Flight on a Legendary 1929 Ford Tri-Motor (KLGB)

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Eastern Air Transport (Experimental Aircraft Association) Ford 4-AT-E Tri-Motor
NC8407 (cn 4-AT-69)
What an amazing experience, to fly on such a historic piece of aviation. Please read the aircraft's story below, what an amazing history.
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History of the Ford 4-AT-E Tri-Motor:
Henry Ford mobilized millions of Americans and created a new market with his Model T “Tin Lizzie” automobile from 1909 to 1926. After World War I, he recognized the potential for mass air transportation.
Ford’s Tri-Motor aircraft, nicknamed “The Tin Goose,” was designed to build another new market, airline travel. To overcome concerns of engine reliability, Ford specified three engines and added features for passenger comfort, such as an enclosed cabin. The first three Tri-Motors built seated the pilot in an open cockpit, as many pilots doubted a plane could be flown without direct “feel of the wind.”
From 1926 through 1933, Ford Motor Company built 199 Tri-Motors. EAA’s model 4-AT-E was the 146th off Ford’s innovative assembly line and first flew on August 21, 1929. It was sold to Pitcairn Aviation’s passenger division, Eastern Air Transport, whose paint scheme is replicated on EAA’s Tri-Motor. This is why EAA’s Ford resides in the Pitcairn Hangar at Pioneer Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, when not touring the U.S. Eastern Air Transport later became Eastern Airlines.
In 1930, the Tri-Motor (NC8407) was leased to Cubana Airlines, where it inaugurated air service between Havana and Santiago de Cuba. The airplane was later flown by the government of the Dominican Republic.
EAA’s Ford Tri-Motor returned to the U.S. in 1949 for barnstorming use. In 1950, it was moved from Miami to Phoenix and was refitted with more powerful engines for use as a crop duster. With two 450 HP engines and one 550 HP engine, it became the most powerful Model 4-AT ever flown. In 1955, it was moved to Idaho and fitted with two 275-gallon tanks and bomb doors for use as a borate bomber in aerial firefighting. Then in 1958, it was further modified for use by smoke jumpers.
After working for a variety of crop spraying businesses, EAA’s Tri-Motor moved to Lawrence, Kansas, in 1964, where its new owner flew barnstorming tours. During this period it had a variety of roles, including serving as the primary setting for the Jerry Lewis comedy, The Family Jewels.
In 1973, the aircraft was still being used for air show rides, including an EAA chapter’s fly-in at Burlington, Wisconsin. While at the 1973 fly-in, a severe thunderstorm ripped the plane from its tie-downs, lifted it 50 feet into the air, and smashed it to the ground on its back. EAA subsequently purchased the wreckage.
After an arduous, 12-year restoration process by EAA staff, volunteers, and Ford Tri-Motor operators nationwide, the old Tri-Motor took to the air once again, where it had its official re-debut at the 1985 EAA Fly-In Convention in Oshkosh.
It was displayed in the EAA AirVenture Museum until 1991 when it returned to its former role of delighting passengers on its annual tour across the U.S.

[@WalterSalm]

Marvelous video. The Ford Tri-Motor was the very first plane I ever flew on in 1940. Its owner was barnstorming and my dad and I rode for about 15 minutes for 50 cents each! I was 6 years old, and the little kid in me would love to fly on one again.

[@franciskundukulam821]

A 90 year old veteran still flying... Incredible!

[@captcharlescross8240]

Worked as an aircraft mechanic in 71/72 in Bristow Oklahoma. I got to work on one of the engines and take a right seat ride in what was possibly the same airplane. The pilot kept referring to it as the "Corrugated Goose". What a trip that was, and what a memory!

[@katybrennan8222]

I took a ride on this sweet airplane! I love it!!!!!! I was at the Oshkosh airshow back in the late 80s and leaned against the fuselage, my feet were hurting from all the walking. A bolt of lightning struck the plane and went through my left hand and out my right foot. Last year, 2018, I saw the plane again, and gave it a gentle pat at that same spot and took my flight. Such a sweet airplane!!!!!!

