Review - Statistics are not perhaps what you would associate with the delightful surroundings of Woburn Abbey, or with the charisma and style of the de Havilland Moth family, but some may help to illustrate the magic that is the annual international de Havilland Moth Club rally.

2002 was the Rally's 22nd Year and it was again held in the grounds of the majestic Bedfordshire stately home.  The 'again' relates to the temporary 'deployment' a short distance north-east to Old Warden in 2001, when the foot-and-mouth epidemic threatened the estate's deer herd.

Back to those numbers. Just over 100 de Havilland types attended.  The definition of 'Moth' is permitted to stray into the post war civil DH designs, with a Dove, a Heron, and no less than 21 DHC Chipmunks attending.  Foreign-registered attendees came from Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland (the latter one of a handful of Stampe SV-4 'interlopers').

The 'real' Moths are of course the pre-1939 designs, and of these there were plenty to feast on.  Nine DH.60 Moths, a Puss Moth, A Fox Moth, three Leopard Moths, six Hornet Moths, three Dragon Rapides, a Dragonfly and a Moth Minor.  And the Tigers?  No less than 56, boosted by two of the bulbous Thruxton Jackeroo conversions.

This lavish serving of 'Mothery' cannot be beaten.  Add the incredible backdrop of Woburn Abbey and its lush estate and you have the perfect ingredients for a charming weekend.

Photographs (left to right) - DH.60 Moth G-EBLV; Flypast November 2002; DeHavilland DH.60 Moth G-AALY; DH.60 Moth G-EBLV

back to airshow photographs from 2002