Fox Moth de Havilland 83
Fox Moth ZK-ADI
Based on the Tiger Moth, the Fox Moth is a single engine cabin bi-plane capable of carrying up to 4 passengers.
A new cabin fuselage was manufactured from plywood and fabric and then combined with standard
Tiger Moth wings, tail section, undercarriage, and engine. The straightened wings are able to be folded back to allow
storage in a small garage, after towing home behind the car.
ADI arrived in NZ in 1934 from the de Havilland Company in the UK,
first flying for Bert Mercer's Air Travel (NZ) Ltd in the West Coast region, mainly the Hokitika to Haast route.
ADI was the first aircraft in NZ to be registered to carry passengers commercially.
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Berts Biplane - a song by Kevin Ikin
Be sure to unmute
ADI also completed service for the RNZAF from 1943 to 1948, afterward being owned by NAC (National Airways Corp).
During ADI's long history it has held several registration numbers and various owners.
From 1974 to 1984 ADI was based in the USA before heading to England.
ADI was returned to NZ and restored to its original orange/silver livery and registration in 1997.
Owned by Croydon Aviation Heritage Trust and available for charter flights.