Ford 5-AT-B Tri-Motor

Ford AT-5 Driemotor

Land Usa
Role Transportvliegtuigen
Introductie 1926
Gebouwd 199
De Ford Trimotor (ook wel de "Tri-Motor" genoemd, en bijgenaamd "The Tin Goose") is een Amerikaans driemotorig transportvliegtuig. De productie begon in 1925 door de bedrijven van Henry Ford en eindigde op 7 juni 1933. In totaal zijn er 199 Ford Trimotors gemaakt. Het was ontworpen voor de burgerluchtvaartmarkt, maar zag ook dienst bij militaire eenheden.
Bron: Ford AT-5 Tri-motor op Wikipedia
Ford AT-5 Tri-motor Rond te Lopen
Fotograaf Cees Hendriks
Lokalisatie Onbewust
Foto 's 26
Wacht, Zoeken Ford AT-5 Tri-motor foto's voor u...
Ford 5-AT-B Tri-Motor Walk Around
FotograafVladimir Yakubov
LokalisatieHayward, Californië
Foto 's188
Ford 5-AT-B Trimotor
FotograafLuc Colin
LokalisatieOnbewust
Foto 's28

Zie ook:

Tweede Wereldoorlog: de definitieve visuele geschiedenis van Blitzkrieg tot de atoombom (DK Definitive Visual Histories) - Amazon Kaart voor kaart van de Tweede Wereldoorlog (DK History Map by Map) - Amazon

Ford 5-AT-B Trimotor
FotograafVladimir Yakubov
LokalisatieEvergreen Lucht & Ruimte Museum
Foto 's155

The Masterpiece of Corrugated Metal

De Ford driemotorige motor, 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)
Role Commercial Airliner / Cargo Transport
Bemanning 3 (Pilot, Co-pilot, Flight Attendant)
Capaciteit Up to 15 Passengers
First Flight (5-AT) July 21, 1928
Krachtbron 3 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp radial engines
Horsepower 420 hp (313 kW) each
Maximum Speed 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.

Views : 3211

Reactie achterlaten

<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong> 

verplicht

Deze site maakt gebruik van Akismet om spam te verminderen. Meer informatie over hoe uw reactiegegevens worden verwerkt.