[@embrj1453]

The fact that this thing can still fly is a testemony of miracles, it had engine gauges installed on the engines themselves, outside of the cockpit ...

[@bdp909]

Got to fly on this same plane about a year and a half ago at my neighboring airport of Fort Worth Spinks...loved it. Thanks for refreshing memories!

[@RyanBomar]

Oh, that's great! I'm so glad you liked the video & got to relive a moment in time.

[@mdice111]

I flew on this Tri-motor on July 4, 2014 at the Port Clinton, Ohio airport just off Lake Erie. My grandfather's cousin owned one in the late 1920s into the 1930s and was personal friends with Lindbergh and Jimmy Doolittle.

[@jefferysmith9320]

That one has had upgrades. Grew up with one in our region, helped paint it, and flew on it. To see the oil pressure gauges you had to look out the cockpit windows because they were mounted outside on the engine nacelles. You can see 3 gauges here. Mounted outside on an engine support strut.

[@TheHDAviation]

Now that's a classic, what a cool experience that must have been. Thanks for sharing this footage.

[@RyanBomar]

What an experience it was! Yeah, 1929 is pretty mind-blowing when you think about it, people say stuff like 'wow, the 737-900 that I just flew on was built in 2001, that's old'. Ummm...no, not really :)

[@broccolihart1]

Wow, what a gorgeous airplane. The craftsmanship of Mr. Ford's designs really showcase here.....

[@hugofernandez2633]

0:58 Nice way to stand and take a picture. Beautiful.

[@Oldbmwr100rs]

Finally took a flight on one of these (Former plane restored by Bill Harrah for his museum in Reno) and my god was it worth it! The flight wasn't too long, but it was just amazing though, to think at one time that plane flew passengers in the 30's and spent much of it's life out of the country. The sound and feel of the engines, the whole plane on takeoff, how well and slow it flies. Such a great experience!

[@johnnyb7105]

I flew on this today, It feels like it just Floats as it cruises.. What a Cool Airplane. A lot of Fun!

[@bcshelby4926]

...now this takes me back. I flew on this very aeroplane back in the mid 1960s at an airshow in Milwaukee before it was acquired by the EAA. The owner back then was Dale Glenn and it used to make the airshow circuit giving rides. It bore a much different livery with two red stripes with his name painted on both sides of the rear of the fuselage. NC8407 was originally purchased back in 1929 by Pictairn Aviation for it's Eastern Air Transport passenger service (parent of Eastern Airlines). A year later it changed hands several times ending up briefly with Pan American until it was acquired by the Dominican Air Force serving as their as presidential transport in 1946. After that it ended up in private hands where It continued on, as a barnstormer, crop sprayer, fire bomber, and smoke jumper aircraft. In 1973 it was at an airshow in Burlington Wisconsin when a heavy thunderstorm hit. Even though it was tied down, and being held by ground personnel the aeroplane was ripped from its anchoring, rolled backwards and then flipped 50' into the air, crashing upside down breaking into three pieces. Instead of ending up as scrap, Paul Poberezny (who was at that same show) purchased the wreck on behalf of the EAA and over the next dozen years was painstakingly repaired and restored to flyable condition again and bears the original Eastern Air Transport livery. Amazing as of today (Jan 2022) this aeroplane is still flying and carrying passengers some 92 years after it first entered service (President Jimmy Carter was 5 years and old at the time). The restored aeroplane is a bit different than when I flew on it as the lower part of the door was originally squared off to allow parachuting, the seats were no here near as nice, and yes, the oil pressure gauges were still on the engines. Not sure what the EAA charges for rides today but my flight cost a staggering 5$, for about 30 minutes, which for a 13 year old was a lot of money (back then a Saturday twin bill matinee with cartoons at the cinema was 50¢, a McDonald's hamburger, 15¢,.bus fare with a 45 min transfer was a dime [and bus drivers still gave change], and a comic book was 12¢).

[@RyanBomar]

What amazing history! Thank you so much for all the wonderful info! Flights in 2022 are going for $72, which still isn't bad considering the current cost of fuel & oil.

