90-year-old plane takes flight in Bentonville

A Ford Tri-Motor from the Experimental Aircraft Association offers rides Thursday, June 13, 2019, outside Thaden Field House at Bentonville Municipal Airport.
Ford Tri-Motors, built from 1926-1933, were the first all-metal commercial airliners. This aircraft, wth tail number NC8407, first flew August 21, 1929, as a commercial airliner. Over the years the plane changed ownership and was refitted to serve as a crop duster, a firefighting water bomber, and in barnstorming tours, among other roles. The Experimental Aircraft Association now takes the plane on an annual tour, offering rides at stops around the country.
The plane will be at Thaden Field House offering rides from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Short sightseeing flights to are $77 for adults, $52 for children 17 and younger, and $165 for the right front seat. Guests can call the plane's staff directly at 920-379-8348 for more info on flights.

[@rdc2724]

wow ...... it still has the original pilots ...

[@mr.lowslow7702]

🤣

[@BloodCovenant]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@WindowsMediaYT]

idk why this made me crack up

[@Rosk03]

Bro, u read my mind 🤣🤣

[@Zifengtower]

🤣

[@bombadilian]

No doubting the engineering/piloting skills here but I don't think I'd ever be able to fully relax on a 80 year old plane, lol

[@LeonardoDF95]

I think the same

[@erfansafaeian8906]

Flown by 80 year old pilots 😅

[@AllanEvansOfficial]

@@erfansafaeian8906 I’d trust those pilots with my life any day

[@spifflespoof6951]

Look at it this way - if it's been flying for 80 years it'll probably fly for the next hour too

[@zacharygrossman8316]

its 90 year old plane, flown by 70 year old pilots

[@diannelogsdon6107]

I rode in that same plane about 10 years ago. Mercer Airport, Trenton NJ. $55 for 20 minute ride. Loved it.

[@budyeddi5814]

Worth every penny

[@abdulrazakabdulmajid1090]

$5.00 for the ride, $50.00 for the insurance premium.

[@anuaranzee]

lol not so expensive. Definitely gonna try this when got chance. In my country, to ride a helicopter require you to pay for USD 200 / tour / person. Ridiculous price!

[@Karedu.]

Now is severe overpriced

[@morethananything4040]

True. I was the propeller

[@silverado0938]

Dad,” smile” Kid smiles for a half second and is instantly back to face of doomS

[@starsoffyre]

The man is like a kid again, and the kid is well, i don't know

[@jeanlucc99]

@@starsoffyre the kid was like "I don't feel safe in this plane"😅

[@Deadmau5l]

@@jeanlucc99 yeah hes clearly shitting it lmfaoo

[@Ransomhandsome]

@@jeanlucc99 for good reason!

[@concernedhuman4559]

Hey, I have never liked to fly and I'm 72. I think the young man did great!

[@100forks]

I took my son up when he was 3 years old. His first plane ride. It was magnificent. 20 years later, we did it again. This time it was even better.

[@phantomjosh2148]

Did you go with him 20 years later

[@-Zevin-]

10/10 parenting, I was lucky enough to get a ride on one when I was 9, still remember it to this day now that I'm in my 30s.

[@Ithinkiwill66]

When airplanes had real steering wheels! Like a flying car! Awesome machine!!

[@leifvejby8023]

I believe Ford always used round steering wheels, not like Austin.

[@gtm624]

I didn’t catch that until you said something. I’d love to fly that plane. It must be weird.

[@millimetreperfect]

I read somewhere that the original wheel was the same as a model T car, but this does look smaller than I image a ‘T’ would have

[@cyntdestroyer69xd]

@@supersabrejet That definitely goes from somebody, who haven't even tried any flight simulator, let alone actually trying to fly a plane, lol

[@donaldsperrazza1074]

That was pretty cool

[@MartinSBrown-tp9ji]

Ford sure made things to last. Look how many Model"A" cars are still around and running.

[@geoh7777]

I haven't seen one in years. lol I remember when my older brother bought one when he was 15 (not old enough for a DL yet) and fixed it up, drilled holes in the body ouch! to mount directional signals on it, operated with a toggle switch (driver had to remember to turn them off). That was 1950.

[@matocaster]

You said it Martin! I've got me a '31 A Coupe. Drug it out of a framer's field last year. He said he parked it there sometime in the late 50's. 30 years before I was even born. The ol' original 4 banger wasn't stuck, so I pulled off the old Zenith carb, cleaned it all out, stuck it back on with a new set of plugs and points and what do ya know? Fired right up! The car turns 91 next year ;) and I absolutely love it.

