Ford AT-5 Tri-motor

Ford AT-5 Tri-motor
Country	USA
Role	Transport aircraft
Introduction	1926
Built	199

The Ford Trimotor (also called the “Tri-Motor”, and nicknamed “The Tin Goose”) is an American three-engined transport aircraft. Production started in 1925 by the companies of Henry Ford and ended on June 7, 1933. A total of 199 Ford Trimotors were made. It was designed for the civil aviation market, but also saw service with military units.

Source: Ford AT-5 Tri-motor on Wikipedia

Ford AT-5 Tri-motor Walk Around
Photographer	Cees Hendriks
Localisation	Unknow
Photos	26

Ford AT-5 Tri-motor 01

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Ford 5-AT-B Tri-Motor Walk Around
Photographer	Vladimir Yakubov
Localisation	Hayward, CA
Photos	188

Ford 5-AT-B Trimotor
Photographer	Luc Colin
Localisation	Unknow
Photos	28

Ford 5-AT-B Trimotor

The Masterpiece of Corrugated Metal

The Ford Tri-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
Crew	3 (Pilot, Co-pilot, Flight Attendant)
Capacity	Up to 15 Passengers
First Flight (5-AT)	July 21, 1928
Powerplant	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.