Ford AT-5 Trimotore |
|
|---|---|
| Paese | Usa |
| Ruolo | Aerei da trasporto |
| Introduzione | 1926 |
| Costruito | 199 |
Le Ford Trimotore (chiamato anche "Tri-Motor", e soprannominato "The Tin Goose") è un aereo da trasporto trimotore americano. La produzione iniziò nel 1925 dalle aziende di Henry Ford e terminò il 7 giugno 1933. Sono stati realizzati un totale di 199 trimotori Ford. È stato progettato per il mercato dell'aviazione civile, ma ha anche visto il servizio con unità militari.
fonte: Ford AT-5 Tri-motore su Wikipedia
| Ford AT-5 Tri-motor Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Fotografo | Cees Hendriks |
| Localizzazione | Inconsapevole |
| Foto | 26 |
Ford AT-5 Tri-motor 01
Ford AT-5 Tri-motor 02
Ford AT-5 Tri-motor 03
Ford AT-5 Tri-motor 06
Ford AT-5 Tri-motor 04
Ford AT-5 Tri-motor 05
Ford AT-5 Tri-motor 07
Ford AT-5 Tri-motor 08
Ford AT-5 Tri-motor 09
Aspetta, Cercando Ford AT-5 Tri-motor foto per te ...
| Ford 5-AT-B Tri-Motor Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Fotografo | Vladimir Jakubov |
| Localizzazione | Hayward, California |
| Foto | 188 |
| Ford 5-AT-B Trimotor | |
|---|---|
| Fotografo | Luc Colin |
| Localizzazione | Inconsapevole |
| Foto | 28 |
Vedi anche:
| Ford 5-AT-B Trimotor | |
|---|---|
| Fotografo | Vladimir Jakubov |
| Localizzazione | Evergreen Air & Space Museum |
| Foto | 155 |
The Masterpiece of Corrugated Metal
Le Ford Tri-Motore, specifically the larger and more powerful 5-AT series, was the aircraft that made transcontinental air travel a reality in the United States. Inspired by the all-metal designs of Hugo Junkers, Henry Ford applied his mass-production philosophy to aviation. The result was a loud, slow, but incredibly sturdy machine. Its corrugated aluminum skin and three-engine reliability gave the public the confidence to step off trains and into the skies for the first time.
| Attribute | Technical Specification (Ford 5-AT-B) |
|---|---|
| Ruolo | Commercial Airliner / Cargo Transport |
| Equipaggio | 3 (Pilot, Co-pilot, Flight Attendant) |
| Capacità | Up to 15 Passengers |
| First Flight (5-AT) | July 21, 1928 |
| Motopropulsore | 3 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp radial engines |
| Horsepower | 420 hp (313 kW) each |
| Velocità massima | 150 mph (241 km/h) |
| Service Ceiling | 18,500 feet (5,640 m) |
Industrial Strength Engineering
- The “Tin Goose” Skin: Like the Junkers F.13, the Ford used Alclad (corrugated aluminum alloy). This provided exceptional structural strength and corrosion resistance, though it created significant drag that limited the aircraft’s top speed.
- Engine Configuration: One engine was mounted in the nose, and two were suspended beneath the wings. This layout ensured that even if one engine failed, the aircraft could safely maintain altitude or even climb.
- External Control Cables: In a design that seems primitive today, the control cables for the rudder and elevators ran along the outside of the fuselage. This made maintenance and inspection remarkably easy for mechanics in the field.
- Cabin Luxury: For the late 1920s, the 5-AT was the height of luxury. It featured wicker seats (to save weight), cabin heaters that utilized engine exhaust, and even primitive bathrooms.
Cultural Icon and Utility
- Transcontinental Air Transport (TAT): Working with Charles Lindbergh, Ford helped establish the “The Lindbergh Line,” which used a combination of trains at night and Tri-Motors by day to cross the U.S. in just 48 hours.
- The Antarctic Expedition: In 1929, Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd used a 4-AT variant (the Floyd Bennett) to make the first flight over the South Pole, proving the Tri-Motor’s extreme reliability in sub-zero conditions.
- Bush Flying Legend: Because of its high lift and rugged landing gear, the Tri-Motor was used for decades after it left airline service to carry heavy machinery into the remote mines of Alaska and South America.
- A Living Legend: Remarkably, several Ford Tri-Motors are still airworthy today. The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and Liberty Aviation Museum regularly tour the country, allowing passengers to experience the roaring engines of the 1920s first-hand.
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