[@kevinparker2409]

@@matocaster love the story

[@putridvomit]

If only that was the case with their modern vehicles. Biggest hunk of junk I ever owned was a Ford...

[@MartinSBrown-tp9ji]

@@putridvomit It depends on how you drive and maintain any car these days. My friend has 260 thousand miles on his Ford "150" truck and is still driving well.

[@gordongott127]

Absolutely a beautiful airplane ! Can't even imagine how many hours of work to see her in such prestin shape and flying Bravo !

[@gavinvalentino6002]

"Prestin" and "pristine" are entirely different words. Don't type beyond your intelligence. It makes the shortcomings publicly viewable.

[@johnhicks9542]

I flew in that very same Tri Motor in Osh Kosh, WI. a few years back. I had a current private pilot certificate at the time. The pilot in command allowed me to take the controls for about 5 minutes. Very heavy controls and somewhat slow to react. Also VERY loud. An experience that will never be forgotten.

[@KD5XB]

I did the same thing, but in Valdosta, Georgia. The pilot let me take the controls for a few minutes, too. I thought the controls were very mismatched, with the plane being sluggish in roll and hypersensitive in pitch. And the loudest flight I have ever been on, including Marine Corps helicopters! One of the few flights I have been glad to end, just from the noise. That big old radial engine and prop just outside the cockpit window!

[@josephgriffin1065]

Similar experience in Pontiac Michigan maybe twelve years ago, Cody Welch let me have the controls for a few minutes

[@budyeddi5814]

Thanks for sharing ^_^

[@gavinvalentino6002]

Yeah me too, I told the old farts I had a few sim hours on a laptop so they said "fuggit" and let me barrellrolllooopdeeloop that mf. Or not.

[@budyeddi5814]

@@gavinvalentino6002 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@limadeltazulu]

The sum of the ages of the two pilots greater than the age of the aircraft. So all in good order. And that endless smile of the passengers. I envy this flight. 🛩✈🛫❤

[@wadeconnell1493]

In a few years time, that young man will boast that he had a seat in something that his peers will never experience. He doesn't yet how fortunate he was.

[@joeldumas5861]

Now he's more like: "Daddy are you sure this thing can fly? "

[@husseinandout3867]

He was so scared lol

[@rogerb5615]

The last Ford Tri-Motor in scheduled service flew from Sandusky OH to the island airport at Put-In-Bay. I flew in the right seat as a paying passenger (not a licensed pilot) in 1961 or 1962, at age 14 or 15. Don't recall the tail number, but I do remember the noise level, and the low altitude at which we made the lake crossing.

[@wingmanjim6]

Did the same a few years earlier !

[@jeremy-ws1rb]

That kid looks like hes about to die

[@yuvikagupta4331]

The truth is different the real aeroplane was invented by an INDIAN SCIENTIST SHIVKAR BAPUJI TALPADE... yes its true which was not told to u all. Shivkar invented it 8 years before Wright brothers and that Indian shivkar's plane was very complecated machine whose engine fuel was mercury (NASA has recently started working on mercury engines and in India its invented 126 years ago). wrights brothers invented there plane in 1903 and shivkar in 1895...and it was fully controlable and powerful and it flew for several minutes. But sadly he was not rewarded for it as it was the time when INDIA was ruled by British government and Indians were fighting for freedom. British suppressed this invention and arrested shivkar and destroyed many research paper of him and steal his book of aeronautical science. U CAN SEARCH IT ON GOOGLE OR REARCH ON IT. and the story continues as there are many inventions which Indians have done but many invaders destroyed its culture literatures and steals many books and then just reinvented it and claims to invente it many inventions were stolen from India and then they parented it.

[@kyleborboranmain8295]

@Lultrooper I think he's drugged

[@erikring8827]

@@yuvikagupta4331 Unmanned. Doesn’t count.

[@3BlueHaze]

@@yuvikagupta4331 thank you for telling me the truth wise man.

[@dickypratama2878]

@@yuvikagupta4331 turn off your wifi

[@jimrestaino7763]

I took a flight on a Ford Tri-Motor back in May 1977 during the 50th of Lindeberg's solo to Europe. It was at Farmingdale 's Republic Airport (FRG) , just around the pattern, with alot of noise and vibration. It cost $ 12.00 . I took flying lessons that summer and obtained my PVT. 18 months later.

