The Ford Barn

tubman · 02-20-2017, 01:52 PM

I was riding my bike about noon yesterday, and I looked up and saw a Ford Tri-Motor flying by. When I got back, I checked on the internet, and lo and behold, the EAA was running one of their planes for public rides out of the Marathon airport. I went up there and for $75 I got a nice 15 minute ride on a genuine 20's era Ford Tri-Motor. I was able to get on their next flight out and it was a very pleasant experience The seats were comfortable and more roomy than what you get on present day airliners. It was really worth the price of admission and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Here are a couple of photos I took; one of the plane itself and one of the general area where I live from the plane.

19Fordy · 02-20-2017, 01:57 PM

That is cooler than an ice cube in Alaska.

flatjack9 · 02-20-2017, 02:00 PM

I flew on one those in the mid 50's here in Oshkosh. Still remember it being a neat experience. It was an old original. As I remember the seats were canvas and the floor was plywood.

51 MERC-CT · 02-20-2017, 02:01 PM

Don't know if it's the same one but I had a ride in one about 40 years ago at the Oshkosh fly in.
Maybe a little bit different in comfort compared to today but a whole lot different in time to get there.

Jason in TX · 02-20-2017, 02:10 PM

How great!

Here is a wonderful video about the plane you rode on.

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

Fibber Mcgee · 02-20-2017, 05:51 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Did it in Jacksonville about a month ago and really enjoyed it but it definitely was loud.

V8COOPMAN · 02-20-2017, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fibber Mcgee

It definitely was loud.

Loud is one of the best parts, plus all that flat tin rattles a bunch, too. I rode on Island Airlines airplane back in '81. DD

tubman · 02-20-2017, 07:07 PM

I knew it was a Ford when I walked around it after the flight; there were oil spots everywhere!

Maybe "Whizzernick" can sell these guys three of his diapers!

I may be getting old and deaf, but I'd rather ride this thing on a commuter hop than the crap they run now.

cmbrucew · 02-20-2017, 07:16 PM

There was three of these flying around the Long Beach area twenty five years ago. Don't know where they went. Totally distinct sound.
Bruce

Talkwrench · 02-20-2017, 08:41 PM

Cool !

Bill · 02-20-2017, 08:56 PM

Took the ride five years ago over Punta Gorda. Tried to get GM to go said it didn't have a Skip coil and opted out. A few of my pics. Money well wasted.. Bill

paul2748 · 02-20-2017, 09:07 PM

I would love to get a ride in that. A few years ago I got a ride in a B17 and was thrilled. Compared to the B17 ride, the Ford price is cheap.

tubman · 02-20-2017, 09:17 PM

Bill,

So you have a better camera than I do! I think it's the same plane. It has the same courtesy lights!

Paul,

I've always wanted a ride in a P51. Last time I checked (15 years ago) it was $1500. I talked to a guy on this plane; he said it's $2200 now! (He didn't go either!)

V8COOPMAN · 02-20-2017, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubman

Bill,

I think it's the same plane. It has the same courtesy lights!

It's the same airplane. EAA has owned it since '73, and it has been flying since '85 when they finished severely restoring it. DD

47COE · 02-20-2017, 09:48 PM

I think EAA has at least two of them now. They purchased the Ford TriMotor from the Evergreen Museum (home of the Spruce Goose) in Oregon a few years ago. They already had at least one TriMotor. I talked a bit to the EAA mechanic that was there to prepare it for its flight from Oregon to OshKosh.

TonyM · 02-20-2017, 10:02 PM

I flew on the Ford Tri-Motor when it visited the Ford Motor Company Airplane Hangar at the former Ford - Lansing Airport, Lansing, Illinois, in July 2015.

Ol' Ron · 02-20-2017, 10:52 PM

I had a ride back in the 90's with my wife. Deffinately worth the price of admission.

RalphM · 02-20-2017, 11:24 PM

I like the fact that the old planes and helicopters were slower, gave you plenty of time for a nap!

tubman · 02-20-2017, 11:32 PM

They have two of these flying; 4-AT-E and 5-AT-B. More information here : https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/flight-ex...-airplane-tour

deuce_roadster · 02-21-2017, 12:37 AM

I got to ride on the one Evergreen Air in the Northwest owned in the 90s. It was like a Harley with wings! Sadly they sold it and several of their airplanes but still have the Spruce Goose. That particular Trimotor American Airlines owned in the 30s and flew the first commercial flight across the country.

