Ford Tri-Motor

[Gary/IA]

This has been flying over my house all afternoon, must be taking people on rides. I have added some closer pictures. I rode in one in about 1962 in Red Oak, Iowa. I think it was based out of Ottawa(Sp), Kansas.

 

[Mulletwagon]

Very cool ! Propellers - what we used to cross the mountains, deserts, and prairies. Thanks for sharing.

 

[joncrane]

I rode in the EAA trimotor a few years ago. Beautiful plane brought to Pontiac Mich by EAA. A great $25 plane ride. It hardly seemed to be moving on takeoff. Just kind of warming up on acceleration and we were in the air. Lots of fun.

 

[barnstuf]

I also had a ride in a Ford tri motor perhaps 40 years ago. It was owned and restored by a major airline and was visiting airports for publicity. It spent a day at the Provincetown Airport at the tip of Cape Cod, and I drove to the airport in my Model A mail truck. One of the publicity folks spotted the Mail truck and had me back it up to a 90 degree angle with the airplane for photos. Being there in the Model A Mail truck got me a ride on the last flight of the day. An experience I will never forget!

 

[Don Turley]

Had a photo of my 1928 Coupe with a Tri-Motor back in the 1980's. Photo was published in the "Restorer" Vol. 31, Issue 6

 

[midgetracer]

I got to be copilot in the Port Clinton Trimotor in Salem Oregon in 2016. My three sons also flew along. It was a fantastic experience. Check EAA website for schedules for the Trimotors. I also got a photo shoot with my 31 roadster in Bismarck last summer.

 

[joncrane]

A group is restoring a Fprd TriMotor in Port Clinton Ohio. The Detroit Model T Club has planned a May visit to the Airport to see the restoration.

 

[Werner]

Very nice to see (and to hear!). 8 miles nearly we have some oldtimer planes. 4 Harvard T 6, 3 Boeing Stearman, 1 Ryan PT 2, ... . Ford planes are not flying in Germany.

 

[marty in Ohio]

Island Airlines in Port Clinton flew trimotors for many years and we used to go to Put-in-Bay on them. Quite a thrill! They wouldn't fly very fast and when they got over the island they just sort of plopped down out of the sky. Island had a few planes and they used some for parts. When they ran out of parts they retired the rest of the fleet. Victory Air Museum in Port Clinton is building a brand new trimotor from the original plans. I don't know if it's done yet, but they've been working on it for years.
Marty

 

[Werner]

Victory Air Museum in Port Clinton is building a brand new trimotor from the original plans. I don't know if it's done yet, but they've been working on it for years.

Then one can only hope that this will be realized. Lufthansa bought 3 Lockheed Constellation a few years ago to make 1 flying plane out of it. After about 3/4 year, unfortunately, the project had to be ended because the costs were sky-rocketing in exorbitant heights.



Previously, a three-engined Ju 52 was restored by Lufthansa. Today again with the old flag D-AQUI organized flights over fields and meadows.

 

[77Birdman]

That is really cool, and great stories about these wonderful planes. I have never seen one in person but would love to some day.

 

[1928Mik]

Gary that EAA aircraft has been here at the Zanesville Airport (ZZV). Quite a sight to see it flying around since I live within a half mile of the runway. I may have to opt for a ride if they bring it back sometime.

 

[rosenkranswa]

A lot of folks don't realize how influential both Henry and Edsel Ford were in the rise of the Airline industry. After buying the Stout Airplane Company to get a foothold in the industry, the subsidiary developed a series of increasingly capable aircraft culminating in the Trimotor. Ford recorded a number of firsts at Ford Airport in Dearborn - first airport beacon, first paved runway, first commercial mooring mast for airships, first passenger terminal, first airport hotel (the Dearborn Inn).

Unfortunately, a Ju-52 Tante Ju trimotor was lost last summer in an accident. Operated by Ju-Air, the plane crashed near Piz Segnas, Switzerland, while en route from Locarno to Dübendorf.

 

[denis4x4]

There is a Ford Tri-motor in the San Diego Air & Space museum. Of course, it’s in the Ford Rotunda built for the 1935 international exposition by Ford.

 

[katy]

Oops, my bad, sorry

 

[Werner]

A lot of folks don't realize how influential both Henry and Edsel Ford were in the rise ...
...

Unfortunately, a Ju-52 Tante Ju trimotor was lost last summer in an accident. Operated by Ju-Air, the plane crashed near Piz Segnas, Switzerland, while en route from Locarno to Dübendorf.

Henry Ford is considered here in Germany to be an extremely progressive businessman with a lot of foresight.

The "Tante Ju" crashed at a high pass crossing in the Alps with unusually hot outside temperature. Probably a stall on a wing; the flying speed did not consider the minimum speed for the high outside temperature and the low air pressure.

 

[Mike85212]

There is one flying around Mesa this weekend. I am able to see it flying about six miles away. Thinking of going over Sunday afternoon and going for a ride.

 

[midgetracer]

There is a Ford Tri-motor in the San Diego Air & Space museum. Of course, it’s in the Ford Rotunda built for the 1935 international exposition by Ford.

It is in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. I believe the Rotunda was destroyed by fire many years ago. Please correct me if I am wrong. The plane in the Henry Ford is the one used in the Byrd expedition to Antartica. Sorry I read this wrong, there is a Trimotor at the rotunda at the Air and space museum in Balboa park in San Diego.

 

[woofa.express]

Ford’s Airliner.

Yes Henry made an airliner. Firstly he purchased an aviation manufacturer by the name of Stout in1926 and Mr Stout designed the “Ford Tri Motor”. As the name suggests a 3 engine aeroplane. Ideas were taken (stolen) from the German Junkers which used corrugated skins. The corrugation gave rigidity but was heavier than traditional fabric which is still used today on some new aeroplanes. Then the basic design was taken from the Fokker. I believe this resulted in a law suit. Have I spelt suit correctly?

The aeroplane was produced and sold in 1929 and Ford went on to produce 199 of them. Many of today’s modern airlines commenced with them. It was a military machine to. Now some trivia, KLM was one such airline and KLM stands for Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij meaning ‘royal airline company. Betcha didn’t know that and I betcha you can’t pronounce the name either.

Today 5 remain and I believe, and stand to be corrected, (see signature at base of this article) the last regular public service they provided was at long island doing a milk run,so to speak. One went to Idaho and was used for crop spraying then went onto forest fire bombing.

Engine power started at 200 hp then 300 and mostly ended with the Pratt and Whitney Radial 985 (cubic inch displacement) which was supercharged and delivered 450 hp. I think that one would find today all remaining aeroplanes were R985’s ( I sat behind these R985’s for years on the Agcat). . A few had the rpm increased to 2700 rpm and delivered 525 hp.

I see on the aviation trading journal “trade a plane” one is offered for 2.85 million.

I reckon many readers will have know the above. Many readers to would know the tune, a once popular duet turned to a hit. Do click onto the link and take a listen even if you know it. It’s great. Ada Jones and Billy Murray

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFZDB6DqAnA

 

[Werner]

Ideas were taken (stolen) from the German Junkers which used corrugated skins.

Hugo Junkers first constructed Ju 52 had only one engine. It was much too weak, so the series was completed with 3 motors. Previously, Junkers built a single-engine low-wing aircraft, "F 13".


Both trimots shows approximately similar. Ford's interieur was luxury.