[@starsoffyre]

Man I'd love to be on that plane. Such big windows

[@lagartobarcelona]

It ok watching from my couch a 90 yr old plane :)))

[@adamr9570]

Well because you know nothing about safety and planes

[@starsoffyre]

@@adamr9570 I'm a simple man. I see plane, I see big windows, imma fly on it

[@heliostransport515]

But they are really dangerous winfows

[@padufs7290]

@@starsoffyre bro big square Windows are not safe like 10-15 plane crashed bc of this Windows thats why they use round small Windows now

[@justinneill5003]

Reminds me when I took a flight on an old Tupolev 134 in Russia... “get me down quick so I can cross it off the list forever!”

[@matteofalduto766]

But hopefully not too quick

[@PlaneNuts2024]

I used to fly to Malaysia on Aeroflot Ilyushin IL62M. Fabulous old aircraft except for the smell of the aviation fuel wafting about in the toilets. They have a beauty about them similar to the Vicker VC10 and the engines make a really curious sound.

[@justinneill5003]

@@PlaneNuts2024 Yes I miss seeing those old Russian aircraft. The TU134 always fascinated me, Aviogenex flew them for charter flights into Manchester when I worked there. A real versatile workhorse, able to land on rough grass, with a nose cone convertible to glass for military use when it also served as a light bomber. Massively overpowered and fast for a commercial jet and of course a real gas-guzzler. I loved the high pitched “trill” from the engines too.

[@jorgefurtado9037]

What a group of lucky people on this plane to be able to participate in this flight is indescribable!

[@kestin7952]

THIS IS AMAZING! I live in Bentonville and I want to become a pilot when I’m older! This is a super pretty plane!!!

[@Sparringvids94]

Awesome mate! I’m 26 and I would love to get into flying

[@legalmexican]

But guys who fly this sort of plane are always old fellows with gray hair.

[@ComplexGamesYT]

That little kid did not want to be there at all 😂

[@christianwhitehead5645]

This would have made my childhood

[@concernedhuman4559]

Maybe not, but he was and he did it. Brave.

[@scrlcrllc6410]

Took my late father for a ride on that aircraft at Cincinnati KLUK back in 2011 - what a great experience.

[@tonyhilliarduk]

Poor kid looked absolutely petrified. I think I would too!

[@spitfirekid1]

I’ve flown in that airplane. Great old bird!

[@caribbaviator7058]

You must have flown it in FS2004

[@Oldbmwr100rs]

Saw one of these flying out of Reno Stead airport and checked it out. $75 later I was climbing in, what a plane! In fact that one had a reno history as it had been restored by Bill Harrah and was in his collection, sold when he passed away. i heard later the aircraft was damaged, hopefully it can be restored and flown again, it was quite a flight for a short flight. A friend later told me he saw it flying around his place near Santa Rosa, i told him to take a flight and he was as delighted with his as I was with mine. If you hear of this plane coming around, take a flight, it was a different era, one that you can experience! I couldn't justify the price of the B-17 flight, but the tri motor was totally worth it.

[@bradford5951]

As a kid I had the rare opportunity to ride in one of these ... the pilots showed up at the airport and needed at ride to their hotel. Having just received my drivers license, I jumped on the opportunity and exchanged a ride for a ride! I recalled flying over our house and seeing my parents (who were none the wiser) standing in the driveway!!! Great memory .. oily little beast, but a relic of the past.

[@raulduke6105]

I flew perhaps on that plane in Urbana Illinois in 1962-3 it was a blast!

[@hagnewton4255]

I paid for myself and my dad to have a flight on this same aircraft back in 4/2015. Bakersfield, CA. Takes you back to a different time for sure.

[@cptkirkpyro5656]

beautiful landing for a 90 year old plane. well done to the pilot.

[@mikrof467]

POS

[@wingmanjim6]

Yes, apparently you are ?@@mikrof467

[@papabits5721]

What a beautiful plane, they would have to surgically remove the smile from my face

[@bigbywolf586]

This aeroplane is absolutely beautiful, and that throaty thrum from the engines is wonderful! I wish modern air craft had this much beauty and majesty in their design.

[@davidclark3304]

I rode in a Tri Motor at the Palm Springs CA air museum several years ago. It belonged to another museum and you'll have to forgive me that I don't remember which (not EAA), but what amused me was the whole flight was flown at 70 knots from liftoff to touchdown.

[@MaxCam35mm]

The pilots are the same age as the airplane. 😅😂🤣🤣😅 They have the experience and the skills. Well done.