[@bcshelby4926]

@@RyanBomar ...still more affordable compared to the B-17 rides i've seen advertised which are around 300$. However that would have taken a good winter of snow shovelling and summer of mowing lawns back then.

[@pauljmeyer1]

You've kept those Wright Wirlwinds running sweet.

[@Howrider65]

It can't be a Ford it starts. Real history got to love it.

[@marcchaffee7751]

o.k. this is way toooo cool !

[@RedOcktober]

THANKS for allowing me to go along for the ride... i so envy everyone aboard :) --Mike

[@aryanrajivsinghal4517]

I also want to fly

[@DoneKingHeadBanger]

1929...and it still fly...awesome

[@MrSunlander]

Old classic cars are a nice touch.....

[@RyanBomar]

So true! This group runs a class operation. How are you?

[@kurthoman242]

I flew in a Ford Tri-Motor with my Dad back in the mid 1960's when Port Clinton Ohio Airport had 3 Ford tri-Motors flying two flights per day to the islands of Lake Erie.

[@johnger850305]

That is just incredible, when everything were just rough but worked.

[@1moredayof]

Great video! I love the view of the tire on touchdown! I rode on one of these in 2017 on a cold and overcast day. Six of these fully restored Tri Motors are touring the country selling rides.

[@RyanBomar]

Thanks so much for the comment! Out of curiosity, do you remember how you found this video? I've had a major spike in views over the last several days, and was curious if it was advertised by a page or something.

[@joedulewich4037]

@@RyanBomar came on my recommendations.

[@RyanBomar]

@@joedulewich4037 , thanks so much, man! This video was buried on my channel and gained a quick second life. I appreciate the answer!

[@thecorbies]

How excellent. I got my FAA PPL at Long Beach Nov 22nd 1989 and got married at 4000ft above the Queen Mary in Cessna N6616D the next day - whilst flying it (PIC). Happy days. Mark in the UK

[@milolouis]

Love how the engine instrumentation is on the external pods.

[@DmytroBaldr82]

That was really amazing. My grandma was 3 years old when this plane was builded) Thanks for the video!

[@macthedog4729]

Dmytro Baldr builded?

[@DmytroBaldr82]

@@macthedog4729 English language is not my strong side))

[@macthedog4729]

Dmytro Baldr :)

[@matthewhanna9115]

Dmytro Baldr “built”

[@mervynsands3501]

Very nice, a taste of yesteryear. Classic in every sense. Thanks for posting.😉👊👍

[@nurhadiirawan3254]

Fakta menyatakan

[@rolando5539]

I’m watching this in a plane , perfect time

[@RyanBomar]

That's too cool!

[@rolando5539]

RyanBomar yeah

[@ronwinke6504]

I flew in the Ford tri motor here in Fremont,Ohio back 25 years ago. There was a air show then.it was great. Lots of vibration, but great.. Ron, wb8nmk, N.W.Ohio 4/10/2015

[@johnhili8664]

Thanks for the wonderful video but would have appreciated a glimpse of the interior!!!!

[@franciscogil6798]

My thoughts too

[@1moredayof]

This is a great video! Thanks for posting it! I believe you were sitting in the left front seat in the passenger cabin. What a great view of the landing gear tire on touchdown! There are six of these Tri Motors which tour the US selling rides. They have all been restored to mint condition and the interiors are really nice with light fixtures and curtains (I know that doesn't tell you much). There's probably a virtual tour somewhere online. I rode in one in 2017 on a cold and overcast day. The pilot said that the airplane had no heater, but I believe we all benefited from some heat coming from the middle engine. It was definitely warmer inside the plane than outside.

[@allensandven0]

In the early 80s I built a few hangers in Arlington Wa , a collection of antique planes were kept including a tri-motor I’m not sure if it was the ford model ? I was always gazing a the P-51 mustang next to it ! The moved the collection to a private strip in Idaho in mid 80s

[@taketimeout2share]

Such a handsome plane in an era of flight when there were so many ugly planes. So elegant. So right. And possibly older than the Queen Mary! That looks right too.

