brake as well, just ease back the brake lever with your left hand - you'll already have full relevant rudder on so you'll get relevant brake as required as you gently ease the brake lever back (just hook you little finger around it!).

Wait - I want to see more about that DH-84 Dragon! But I'm still onboard for the rest of this video :)

I can't decide if I enjoy the flying and interesting aircraft or the music more. Both are great, well done and thank you!

It is so interesting to listen to the history and the description of the aircraft. You're a terrific narrator. This was a lot of fun to watch.. thank you!

What a beautiful old aircraft, and some really interesting history. It’s so great that there rate people preserving this old planes, so that they are not forgotten. Thanks for sharing your video.

Hey Dave, Thank you.... Really lovely film done just exactly right, informative and entertaining and nicely shot with almost just the helmet cam and voice over narration with just enough B-roll and Historical archive film and nicely edited too. Good Job & much enjoyed & love the song too.... Thanks so much once again Chris :)

What a beautiful airplane. You are one lucky pilot to have access to historic aircraft. But then again I would suppose that you are lucky in life just to be a pilot. Excellent commentary. Can't tell yo how much I enjoyed this airplane, this video. Thank you.

Dave, I thoroughly enjoy your adventures in the wonderful tail wheel aircraft you have the privilege to fly. I recently have the good fortune to fly a Fairchild R-24 that had an interesting history as I checked out the new owner before he flew it from Columbia, SC back up to New Jersey. I wish I had been able to do that trip... I am one of the few tailwheel instructors here in SC and my ongoing bucket list activity, thanks to my last instructor getting me addicted to tailwheel airplanes, is to fly as many different ones as possible in the life I have left. I have to admit that I was truly envious of you being able to fly the Lysander. I am hooked on bush planes and that was one of the consummate bush planes of its era. Its history is amazing. I had the good fortune to see one fly in the UK at the Shuttleworth Aerodrome some years back. That aircraft and the Fiesler Storch are two planes that I really want to experience. There is a gentleman whose youtube channel is "The History Guy" and he did an episode on the Piper Cub in WWII which was quite interesting and that got me interesting in exploring the "liaison" aircraft of the period. Every aircraft manufacturer in the US made aircraft for that purpose (including Boeing) during that time and they are wide and varied... I would love to have an opportunity to come up and meet you and fly with you in some of the aircraft in your area. Are there any opportunities to avail myself of that? Pleasa keep these videos coming. They are wonderful. Regards, Stoney Truett

What a wonderful introduction to this grand old design. I've always been on the alert for any articles or news about the Foxmoth because I am a long-term Nevil Shute devotee, and Shute used a fictional startup Foxmoth based charter service as the center point of one of his better novels, "Round the Bend". Now I have to go re-read the book again, your video brought back so many memories. Thanks!

I love this. All my flying is in modern cockpits which are wonderful but they do lack a certain joi de vivre that this has in spades. Thanks for posting.

Dave, love the flying videos. These are as addicting as Kermie Cams and as educational for us want to be pilots :-) We are so lucky to have this aircraft so close to home :-) Many thanks to you and the crew for not only keeping them flying, but for documenting what its like to fly in them and sharing that experience.

Dave fabulous thankyou. The footage of Brooklands with all the toffs there was wonderful. This is gentle aviation. Like most stuff Produced in the thirties had a little risk but was of high quality (I can only own the motorcycles of the era) for my old age kicks. I used to live not far from Brooklands now a superb museum and I believe I am right in saying being owned partly by Mercedes Saved it against the greedy property developers. Perverse indeed that it was thier aircraft powered by DB and BMW engines were trying to bomb The place off the map in 1940 !

Fantastic video! It will stay a dream for me but thanks for letting me be part of it.

A lovely video of a beautiful aircraft. Thank you. I've flown a Tiger Moth and have admired this aircraft for many years.

My very first flight as an 8 year old was in one of these off a beach..... Never will forget that day.... My Mum said "the look on your face when you got out of the plane" Happy Days :-)))))

Had the pleasure of getting a close look at this plane when it was in Gatineaux and very fortunate at the time to have the guided tour with Paul Kissman and Rob Erdos? Great video and commentary, lovely to see it flying. Cheers

Dave, On Vancouver Island watching our second snow event in 2 days out the window. What a treat. Keep em coming, always informative and entertaining. Cheers! DC.

fantastic video, and beautiful aircraft. really enjoyed the historical background and footage you included!

What a gorgeous airplane. and a wonderful informative video, thank you!

Ah, yes. Edward VIII. Once owned this brand spanking new Fox Moth. Then curiously married a Dragon Fly. And one that was pre-owned, twice in fact. Great clip. Loved the narrative of the King’s Cup Air Race. Jolly Good Show. I was waiting for Terry Thomas to make a cameo. Thanks for posting.

A truly delightful video. Thank you for making it.

I am thankful for how y’all put this lovely production together. What a great piece of saved history. Again thanks Oliver

Wow, what an amazing history, and plane!

As always, a fascinating video! Thanks!

22:00 this is my dream life. Flying planes around, visiting aviation friends… perfect.

Great video. I enjoyed every minute.