[@sillyoldbastard3280]

I had an ex Qantas 707/747 captain in his mid eighties instruct me. He was far more skilled and professional than the younger instructors

[@flymeaway1216]

went up in that plane when i was like 8 for probably 20 minutes, it was the first plane i ever flew in fast forward a lot of years and now i’ve flown planes myself, probably the coolest plane i’ve flown in

[@ketilneergard1468]

Calm and experienced pilots. Nice!

[@lagartobarcelona]

At 90 is best for your heart to stay calm :))

[@johnharris7353]

Actually they died long ago but they can still fly!

[@lakewoodil]

I had the opportunity to fly in a Tri-motor during a LAS convention about 20 years ago. The passenger speaking with his kid reminded me that Evergreen Airlines sponsored the trip. Don't know if they owned that A/C but it was fun and noisy.

[@chewyismycopilot788]

Dad is geeking out but the kid looks like he’d rather be on the ground

[@lagartobarcelona]

Maybe watched the night before a deadly plane crash compilation

[@chrispbacon4519]

That kid probably now's an aviation enthusiast, but he didn't look too impressed there!

[@dreamthedream8929]

He also may have developed a fear of flying and is no longer stepping on planes

[@djrommybalibalita5747]

Whoa this plane looks wild. The exposed engine looks really cool and unique. Kind of reminds me of those Harley’s with no fairings.

[@jbenthere627]

The engine sound at 1:05 makes me think of the movie Airplane when they showed the 707 flying.

[@sorryi6685]

Yeah, they deliberately gave piston engine sound for jet plane

[@gordongott127]

Lol I remember that.lol 😆

[@reaper6nine]

Sound of table fan

[@blakecunningham8293]

This is probably smoother than the last Ryanair flight I had

[@JBS1974]

what a pilot!! this langind was a true kiss!

[@owenjc9132]

Just think aviation only goes back around 120 years so this is really incredible to see her fly.

[@jordan6988]

Honestly is crazy to think that everything we have has only been around a short time. The guys flying were born in the 50s probably aviation would had only been around barely 50 years. All the cell phones, computers are still pretty new to humans. We think we live in such a modern time but its honestly just the beginning 100 years from now people will say the same thing. Wish we could live longer and see what future will be like

[@stonetoolcompany3649]

Wonderful plane!! I’ve ridden in the same one years ago. Like a giant Supercub. It hardly seems like you should be able to take off at that speed!

[@ivanhicks887]

Great Presentation - Love those "Picture Windows" - Love the Plane

[@Glen.Danielsen]

Those windows! Those radials! 💛

[@jerrydeanswanson79]

Lori and I rode in that Tri-motor at EAA a few years ago...Great time. I had previously taken a ride in the EAA B-17...and later their B-25. Three chances in a lifetime, eh? And about the Tri-motor...sitting inside...you would think it was held together with baling wire...smiles.

[@simonbertioli4696]

Lovely...what a way to spend a day..😁🇬🇧🇬🇧👍👍

[@brunochessking]

This is the most badass plane I've ever seen

[@johnnorman7708]

Not sure if this is the same Ford tri-motor that I got to board and inspect, but if it is, my butt got to sit in that narrow left hand seat for about 1 minute. Absolutely beautiful. I can feel the ghosts when I get around stuff this old with this much human history.

[@Odinist]

As I recall there used to be an airline ferry in the Great Lakes area flying between the U.S. and Canada for a long time with a perfect safety record.

[@jjoyner58]

Yes, Island Airlines near Port Clinton, Oh. I flew on one as a kid in the 60s. Great fun!

[@smooches1368]

Stout Airlines back in the 30s in West Michigan.. The Tri-motor I was on also had a Stout label on it. I was on the one that said "Port Clinton" on the nose. I got some good footage on my cell phone from entering the base leg to final to rolling out to the hangar and engine stop. FANTASTIC ride! I love slow flight like that.

[@livelyupmyself1]

All the Dads are so stoked! Love it!

[@spockboy]

There`s a James Cagney movie from 1933 called Lady Killer where he gets on one of these. Love the aluminum siding on the fuselage. Great video!

[@LIFEISGOOD197]

Amazing flying machine !

[@nigel900]

What a beautiful plane.

[@j.w.2391]

Love it...Pterodactyl Airlines now boarding at Gate 1313. Commercial Aviation had to start Somewhere ! Thanks for posting

[@cartoonhub2815]

That small buddy should act a movie... He made my day

[@ricbarker4829]

That kids face @ 1:16 says it all "Next time Dad, if it ain't a Boeing, I ain't going"

[@lili.h1813]

Wow, I wish I could fly in one of those historic airplanes 😊

[@soavioes153]

Very interisting experience of Henry Ford, in aviations area. Happy Christmas.

