A revived Moth at the museum

Memories of World War II's legendary fighter pilots were evoked yesterday as a restored De Havilland Tiger Moth training plane was unveiled at the Malta Aviation Museum in Ta' Qali.

The new exhibit was the first project by the museum which involved a period fighter plane brought back to working condition, museum director Ray Polidano explained.

Designed in the 1930s, the Tiger Moth was used to train Royal Air Force pilots before they went to battle. Many of them are still in use by enthusiasts, having been retired from military service in 1959.

Restoration work on the plane took a team of five people four years and cost about £80,000 (€90,855). The project was sponsored by two English benefactors and the Good Causes Fund.

Project manager David Polidano said: "Little things still need to be done to the plane, such as the lights and some pipe work. Hopefully, we'll have it in the air early in summer, depending on paperwork and inspections by the Civil Aviation Department."

He is now hoping the Tiger Moth project would spark interest among local aviation enthusiasts to get other similar projects going.

Finance Minister Tonio Fenech presented a cheque for €30,000 from the Good Causes Fund to pay outstanding bills on the new exhibit.

He said: "This is an outstanding monument, which will be appreciated by all those who come to the museum. Such planes give value to Malta and its history and the enthusiasts who build them should be given recognition."

At the inauguration, two books were also launched: Destination Malta, by Joseph Caruana and Screwball Beurling, by Brian Cull and Frederick Galea.

The first book is about the surrender of the Italian naval fleet during World War II after the fall of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. The other features George Beurling, a Canadian fighter pilot who shot down 27 Axis aircraft in just 14 days.

All three authors were on hand to sign copies of their books at the event to the delight of aviation enthusiasts present. Both books are published by Wise Owl publications Malta.