The pilot and pilot-rated-passenger intended to complete a personal cross-country flight in the de Havilland Tiger Moth DH-82A with variable wind about 6 knots at the airport in Greeley, Colorado.
The pilot noted the windsock nearest the airplane indicated a tailwind, but the other windsocks farther down the runway indicated a headwind or crosswind.
During takeoff, the airplane became airborne faster than expected and climbed well, so the pilot made an early right turn over airport hangars. The airplane’s upper wing slats fluttered, which indicated to the pilot that the airspeed was low, then they “came out hard,” which indicated the airplane was near a stall…