[@ПётрГарин-е2ъ]

Пассажирский салон надо было показать. Интересно же. Почуствовать себя авиапассажиром 1929 года! :)

[@usaha.abad21]

Very good

[@ЕвгенийЖеня-е4п]

Картинка из илюминатора напоминает ан 24- крыло сверху ,видно двигатель,видно шасси и видно землю,,😁

[@dmitrimedved2032]

@@ЕвгенийЖеня-е4п С него и срисовали ан.

[@АлексейЗаяц-ь9г]

@@dmitrimedved2032 Не пори херню

[@Flightx52]

Interesting to see some of the engine instruments mounted in the engine pylon. I can see why they're mounted in the panel in modern aircraft now, pilots got tired of turning around to look at them! :P

[@DjonnyKrajkatoaSimataIrMsc]

Beautifully proportional plane..bet it never fall

[@TomsPlanes]

What a classic!

[@EdWhisenantAviation]

That gets a Thumbs up from me, Great video Ryan & thanks for bringing us along for the great ride thru your video. I love those Tri-Motors, I don't think I would ever get tired of flying on them.

[@RyanBomar]

You rock, Ed! Yeah, the Tri-Motor is incredibly historic.

[@faceluckcell9484]

what a classic. flight on a legendaris ford

[@Rivenworld]

Awesome! Stunningly beautiful aircraft, lovely video, thanks for sharing, wish I had been on the flight with you...

[@RyanBomar]

Thanks for watching! The aircraft is so well maintained, it's almost shocking how great it looks. You may not have been on the flight, but I tried my best to make it feel like the viewer went along & got to experience it.

[@theotherdave8013]

This year, they stopped by my town. Dad called me up, happy as a kid in a candy store and we both went. Best 30 minutes ive had in a long ..long time. I managed to film the flight but it was so loud my audio kept cutting out hahah. Worth the expense if you can afford it, hope i get to do it again sometime.

[@alfredenisz4775]

I had my chance to ride on one at Oshkosh in 1973

[@tareqshosho1773]

Omg hi grandba 😂

[@VN-ux2ep]

Oh yeah I remember ! I was sitting just behind you! Saw you staring at the air hostess!

[@szeg]

A real time-travel! Lots of design features can be seen, which where new or already common those days but became overpassed in the next 5-10 years. Corrugated metal sheets used all over the surface of the plane. Rectangular windows, vertical windscreens. No fairing around the engines. Instead of dashboard, the engine checking instruments were placed on the inner side of engine holding pylons. Rudder and aileron control wires lead outside the body.

[@randall1959]

I flew on this plane a few years ago when it came to St Joseph. I'd love to go again

[@NoelJacobs]

Just spectacular, great views of the Queen Mary

[@RyanBomar]

You rock, Noel! Thanks for checking it out.

[@usaha.abad21]

Noel jacobs.

[@TheEmeraldMenOfficial]

Old boats and old planes... THIS WAS MADE FOR ME

[@DezRosswess]

Bet that was a great experience! looked a lovely day for it, great views.

[@RyanBomar]

It's an honor hearing from you, Dez! As I'm sure you're aware, I'm a huge fan of your work. It was the perfect weather day for flying, light breeze, basically unlimited visibility, which works out well when you fly around at low altitudes with a gigantic window next to you :)

[@DezRosswess]

RyanBomar Thanks Ryan, your channel is much better known than mine, good to have that type of support.

[@andresa1963]

Wow... AWESOME!!!! Great video from LA. I love it. Thank you for posting...

[@RyanBomar]

Thank you for watching & for the comment! This was recorded at Long Beach, CA (www.airnav.com/airport/KLGB)

[@PVDPlaneSpotting]

That is an amazing story and an amazing experience! Thanks for sharing, it was a delight to watch!

[@JamesJones-gk5jd]

Man those old recips sound good

[@muhammadbabul7953]

Subhan allah very nice aro plane thanx bro

[@BizarreDude]

what a beautiful plain!

