History I got to ride in a 1929 Ford Tri-Motor airplane! Pics inside!

Megan, that was so cool reading the history and taking us along. The price seems really reasonable, how long was the flight?

I believe there was a company with a couple of Ford Tri-motors that used to fly tourists over the Grand Canyon. I remember reading a while back that one of them crashed.

 

I guess the normal deal is that on a public ride where they sell tickets you can pay more and sit in the co-pilots seat. On my ride a grandpa (I think who was associated with the museum in some way) had his grandson in that seat. Of course he told the pilot he wanted to be a pilot and he ate it right up! He did fly the plane for a bit, I took some pics and emailed them to him. He looked sooo nervous!

Come on Doug, you know better than that! Actually I got the call while I was at work, ran up to the airport, took the ride and was back in the office in about an hour and a half. So yes, I do squeeze work in once in a while

I do! Old planes fascinate me! There are so many levers, switches, wires, cables and controls; they make cars look so simple!

Thanks, neat info! Bet that was a fun job.

I haven't been on a DC-3 yet either but look forward to it someday soon. Last week at the Hearst Castle (big Cali adventure thread coming soon) I found out Wm. Randolph Hearst did most of his commuting in a DC-3 and that the castle actually had TWO airstrips way back in the early 1900s, how crazy is that! I can't believe he didn't have any Tri-motors.

That is a GREAT idea! Now, if I can talk them into taking out the seats and loading my A roadster I'd be all set!

Seems like I read somewhere the Ford Tri-Motor airplane was the only mechanical device/transportation vehicle that Henry Ford did not make is own engines for. Bet it was hard on him to outsource that

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to go to that someday! I've been reading about it since I was little. One of these days...WI isn't that far!

My flight was about a half an hour. I think the standard is 15-20 minutes for $60 ($50 for EAA members).

 

Both cool memories! I think one of the first times I ever heard of the Ford Tri-Motors was up on the lake. I recently cleaned out a garage and found on old tin sign touting Ford Tri-Motor use as island transport. I wanted to take it home with me but I could see it meant something special to the widow who lived there. She said her and her husband used to spend a lot of time up on the islands, so I left it there

 

That is soooo awesome Megan.

 

Hemming's motor news had a good article on that plane with a lot of history on that plane a couple of months ago. Unfortunately I just sent most of my books back home so I don't have it or I'd scan it. Maybe someone else can help out.