[@rahulsinghvi1208]

Dad : Did you enjoy your flight ? Son : Yes Dad : What did it cost ? Son : My ears

[@crushedrgb]

What a beautiful machine.

[@13infbatt]

Beautiful plane

[@pascalcoole2725]

Fabulous airplane, seems beautifull restored/maintained.

[@MasumAustralia]

The built quality of this plane has no question.

[@adamsadventures9919]

that’s beyond cool….would love that experience!

[@jsmurthy7481]

Amazing post.....&awesome oldie

[@Jushwa]

Those exposed engines are beautiful!

[@brunopetitmengin7176]

Hello, j’ai passé 5 semaines à Benton en juillet 1969 avec le Lyon’s club exenge student. et j’en conserve de très bons souvenirs . Happy christmas

[@Humble_Electronic_Musician]

Awesome plane. Looks quality build

[@NM-eb5ej]

And that was luxurious in the day!

[@capunkmelky]

Amazing 👏👏👏

[@capezyo]

Amazing...nice plane...

[@Random_How-tos]

That’s really cool! Glad you made it out alive.

[@lukasstrne3780]

❤❤ I rode on the same plane ! Circa 1978!... Hillsdale airport, Hillsdale Michigan.

[@pachma405]

kid looks like he's having the time of his life

[@privatepilot4064]

I’d love to take a ride on this historical airplane! I grew up less than a mile from the Fairlane Mansion.

[@johnw2026]

The fact that there are still people who can fly that thing amazes me. The fact that it likely doesn't have a restroom terrifies me!

[@TheSoftballstar1261]

I saw that it is from EAA!!! I'm a lifetime member with them!!!

[@shawnaburns5158]

Glad to see a 90 year old plane still going❤

[@soundwavs1961c]

Beautiful aircraft!

[@RA-ws7it]

I tried 3 times to take a ride in a tri motor in Kalamazoo Mi. And then was told that insurance had become so expensive that rides were cancelled. This was probably 10 or 15 years ago when I drove long haul and would layover there hoping for better weather and even planning delivery trips just to go through hoping for the chance. Given the opportunity today I would take it in a heartbeat.

[@logancohen1548]

This is so awesome!

[@dougfries7759]

I road this plane also about 11 years ago, the pilots were very experienced airline pilots. The plane Flys like a cloud. Slow and soft it was awsome. If you like planes and get the chance it's worth it.

[@gavinvalentino6002]

1:44 the old pro knows *exactly* how many times to re-wind the rubber band for the perfect rpm.

[@fabiogarcia1431]

You must have big iron balls to decide to fly on an old plane like that. I wouldn't... Life is precious...

[@fieeedahusssain8407]

Amazing journey it will be 😍😍

[@FunYl]

I wouldn't be so brave, but I admire

[@Gioagla]

Stunning video ..thank you camera man and crew !!💞💪⚘😊

[@luislaplume8261]

In 1960 at Idlewild Airport then as it was called in Queens, NYC, I and my late parents waved goodbye to my late grandmother as she waved goodbye to us on a 4 engine propeller airplane back to Cuba! I also remember the Constellation class with the triple tailfins in the back.

[@santriPribumiAsli]

Wow..amazing plane

[@Gutodaflauta]

Great job Mr. Ben!!!! Thank you

[@emdadchowdhury4375]

Loved the ✈️

[@masterb5683]

Well-maintained! Wow!

[@katden220]

The son looks like “Dad! Why would you bring me o this rickety thing?” Lol! The son will probably kiss the ground when he deplanes.

[@rockym2931]

One day, he would give anything to go back and do it one more time.

[@circlestar8697]

Glad they are keeping it alive.

[@Liquidator101]

Respect those pilots. Old school badass.

[@smooches1368]

I took a ride in this airplane when it was 92 years old. My mother flew in one with my grandfather in 1935 to see the Tigers play in Detroit. Considering the distance from Grand Rapids to Detroit Michigan I'll bet it took over three hours. I think I heard the cruising speed was about 95 Knots.

[@fordsrestorations970]

I enjoyed riding on this plane it remind me of riding a motorcycle in the sky

[@haydar378]

Beautiful engine

[@SteveG-pf9mq]

A luxury aircraft of its day. Times have changed.

[@aleks169]

I flew in this exact plane around 3-4 years ago in college station! KBTX, the news, was even in there and I was on the news lol