[@colsanjaybajpai5747]

Very beautiful video

[@eliseorafaelmataramirez5021]

Bonito avión y el motor buena ingeniería. Gracias por el paseo. Saludos

[@TheDarwiniser]

It would seem if you put enough engines on something, it will eventually fly. Love these aircraft, classic lines.

[@pip12111]

love the sound of old piston engines.....

[@harryharris8870]

I took a ride in this plane about two years ago. Nice, slow and very moisy

[@supercat380]

Damn good pilot... the landing was text-book!!!

[@nurhadiirawan3254]

Berdasarkan fakta

[@CHICAGOSPOTTER86]

What an amazing video buddy! Can't wait to get to do my flight.

[@RyanBomar]

Thanks so much for watching, man. I can't wait to see your video now, to relive the experience :)

[@PacificBlue51]

Another outrageously awesome vid ! 100%. Thanks for that. Glad that you had perfect wx for the ride as well.

[@Imnotyourdoormat]

hey great video on a great plane...been around aviation since the beginning...built several models of these when i was a kid and even won a few shows.... including the last to operate these tin-gooses...the island airways version....and even tho these are getting up in years now, the camera angles in this outstanding video really capture and display the moderness and sheen of the corrigated skin. always thought the ju-52 "iron annies" had a little too much in common with these jewels.....still remember jerry lewis pull-starting his...1...2...3.

[@OHAREAVIATION]

Fantastic video! I've flown on the TAT NC9645, i'll have to add this one to the list sometime as well ;)

[@jbhix2691]

I can feel my ears popping just watching the video.

[@skannukapasita3961]

A@

[@randall1959]

Honestly when you book a flight on it, it doesn't go high enough for your ears to pop.

[@5Zigen391]

I too

[@aeastes11]

Strut gauges are bad ass

[@RyanBomar]

They are!

[@gabrielflorentino6080]

I trust more in these airplanes than the boeing 737maxs

[@worldofgaming6773]

Lol love how they had a fire extinguisher in standby on start-up

[@briansteffmagnussen9078]

I love the sound of P&W but in this metal barn here the noise should be so nauseating loud that people went ill even with hearing protection. I like the idea of reconstructing machines with today's technology, i would love to see this plane made again with today's lightweight composite materials and the original engines with a nice smooth cowl for best aerodynamic performance.

[@sharan6654]

0

[@afterburner2869]

That Cessna 182 was like , look look, it's a Ford tri motor!!! Cool!

[@bodacious2276]

Pretty cool for a plane made out of old shed roofs.

[@felipedenis2021]

Que aeronave mais linda, um verdadeiro classico

[@veritasetlibertas7889]

I have many hours flying the one at Kalamazoo Air Museum.. it's like flying a blend of a giant C-172 and a camper truck.. LOL

[@juanasanelli6831]

Un aeroplano de la epoca del Ford Modelo A Que bonita experiencia ...

[@demarcopenacasas2802]

Beautiful engine

[@IsItEarthYet]

Nice but why no interior shots of the legendary craft? Everyone would be curious to see the size of the interior and seating arrangement

[@AH-we7rj]

Maybe the next ride...Enjoy the view.

[@captmoonbeam]

Great video, Thanks.

[@anthonito45]

Muy buen vídeo cap, donde nos muestra esa reliquia de avión, el Trimotor Ford , usted como tripulante debió de sentirse orgullo al estar en la cabina, y darse cuenta de lo que ha cambiado la aeronáutica...............................

[@nurhadiirawan3254]

Ya..berdasarkan fakta..

[@horaciomorales3058]

Still ahead !!!

[@rgiaco777]

Great video with an awesome view of the port! I was lucky enough to take a flight in this very airplane at OSH back in 2002. Tickets were a bit cheaper back then... ;)

[@RyanBomar]

Thanks so much! I'm so glad you got a chance to fly on her! Yeah, I bet the tickets were way cheaper back then. It's got to be crazy expensive to maintain an 86 year old aircraft.

[@b.atwater3904]

I was at Airventure in 2002 also. Went on the Trimotor flight right after Chuck Yeager flew right seat taking young eagles up. Next seat back, port side. After the flight, I met the Colonel and got his autograph on the back of my trimotor ticket. It was so great, I went again the next day!

