History in the skies

The Fly The Ford: Tri-Motor Tour event showcases the beginning of commercial flight with the Ford Tri-Motor, a transport aircraft that would soon redefine world travel. Recognized as the first luxury airliner, the Tri-Motor is considered a flying chapter in the narrative of aviation. The plane and its history marks the transition period of innovation in aeronautics  and is one of two left flying in the world.

Nicknamed, “Tin Goose,” the Ford Tri-Motor first took off on August 21st, 1929. It was the 146th aircraft created in Henry Ford’s assembly line with three engines and an enclosed cabin intended for ultimate passenger comfort. The plane began touring in 1964 and has flown all over the world. It even starred in movies such as “The Family Jewels” and “Public Enemies.”

The Tri-Motor continued to tour until 1973, when a devastating thunderstorm “ripped the plane from its tie-downs, lifted it 20 feet into the air, and smashed it to the ground on its back.” The restoration process was a long, strenuous, 12 year undertaking completed by Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) “staff, volunteers, and Ford Tri-Motor operators nationwide.” The aircraft eventually took to the skies again in 1985 and made its re-debut at the EAA Fly-In Convention.

The Ford Tri-Motor was then featured in the EAA AirVenture Museum until 1991 when it resumed its annual tour across the country, providing a glimpse into an era of possibility and passion. The plane marked the beginning of commercial flight and symbolizes the “golden age” of aviation.