Tiger Moths leave Cambridge as they move to Old Warden
- Published
The Cambridge Flying Group's Tiger Moths have left their base of 70 years to move to an airfield that specialises in vintage planes.
The group was forced to relocate as Cambridge City Airport is due to close.
Its pair of 1930s biplanes left on Monday and flew to their new home at Old Warden Aerodrome, external in Bedfordshire.
Group chairman Peter Wedd said he was "sad to be leaving Cambridge after 70 years, but this is a start of a new beginning".
He said Old Warden, near Biggleswade, was an "amazing airfield".
The Cambridge Flying Group, external has been training pilots on the Tiger Moth since 1953.
Company secretary Andrew Wood said the biplanes were built by the de Havilland Aircraft Company as RAF training aircraft in the build-up to World War Two.
"The vast majority of RAF pilots trained on Tiger Moths. Part of its virtue as a trainer is it's easy to fly, but difficult to fly well," he said.
"A sturdy undercarriage was needed for new pilots, as landing is the trickiest part."
One of the group's planes went to France with the British Expeditionary Force in 1939, and a pilot used it to escape back to Britain during the Dunkirk evacuations in 1940.
The Tiger Moths new base at Old Warden Aerodrome is home to the Shuttleworth Collection of historic aircraft., external
Mr Wedd said it was "so special to see them arrive" there.
"They are fabulous looking aeroplanes, and well suited to this amazing airfield," he said.
Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, external, Instagram, external and Twitter, external. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk, external or get in touch via WhatsApp on 0800 169 1830
Related topics
- Published14 May 2019
- Published22 September 2018
- Published1 May 2018
- Published6 June 2016
- Published9 July 2015
- Published12 August 2012