[@CarlKahler]

LOL where is Chevrolet's airplane? I have always been a ford person. Chevrolet can't even come close to the achievements Ford has through out the past.Great Vid. Very cool

[@matte6352]

Carl Kahler They were too busy making locomotives. And Chrysler, well, they were making tanks.

[@davidanderson1889]

GM built the B-24 Liberator under license. Engines made by Buick, the rest in GM factories ;-)

[@gustavosantos106]

"Lucky" Jake Masters' Yankie Eagle legendary plane!

[@onehot57]

Thanks for the ride!

[@pavel_pinch7399]

Smooth landing. Take care.

[@taitduncan9816]

Beautiful plane would love to fly in that.

[@zonavelhalpma]

Insane video and plane dude i love the Ford Tri :)

[@RyanBomar]

Thanks for watching! Yeah, legendary aircraft, no doubt. The Tri-Motor certainly helped usher in the idea of passenger air transport.

[@zonavelhalpma]

it did :)

[@Wayoutthere]

That lovely thundering roar of radials..

[@eduardoolivares5304]

I think that was a very advanced design for the time

[@pricelessppp]

I saw a plane like this land when it was rainy at my local airport when I was little.

[@md.muhaiminul2760]

Hi... i think so

[@CJetsPlanespotting]

AMAZING! You are so lucky you got to fly on the good ol' grandpa plane! Liked! :)

[@MemeReviewer]

I always wonder why 1920s aircraft have the instruments for the retrospective engines on them

[@RyanBomar]

The pilot said that the cockpit simply didn't have the room for all those RPM gauges, temp, and so on. So, the pilot has to look over their shoulder to keep an eye on things.

[@stevenbush4344]

This plane was featured in" Indiana Jones and The Temple Of Doom."In the beginning when Indiana and Willie Scott and Short Round get in to LaoChe's plane.Before he closes the door he says "Nice try Lao Che".

[@matthewstorm5188]

One problem with that whole scene is that there is NO WAY a Trimotor could fly over the Himalayas.

[@cicerode8402]

Steven Bush

[@bucyruserie1211]

OMG! That was amazing! What a great Plane..... great video, felt like being there.. Loved it... Thanks for posting this RB

[@klc317]

Awesome!

[@zeom76]

AWESOME!

[@nurhadiirawan3254]

Ya..berdasarkan fakta..

[@zeom76]

@@nurhadiirawan3254 What?

[@bigtaxrefund]

@ 0:55 just under the first officer window the name plate says STOUT METAL AIRPLANE COMPANY. then the FORD sign. @ 4:44 it looks like the prop blades are bending

[@RyanBomar]

Yeah, Stout was the aircraft building division of Ford Motor Company. By the way, I've asked others and haven't got an answer yet. How did you discover this video? Was it on a site of some sort, or referred from another video? The amount of views and comments have been nuts recently, so I was curious.

[@Hopeless_and_Forlorn]

I would love to fly on this airplane as soon as it is fitted with full feathering propellers.

[@elcarlomrms]

They are brave to fly this thing!

[@bombaytaxidriver]

Great filming Ryan, and epic flight in historical aircraft for us all to enjoy. Thank you.

[@ВладимирДанилов-ь8ч]

Спасибо!

[@Stels2306]

Буквально 2 часа назад смотрел Индиана Джонс и храм судьбы и подумал какой интересный самолёт с тремя моторами .Тут Ютьюб выдает это видео )))).Мысли читает

[@tomservo5007]

hey, that's the plane from Triumph of the Will

[@ryansvloggingit5492]

that's cool as hell I'd love to fly on it is eastern airlines coming back cause it flew Ali back to louisville yesterday

[@darkhorse1691]

One of the engines is missing the pintle shaft retaining ring, if you listen to the engine you can hear the occasional squeak that occurs when the shaft travels without the lubrication

[@bingosunnoon9341]

The Wright Whirlwinds had half the power of the Wasp Juniors shown here. Flies like a wheelbarrow full of dirt.