FE Power Forums
FE Power Forums => Non-FE Discussion Forum => Topic started by: RJP on May 17, 2015, 07:51:26 PM
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For the past couple of days a early/mid 30s Ford Tri-motor airplane has been flying over my neighborhood. Flying out of the Hayward Airport air show that has been going on this weekend. Hard to ignore the distinct sound of the 3 Pratt & Whitney radials that power this important piece of Ford history.
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Very neat airplanes. Here are some pictures I took at an air show here a few years back, not sure if it's the same plane but I believe they were giving rides here as well at the time.
(http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff437/red0wl/Tri%20motor1%20RS.jpg) (http://s1235.photobucket.com/user/red0wl/media/Tri%20motor1%20RS.jpg.html)
(http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff437/red0wl/Tri%20motor2%20RS.jpg) (http://s1235.photobucket.com/user/red0wl/media/Tri%20motor2%20RS.jpg.html)
(http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff437/red0wl/Tri%20motor3%20RS.jpg) (http://s1235.photobucket.com/user/red0wl/media/Tri%20motor3%20RS.jpg.html)
(http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff437/red0wl/Tri%20motor4%20RS.jpg) (http://s1235.photobucket.com/user/red0wl/media/Tri%20motor4%20RS.jpg.html)
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Very VERY cool!! A Tri-motor is one of the few planes that I have never seen in person. I'd LOVE to see one, hear one....or better yet, RIDE in one! Radials are just the neatest sounding engines there are. Get 3 or 4 of them together and it's better than angels singing ;D
Edit: Actually, I have seen one, at the Wright Pat air force museum. But it was a static display. It's just not the same if you can't hear or see it flying.
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This was a first for me too...First time I ever saw a Tri-motor in flight. Nevada casino owner Bill Harrah's car [and many other things] collection in Reno had one on display. In fact it looked exactly like the one pictured above and I would bet money it is the same airplane. Not many people knew Henry was into aviation as well as cars, even experimented with all aluminum flathead engines to power small aircraft. BTW, this airshow featured rides in the Tri-motor for $75.00 per person...seem like a hellofadeal.
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I'll bet it's the same plane I saw long ago (parked, but very flyable) at the K-Zoo airport, inside the historical planes hanger, awaiting an upcoming air show. It look identical IIRC to your pics. There can't be many Tri-Motors left.
K-Zoo btw is Kalamazoo, MI for the uninitiated ;) !
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$75.00??? Are you kidding me?!! That is VERY cheap! I'm truly shocked it was that cheap. I would have dropped that in a heartbeat. 15 years ago it cost me $400 to ride in a B24. 5 years ago it cost me $700 to ride in a B17. 2 years ago it cost $125 to ride in a Waco bi-plane over Lake Erie. There are fewer Tri-Motors running than ALL of those planes! That was the deal of a lifetime.
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Damned...For that sum i can get a ride in..........a taxicab :'( :'(
Living in the wrong place
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$75.00??? Are you kidding me?!! That is VERY cheap! I'm truly shocked it was that cheap. I would have dropped that in a heartbeat. 15 years ago it cost me $400 to ride in a B24. 5 years ago it cost me $700 to ride in a B17. 2 years ago it cost $125 to ride in a Waco bi-plane over Lake Erie. There are fewer Tri-Motors running than ALL of those planes! That was the deal of a lifetime.
Yeah, it is a bargain, but for 75 bucks a head I'm sure all the seats were filled and there were no cocktails or mini-skirted stewardess on the flight. At Pacific Coast Dream Machine [Half Moon Bay, Ca.] this year B-24 rides were $400.00 but it too was a packed house on each flight. A couple of years ago at PCDM you could buy a ride on a P-51 Mustang for the paltry sum of $800.00 That 130 octane Av gas ain't cheap.