Stonehenge Air Museum: A Kaydet and a Tiger Moth (photo diary)

by Ojibwa for Kossack Air Force

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Friday, Jan. 09, 2026 Friday, Jan. 09, 2026 at 7:15:03am PST

The Stonehenge Air Museum in Fortine, Montana, takes its name from the full-size replica of Stonehenge on the nearby private golf course. All of the airplanes in the museum are owned by a single individual. Included in the Museum’s collection are a Kaydet and a Tiger Moth.

1942 Boeing/Stearman D75N1 “Kaydet”

According to the Museum:

Built in greater numbers than any other American biplane and consequently one of the world’s most easily recognizable aircraft, the Stearman’s simple construction, rugged dependability and nimble handling made it the darling of those who mastered it.

The Stearman Model D75N1, has its roots in the earlier Model 70, designed and built by Boeing engineers in only 60 days in 1933 but based on an even earlier Lloyd Stearman design for his Model 6 “Cloudboy.”

Originally intended for the civilian market, the prototype Model 70 was found to be capable of withstanding load factors much higher than were expected to occur in normal flight training. As a result, the U.S. Army and Navy tested the prototype in 1934. At the conclusion of these tests, the Navy ordered thousands of the Model 70 while the Army decided to wait for the introduction of the improved Model 75 which followed two years later. Over the next decade, the Army received nearly 8,500 Stearman aircraft of different variants.

The aircraft on display was part of an order for 300 specially designed Stearman aircraft designated PT-27s for the Royal Canadian Air Force. Upon receipt, the RCAF transferred the aircraft to the Royal Air Force to train RAF pilots at Pierce Station, Alberta.

However, the PT-27s were delivered without the special canopies and cockpit heaters requested by the RCAF so by November of 1942 their continued use in the harsh Canadian winter environment was obviously impractical. These aircraft were then “free issued” back to the US in trade for Fairchild PT-26s. After her return to the U.S. Army, this Stearman moved South to train pilots at Wickenberg Field, AZ, later as part of the 11th AAF Flight Training Detachment at Ryan Field near Tucson, AZ, and finally at Hicks Field near Saginaw, TX.

At war’s end this aircraft was deemed surplus and sold for only $372. Like so many other surplus Stearmans, this one was eventually modified for crop spraying. In 1950 it was fitted with a Pratt & Whitney 985 of 450 hp (twice as powerful as the original engine) and became certified for a 1,200 lb special load. After only a brief time as a “duster” this aircraft was returned to its original configuration as a two place trainer in 1958. Jim Smith acquired this aircraft in 1992.

P1590565 — Shown above is the generator which produces the electricity for the gauges.

1942 DeHavalland DH-82A Tiger Moth II

According to the Museum:

The Tiger Moth became the foremost primary trainer throughout the British Commonwealth. It was the principal type used in the British Commonwealth air Training Program where thousands of military pilots got their first taste of flight in this robust little machine. The RAF found the Tiger Moth’s handling ideal for training future fighter pilots.

From the outset, the Tiger Moth proved to be an ideal trainer, simple and cheap to own and maintain, although control movements required a positive and sure hand as there was a slow response to control inputs. Some instructors preferred these flight characteristics because of their effect of “weeding out” the less-skilled student pilot.

The Tiger Moth had a long and distinguished service life, some even carrying out unarmed coastal reconnaissance patrols over British inshore waters during the dark days of 1939 and 1940 when there were not enough “warplanes” to cover shipping routes. The Tiger Moth was even considered for a desperate attack role when a German invasion of the British Isles seemed imminent.

Over 7,000 Tiger Moths were built during the war specifically for the RAF, nearly half being built by Morris Motors Limited at Cowley, Oxford.

In postwar use, large numbers of surplus Tiger Moths were made available for sale to flying clubs and individuals. They proved to be inexpensive to operate and found enthusiastic reception in the civil market, taking on new roles including aerial advertising, aerial ambulance, aerobatic performer, crop duster and glider tug.

The aircraft on display was built in 1942 by Morris Motors. At the time there must have been enough Tiger Moths to keep the various flight schools in business, so it was placed in what was called “purgatory”, which meant stored in a dismantled state.

In 1944, this Tiger Moth was sent back to Morris Motors for assembly and then quickly assigned to the 38th Maintenance Unit at RAF Llandow, Wales. It was then issued to an RAF Training Delegation training Free French pilots for the remainder of the war. Immediately after the war this aircraft was assigned to the Free French Air Force and removed to an air base in France. She remained in French Air Force service until 1951 when she was sold to a succession of French Aero Clubs before being imported to the U.S. in 1972. Jim Smith acquired this aircraft in 1989.