02-20-2017, 01:57 PM	#2
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,930	Re: Got a ride in an old Ford yesterday That is cooler than an ice cube in Alaska.

02-20-2017, 02:00 PM	#3
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,526	Re: Got a ride in an old Ford yesterday I flew on one those in the mid 50's here in Oshkosh. Still remember it being a neat experience. It was an old original. As I remember the seats were canvas and the floor was plywood.

02-20-2017, 02:01 PM	#4
51 MERC-CT Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: East Hartford, Ct Posts: 5,898	Re: Got a ride in an old Ford yesterday Don't know if it's the same one but I had a ride in one about 40 years ago at the Oshkosh fly in. Maybe a little bit different in comfort compared to today but a whole lot different in time to get there. __________________ DON'T RECALL DOING SOMETHING FOR MYSELF BASED ON SOMEONE ELSE'S LIKES OR DISLIKES

02-20-2017, 02:10 PM	#5
Jason in TX Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ⓉⒺXⒶⓈ Posts: 2,047	Re: Got a ride in an old Ford yesterday How great! Here is a wonderful video about the plane you rode on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWPMoHHtEmg __________________ -------------- Drive it like you know how to fix it! DMAFC / OILERS CC-MC

02-20-2017, 05:51 PM	#6
Fibber Mcgee Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Callahan Fla Posts: 1,149	Re: Got a ride in an old Ford yesterday Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Did it in Jacksonville about a month ago and really enjoyed it but it definitely was loud. __________________ Wanted, a car with a " Dynaflex Superflowing Unijet Turbovasculator which is Syncromeshed to the Multicoil Hydrotensioned Dual vacuum Dynomometer. "

02-20-2017, 07:07 PM	#8
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,312	Re: Got a ride in an old Ford yesterday I knew it was a Ford when I walked around it after the flight; there were oil spots everywhere! Maybe "Whizzernick" can sell these guys three of his diapers! I may be getting old and deaf, but I'd rather ride this thing on a commuter hop than the crap they run now.

02-20-2017, 07:16 PM	#9
cmbrucew Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North of sandy ago, CA. Posts: 2,064	Re: Got a ride in an old Ford yesterday There was three of these flying around the Long Beach area twenty five years ago. Don't know where they went. Totally distinct sound. Bruce __________________ Works good Lasts long time

02-20-2017, 08:41 PM	#10
Talkwrench Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 2,687	Re: Got a ride in an old Ford yesterday Cool ! __________________ *"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"*

02-20-2017, 09:07 PM	#12
paul2748 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Midland Park, NJ Posts: 3,981	Re: Got a ride in an old Ford yesterday I would love to get a ride in that. A few years ago I got a ride in a B17 and was thrilled. Compared to the B17 ride, the Ford price is cheap. __________________ 48 Ford Conv 56 Tbird 54 Ford Victoria

02-20-2017, 09:17 PM	#13
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,312	Re: Got a ride in an old Ford yesterday Bill, So you have a better camera than I do! I think it's the same plane. It has the same courtesy lights! Paul, I've always wanted a ride in a P51. Last time I checked (15 years ago) it was $1500. I talked to a guy on this plane; he said it's $2200 now! (He didn't go either!)

02-20-2017, 09:48 PM	#15
47COE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Oregon Posts: 220	Re: Got a ride in an old Ford yesterday I think EAA has at least two of them now. They purchased the Ford TriMotor from the Evergreen Museum (home of the Spruce Goose) in Oregon a few years ago. They already had at least one TriMotor. I talked a bit to the EAA mechanic that was there to prepare it for its flight from Oregon to OshKosh.

02-20-2017, 10:52 PM	#17
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,859	Re: Got a ride in an old Ford yesterday I had a ride back in the 90's with my wife. Deffinately worth the price of admission.

02-20-2017, 11:24 PM	#18
RalphM Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 2,651	Re: Got a ride in an old Ford yesterday I like the fact that the old planes and helicopters were slower, gave you plenty of time for a nap!

02-20-2017, 11:32 PM	#19
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,312	Re: Got a ride in an old Ford yesterday They have two of these flying; 4-AT-E and 5-AT-B. More information here : https://www.eaa.org/en/eaa/flight-ex...-airplane-tour

02-21-2017, 12:37 AM	#20
deuce_roadster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 3,800	Re: Got a ride in an old Ford yesterday I got to ride on the one Evergreen Air in the Northwest owned in the 90s. It was like a Harley with wings! Sadly they sold it and several of their airplanes but still have the Spruce Goose. That particular Trimotor American Airlines owned in the 30s and flew the first commercial flight across the country.