On Saturday I went down to Popham where members of the DH Moth Club were due to arrive en masse to spend the night before continuing their annual jaunt round the South of England. This was an opportunity too good to miss for a Moth freak like me.
The DH Moth family was possibly the most successful range of light aircraft ever built but why Moth you ask? The story goes that Geoffrey de Havilland was a keen amateur entomologist with a special interest in moths. This might be true but I think there is a much simpler explanation. All Moths (up to the Tiger Moth) had folding wings. Here's the last of that particular breed, the DH.60G III Moth Major. It's powered by the inverted Gipsy Major engine but note it has straight wings like the original Moths.
I was lucky enough to find it later with the wings folded. Shame I wasn't there to see it being done.
Now, do you see the resemblance to a moth?
The Tiger Moth broke the mould & was the last in the line. It was basically a modified Moth Major with swept wings which could not be folded. This was to improve access to the front cockpit for the instructor wearing an RAF style seat parachute.
PS. Anyone figure out the hidden meaning behind the name on the cowling?
Bar by Mees
Look on the blue Moth Major. 