Great video. Really enjoyed the detail.

Hi Dave. This was excellent. Thank you!

Great vid dave one of the best of its type ive seen and only 7k subs, flying fansdont know what there missing. Keep up the good work.

Great video! Love the talk-through of the flight

Great story telling and video editing Dave. !!

What a fantastic airplane and video .Thank you.

Another great video, very detailed 👍

I'm enchanted with this beauty. Of course, those windows beneath cowling are something hedious.

I love the historical info you provide in your videos - thank you!

Thank you for a delightful and insightful video! Much obliged!

Thank you for taking us along!

Gorgeous video - loads of information delivered at a nice pace. Thank you for this

Just beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

Wow, what a beautiful plane. Thank you for sharing this flight experience!

Thank you, Dave Hadfield, for making yet another interesting and captivating video with a vintage aircraft.

Good show Dave,it is a beauty thanks for sharing.

so much hard work that has gone in this video. Appreciate. I want someone to do similar videos on WW1 planes

Nicely done. Very informative.

What a wonderful video. Thanks!

What a beauty! Thanks for taking us along for a ride on so many awesome machines! I can't wait to see more.

Another great video with great visuals and commentary. Thanks heaps

Amazing content Dave, thanks for taking me fly for a little while.

Mr. Hadfield, you are a man of great courage and even greater skill. I am so glad I found your channel.

Great video, great narration! Looks like fun...

What a beautiful machine, and such a fascinating history too! Thanks for the virtual ride!

What a delightful film, so well put together. Thank you for sharing your great film.

Thanks for sharing. I have been in love with this very aircraft for some time now and it is nice to see it in detail.

What an interesting airplane! Thank you for sharing your experience with this nugget!

Superb video and narrative. Many thanks :-)

Wonderful VLOG - particularly with regard to the history being interspersed with the great flying during your journey.

Absolutely beautiful aircraft, thanks for keeping machines like this flying.

What great fun it was to watch this. I learned so much. Those videos of the “golden age” of flying. My father-in-law flew C-47’s in WW2 across the Atlantic, and afterwards, the Boeing 307 and finally the Constellation. But he started by sneaking off against his mother’s wishes to take flying lessons. He finally confessed to her, and invited her to watch him as he participated in an air show at Akron Fulton Airport (home of the Goodyear blimps). As she watched his landing an airplane for the first time, he promptly flipped it upside down! Anyway, it was a true delight to watch you fly this beautiful airplane with its rich history. Thanks for sharing.

Mr. Hadfield is a pro among pros.........Chris as no choice but really work to stand beside his brother ! Now, that's much better ! I tell you, humble pie is damn hard to swallow ! This is still a great video !

Hi Dave really enjoyed the video , was glad to see you used a couple photo I took when you were at Stans , still have lots more

Your channel is great!! I`m learning a lot. thank you

Good job editing all those videos into a smooth presentation!

What a nice video, not only the plane itself but the good tone of telling and showing. :)

I'm glad I watched the video.I thoroughly enjoyed it.Very interesting.👍

Very interesting video. Thank you for posting.

Thanks for that fantastic video. Really good explanation of all that was going on. Almost as good as flying it myself! You stopped in front of what looked like a Slingsby T53 Glider. I flew one many years ago and being all metal, whenever I hit a thermal it sounded like someone was banging two dustbin lids together!

Great insight! Thank you! Love that plane. And very well explained.

They have done excellent job on that aircraft , it looks like as if it is new !

What a plane and how well described... Loved the video...just how they should be made and presented...👍👍👍. Simon in Spain...but a Brit..

Seen this beauty at show and shine. Thanks for the flight

Excellent airmanship, sir.

OUTSTANDING VIDEO SIR!!!

The portal look-through technique is pretty fascinating, as is the turning approach... It is always interesting how these early aircraft seemingly encourage a slightly more acrobatic or dynamic approach to flight then a lot of more modern designs.

Thank you very much for this video! Its actually quite rare for me to find new information about the RCAF stations during the war years. I grew up in Beeton and Know Tim Ronan. I also think I may of crossed paths at Edenville on at least one occasion as I remember a Fox moth on one of my many visits to Edenville!

What a wonderful Plane, thanks for the Video.

Dave, I was not aware of this aircraft. Thanks for bringing it to us with such an interesting commentary. The inclusion of historical footage is a great reference. I noticed the tendency of the aircraft to yaw when you were doing the visual inspection, and indeed you mentioned it's instability later in the video. Thanks again for this personal look at such a unique aircraft.

As a kid my dad and I rebuilt and flew an Auster Mk IV. Now, any time I use butyrate dope on a model, I'm transported back to my childhood. Given that the we covered her in the basement underneath my bedroom, I think I spent my childhood slightly high! Still, the sound of a Gipsy Major's musical!

The whole checklist before takeoff is the most interesting in all your videos! I abandoned my plans to learn flying (not good for the environment), but I love this series!

Very interesting indeed...Nice to see S&S out of Grand Valley. Stan is undoubtedly one of the worlds greatest story tellers. And a very fine mechanic too!

Great video, superb aeroplane.

You really do great video's !