Formidable opponent and seeker after light get a plane (5-4)

I believe the answer is:

tiger-moth

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'plane' is the definition.
(de Havilland Tiger Moth is a type of plane)

'formidable opponent and seeker after light get a' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'opponent' could be 'tiger' (I have seen 'Formidable opponent' mean 'tiger' so perhaps 'opponent' could also mean 'tiger') and 'tiger' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'moth' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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