Search
- Interior of Ford Tri-Motor Airplane, 1928 - The interior of a Ford Tri-Motor airplane is seen in this 1928 view. Lightweight wicker seats were provided for passengers. The less the airplane itself weighed, the more passengers or cargo it could carry.
- July 13, 1928
- Collections - Artifact
Interior of Ford Tri-Motor Airplane, 1928
The interior of a Ford Tri-Motor airplane is seen in this 1928 view. Lightweight wicker seats were provided for passengers. The less the airplane itself weighed, the more passengers or cargo it could carry.
- Passengers aboard Ford Tri-Motor Airplane, 1929 - Americans initially wondered if air travel was safe. Fatal crashes by barnstorming pilots were well publicized, and wood and cloth airplanes did not inspire confidence. But when Henry Ford began making planes, the industrialist's solid reputation eased people's fears. Ford's all-metal Tri-Motors were rugged, dependable and safe. By the late 1920s these planes were the backbone of the budding airline industry.
- April 30, 1929
- Collections - Artifact
Passengers aboard Ford Tri-Motor Airplane, 1929
Americans initially wondered if air travel was safe. Fatal crashes by barnstorming pilots were well publicized, and wood and cloth airplanes did not inspire confidence. But when Henry Ford began making planes, the industrialist's solid reputation eased people's fears. Ford's all-metal Tri-Motors were rugged, dependable and safe. By the late 1920s these planes were the backbone of the budding airline industry.
- Model Airplane Plans for the 1926-1931 Ford Tri-Motor Model "5-AT-C," circa 1955 - Model airplanes have been a popular hobby since the 1920s. Early modelers built from scratch, but entrepreneurs soon saw the business possibilities in making and selling model kits. Balsa wood was a favorite building material due to its strength, light weight, and the ease with which it could be shaped.
- circa 1955
- Collections - Artifact
Model Airplane Plans for the 1926-1931 Ford Tri-Motor Model "5-AT-C," circa 1955
Model airplanes have been a popular hobby since the 1920s. Early modelers built from scratch, but entrepreneurs soon saw the business possibilities in making and selling model kits. Balsa wood was a favorite building material due to its strength, light weight, and the ease with which it could be shaped.
- Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Used by TWA, April 1932 - Among the interesting features on Ford's later Tri-Motors were storage bins built into the wings. TWA added the bins to some of its Tri-Motors in 1932. They provided room for mail and luggage without taking up limited cabin space. Ford liked the idea so much that it incorporated wing bins into the 5-AT-D model.
- April 12, 1932
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Used by TWA, April 1932
Among the interesting features on Ford's later Tri-Motors were storage bins built into the wings. TWA added the bins to some of its Tri-Motors in 1932. They provided room for mail and luggage without taking up limited cabin space. Ford liked the idea so much that it incorporated wing bins into the 5-AT-D model.
- Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Equipped with Pontoons, 1931 - The Ford Tri-Motor's versatility was a big part of its success. By mounting a set of pontoon floats on the airplane's landing gear, any sufficiently large body of water became a runway. This modification was especially useful in places where landing strips -- paved or not -- were few and far between.
- September 04, 1931
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Equipped with Pontoons, 1931
The Ford Tri-Motor's versatility was a big part of its success. By mounting a set of pontoon floats on the airplane's landing gear, any sufficiently large body of water became a runway. This modification was especially useful in places where landing strips -- paved or not -- were few and far between.
- Passenger Seating inside Ford Tri-Motor 4-AT-4, 1927 - Model 4-AT and 5-AT Tri-Motors were designed and built by the Stout Metal Airplane Company, a division of Ford Motor Company. These rugged planes earned a reputation for being safe and dependable; and in the late 1920s and 1930s they were the backbone of the scheduled airline industry. This photograph shows the interior of a 4-AT equipped with lightweight wicker seats used for passenger service.
- February 04, 1927
- Collections - Artifact
Passenger Seating inside Ford Tri-Motor 4-AT-4, 1927
Model 4-AT and 5-AT Tri-Motors were designed and built by the Stout Metal Airplane Company, a division of Ford Motor Company. These rugged planes earned a reputation for being safe and dependable; and in the late 1920s and 1930s they were the backbone of the scheduled airline industry. This photograph shows the interior of a 4-AT equipped with lightweight wicker seats used for passenger service.
- Cutaway Drawing of a Ford Tri-Motor (4-AT) - The Ford Motor Company created over a million parts drawings from 1903 to 1957. Many of these drawings specify engineering requirements for the components of Ford-made vehicles--including automobiles, trucks, tractors, military vehicles and Tri-motor airplanes. Others document assembly components, stages of casting and forging, or experimental designs. Beginning in the 1940s, Ford transferred the drawings to microfilm.
- Collections - Artifact
Cutaway Drawing of a Ford Tri-Motor (4-AT)
The Ford Motor Company created over a million parts drawings from 1903 to 1957. Many of these drawings specify engineering requirements for the components of Ford-made vehicles--including automobiles, trucks, tractors, military vehicles and Tri-motor airplanes. Others document assembly components, stages of casting and forging, or experimental designs. Beginning in the 1940s, Ford transferred the drawings to microfilm.
- Drawing, Ford Tri-Motor (4-AT) with Open Cockpit - The Ford Motor Company created over a million parts drawings from 1903 to 1957. Many of these drawings specify engineering requirements for the components of Ford-made vehicles--including automobiles, trucks, tractors, military vehicles and Tri-motor airplanes. Others document assembly components, stages of casting and forging, or experimental designs. Beginning in the 1940s, Ford transferred the drawings to microfilm.
- Collections - Artifact
Drawing, Ford Tri-Motor (4-AT) with Open Cockpit
The Ford Motor Company created over a million parts drawings from 1903 to 1957. Many of these drawings specify engineering requirements for the components of Ford-made vehicles--including automobiles, trucks, tractors, military vehicles and Tri-motor airplanes. Others document assembly components, stages of casting and forging, or experimental designs. Beginning in the 1940s, Ford transferred the drawings to microfilm.
- Ford Tri-Motor Airplanes at Airport, 1930 - The rugged Ford Tri-Motor did not require a paved runway for takeoff or landing -- a good thing considering that grass airfields were common in the United States, even in major cities, until World War II. The Tri-Motor's flexibility helped make it one of the most successful early commercial airliners.
- June 23, 1930
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Tri-Motor Airplanes at Airport, 1930
The rugged Ford Tri-Motor did not require a paved runway for takeoff or landing -- a good thing considering that grass airfields were common in the United States, even in major cities, until World War II. The Tri-Motor's flexibility helped make it one of the most successful early commercial airliners.
- Cutaway Drawing of a Ford Tri-Motor (4-AT) - The Ford Motor Company created over a million parts drawings from 1903 to 1957. Many of these drawings specify engineering requirements for the components of Ford-made vehicles--including automobiles, trucks, tractors, military vehicles and Tri-motor airplanes. Others document assembly components, stages of casting and forging, or experimental designs. Beginning in the 1940s, Ford transferred the drawings to microfilm.
- Collections - Artifact
Cutaway Drawing of a Ford Tri-Motor (4-AT)
The Ford Motor Company created over a million parts drawings from 1903 to 1957. Many of these drawings specify engineering requirements for the components of Ford-made vehicles--including automobiles, trucks, tractors, military vehicles and Tri-motor airplanes. Others document assembly components, stages of casting and forging, or experimental designs. Beginning in the 1940s, Ford transferred the drawings to microfilm.