The Ford Barn

29er · 08-29-2016, 01:38 PM

Some of you may know about taking a ride on one of the few surviving Ford Tri-Motor aircrafts. I just learned of it yesterday when I visited the air show at the WarHawk Air Museum in Boise. Here's a link for those who may be interested:

http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/flight-exp...tor-tour-stops

Bombs away!

Mike in Oregun

Patrick L. · 08-29-2016, 01:51 PM

The old Ford is a great old airplane. Rode in one years ago at Oshkosh. Never got to drive one, but, its on my bucket list.

richsfords · 08-29-2016, 01:55 PM

Mike
Just after I left the Air Force in mid 60s I worked on one of the few remaining TRI MOTORS at the Port Clinton, Ohio Airprort. Island Airlines
A few years after that the only one they had crashed on Kellys Island.
I can't remember if they rehab it or use for parts
Rode on it to the island Put in Bay, Kellys. south Bass,
It was a treat to work on a piece of history even at that time.

Tom Wesenberg · 08-29-2016, 01:58 PM

My neighbor bought my ticket in the copilot's seat for doing some mechanical work. If you ever get the chance to ride in the plane, go for it.

Patrick L. · 08-29-2016, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

My neighbor bought my ticket in the copilot's seat for doing some mechanical work. If you ever get the chance to ride in the plane, go for it.

If they were offering right seat tickets I wasn't aware of it or I would have been sitting there. I'm pretty sure they weren't, but, you got me thinking. Thinking usually hurts.
But, regardless, I'm sure it a heck of a ride sitting way up there in front.

Tom Wesenberg · 08-29-2016, 02:15 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Yes, it was great to be up front. That seat was $100 and the other seats were $50. I thought it was cool how you have to look out the window at the engine to read the oil pressure gauge.

TonyM · 08-29-2016, 02:28 PM

Well worth it. I Flew in that old Ford TriMotor last year. Here is the Ford TriMotor with my 1937 Ford at the historic Ford Motor Company Hangar at Lansing Airport, Lansing, IL (IGQ).

DavidG · 08-29-2016, 02:41 PM

richsfords,

Thanks for sharing the memories of Island Airlines. I had several rides on their tri-motors back in the day. From time to time model kits with their livery show up on eBay.

David

Terry, NJ · 08-29-2016, 03:14 PM

I'm not rated to fly multi engine, The only one I ever flew at all was a Piper Comanche. Mostly, all I can recall was that they land HOT, 92 Knots IIRC. How do you train for three engines? Not as few as two, but not so many as four! In a twin, they say the one engine will fly you to the scene of the wreck, Is that true of three also?
Island Airlines? Is that the company that flew that short route (4 min s or so). When I first heard of it, they had three Ford Tri motors? I never heard much about it, but was always curious if they were still around.
Don't forget that William Stout , the designer of Ford's tri, Tried to revive the Ford Tri in 1958, I think he built two planes, one named "One More Tri"
It has been shown the usefulness of these old, slow planes more than once like the Trimotor and another one is the "Catalina" which dates to 1935. In Russia, The Antonov AN2 Colt is a biplane that seems to date from the late twenties but I'm told that they were made well into the eighties. I believe it's powered by 1000 HP Klimitsov Radial engine.
Terry

Mike V. Florida · 08-29-2016, 10:49 PM

This is my A next to the Tri-motor. It was too windy for rides that day.

mshmodela · 08-30-2016, 03:50 AM

It's a Ford, good enough, model A or not.. Great post, thanks

barnstuf · 08-30-2016, 05:55 PM

My Ford Trimotor ride was an estimated 30 or so years ago when a major airline, maybe United, owned one and was taking it to various airports for a publicity tour. It visited Provincetown Airport (on Cape Cod) for one day. I drove to the airport in my Mail Truck. The publicity lady for the airline that was sponsoring the Trimotor visit saw my Model A Mail Truck and had me bring it onto the field, back it up to the Trimotor and publicity photos were taken. It got me a ride in the last flight of the day! The flights were free but local folks had signed up days earlier and I got my ride due to a local bakery owner, Napoleon Poyant, who had signed up twice and gave me his second ride slot. It was my second airplane ride of my life, my first being the day in WWII I transferred from the US Army to the US Army Air Corps in Paris and rode in a C-47 from Paris to Leige sitting on the floor of the empty cargo plane, with the large side door open all the way.

TonyM · 08-31-2016, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike V. Florida

This is my A next to the Tri-motor. It was too windy for rides that day.

That looks fantastic!!! Looks Great!

Special Coupe Frank · 08-31-2016, 06:19 AM

Thanks for sharing ! Going on my near-future bucket-list !!!!

jimalabam · 08-31-2016, 07:18 AM

Had an opportunity to fly right seat last year when Tri Motor was at Columbus, GA airport. Actually took the controls for about five minutes. I laughingly told the Pilot that we were missing five engines as I was used to B-52s. hee hee jiml...

08-29-2016, 01:38 PM	#1
29er Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oregon Posts: 465	Ford Tri-Motor Aircraft (not Model A) Some of you may know about taking a ride on one of the few surviving Ford Tri-Motor aircrafts. I just learned of it yesterday when I visited the air show at the WarHawk Air Museum in Boise. Here's a link for those who may be interested: http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/flight-exp...tor-tour-stops Bombs away! Mike in Oregun

08-29-2016, 01:51 PM	#2
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Ford Tri-Motor Aircraft (not Model A) The old Ford is a great old airplane. Rode in one years ago at Oshkosh. Never got to drive one, but, its on my bucket list.

08-29-2016, 01:55 PM	#3
richsfords Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 140	Re: Ford Tri-Motor Aircraft (not Model A) Mike Just after I left the Air Force in mid 60s I worked on one of the few remaining TRI MOTORS at the Port Clinton, Ohio Airprort. Island Airlines A few years after that the only one they had crashed on Kellys Island. I can't remember if they rehab it or use for parts Rode on it to the island Put in Bay, Kellys. south Bass, It was a treat to work on a piece of history even at that time. __________________ *Richard in New Bern.* *When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it” - Henry Ford*** Last edited by richsfords; 08-29-2016 at 03:03 PM.

08-29-2016, 01:58 PM	#4
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Ford Tri-Motor Aircraft (not Model A) My neighbor bought my ticket in the copilot's seat for doing some mechanical work. If you ever get the chance to ride in the plane, go for it.

08-29-2016, 02:15 PM	#6
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Ford Tri-Motor Aircraft (not Model A) Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Yes, it was great to be up front. That seat was $100 and the other seats were $50. I thought it was cool how you have to look out the window at the engine to read the oil pressure gauge.

08-29-2016, 02:41 PM	#8
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,094	Re: Ford Tri-Motor Aircraft (not Model A) richsfords, Thanks for sharing the memories of Island Airlines. I had several rides on their tri-motors back in the day. From time to time model kits with their livery show up on eBay. David

08-29-2016, 03:14 PM	#9
Terry, NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks Co, Pa Posts: 3,740	Re: Ford Tri-Motor Aircraft (not Model A) I'm not rated to fly multi engine, The only one I ever flew at all was a Piper Comanche. Mostly, all I can recall was that they land HOT, 92 Knots IIRC. How do you train for three engines? Not as few as two, but not so many as four! In a twin, they say the one engine will fly you to the scene of the wreck, Is that true of three also? Island Airlines? Is that the company that flew that short route (4 min s or so). When I first heard of it, they had three Ford Tri motors? I never heard much about it, but was always curious if they were still around. Don't forget that William Stout , the designer of Ford's tri, Tried to revive the Ford Tri in 1958, I think he built two planes, one named "One More Tri" It has been shown the usefulness of these old, slow planes more than once like the Trimotor and another one is the "Catalina" which dates to 1935. In Russia, The Antonov AN2 Colt is a biplane that seems to date from the late twenties but I'm told that they were made well into the eighties. I believe it's powered by 1000 HP Klimitsov Radial engine. Terry

08-30-2016, 03:50 AM	#11
mshmodela Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 2,763	Re: Ford Tri-Motor Aircraft (not Model A) It's a Ford, good enough, model A or not.. Great post, thanks __________________ -Mike Late 31' Ford Model A Tudor, Miss Daisy I don't work on cars --I'm learning about my Model A. Cleveland, Ohio

08-30-2016, 05:55 PM	#12
barnstuf Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Cape Cod MA Posts: 2,840	Re: Ford Tri-Motor Aircraft (not Model A) My Ford Trimotor ride was an estimated 30 or so years ago when a major airline, maybe United, owned one and was taking it to various airports for a publicity tour. It visited Provincetown Airport (on Cape Cod) for one day. I drove to the airport in my Mail Truck. The publicity lady for the airline that was sponsoring the Trimotor visit saw my Model A Mail Truck and had me bring it onto the field, back it up to the Trimotor and publicity photos were taken. It got me a ride in the last flight of the day! The flights were free but local folks had signed up days earlier and I got my ride due to a local bakery owner, Napoleon Poyant, who had signed up twice and gave me his second ride slot. It was my second airplane ride of my life, my first being the day in WWII I transferred from the US Army to the US Army Air Corps in Paris and rode in a C-47 from Paris to Leige sitting on the floor of the empty cargo plane, with the large side door open all the way.

08-31-2016, 06:19 AM	#14
Special Coupe Frank Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northeast Penna Posts: 2,108	Re: Ford Tri-Motor Aircraft (not Model A) Thanks for sharing ! Going on my near-future bucket-list !!!!

08-31-2016, 07:18 AM	#15
jimalabam Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lee County Alabama Posts: 828	Re: Ford Tri-Motor Aircraft (not Model A) Had an opportunity to fly right seat last year when Tri Motor was at Columbus, GA airport. Actually took the controls for about five minutes. I laughingly told the Pilot that we were missing five engines as I was used to B-52s. hee hee jiml...