Ford Tri-Motor 1926-1992.pdf

FORD

TRI-MOTOR

William T. Larkins 1926-1992

THt~ FORD TRI-~IOTOI.

1926-IU92

TRt-MOTOR

1926-1992

WillialD T. Larkins

" e bealltiflll nell'Dearborn at the Ford Atrport ill late

allport hotels ill/he Vlliteel Sta . Inn on the left, olle ofIhe tin/

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Contents

This project began in 1950. My book The Ford Story, published in 1957,

contains the names of those who assisted at that time. Since then the

following individuals have contributed new material, enthusiasm and

support:

photographer. Wherever possible the name of the person that took the

photo is given. If this is not known then the source of the print used in

this book is listed. Many of the factory photos are original yellowing

prints that were saved by the late Gordon S. William. The late Steve

Hudek collected and copied a massive number of photos at his own

expense including Ford factory views, and to conserve space the credit

line "Hudek" indicates the much longertitle that Steve was proud to put

on his photos in recent years: "Stephen J. Hudek Aeronautical Ar-

chive ."To them and all ofthe others who have contributed my sincere

thanks and appreciation.

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Richard S. Allen, Jess C. Barrow, J. Roger Bentley, Edward G. Betts,

John W. aler, Robert Casari, Owen Darcey, R.E.G. Davies, Bob

Davis, John M. Davis, James H. Fanner, Leslie N. Forden, Harry

Gann, Robert E. Garrard, Ronald M. Gerdes, Daniel P. Hagedorn, Dick

Hagelthorn, Steven J. Hudek, George Hardie Jr., Marion H. Havelaar,

Walter M. Jefferies Jr., Jo eph P. Juptner, Ted Keener, Burton Kemp,

Art Krieger, Paul Matt, Mitch Mayborn, Jack McNulty, Matthew

Miller, K.M. Molson, H.J. Na h, Tim O'Callaghan, Douglas D. Olson,

Robert Parmerter, Bob Pauley, Everett J. Payette, Ed Peck, Rudy

Profant, Boardman C. Reed, Matt Rodina Jr., Fred W. Roos, Winthrop

Sears, Warren D. Shipp, Rudolph A. Stahl, Emil Strasser, Frank

Strnad, Lawrence Smalley, Ken Sumney, Chris E. Swain, John

nderwood, Adolfo Villasenor, Ray Wagner, Gayle Williams, Ken-

neth D. Wilson and Harry Yerex.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Development Of An Idea

Construction and Model Designations

Airlines

Corporate and Private Use

U.S. Military

Export And Foreign Activities

Special Events and Operations

Individual Histories - Mode14-AT

Individual Histories - Model 5-AT

Accidents, Incidents and Big Winds

The Bushmaster

Survivors - 1992

112

130

160

184

200

220

252

258

This book has been ba ed in part on interviews orcotTespondence with

the following individuals who have been personally involved with the

Ford Tri-Motor:

W. Ray Allemang, Herbert W. Anderson, Bob Anson, Robert N.

Baron, W. Joe Barrows, Ken Blaney, Melvin G. Bowen, Lon Brennan,

R.H. Brooks, Arthur Buchner, Paul L. Carpenter, Walter M. Cary,

Allan Chaney, Harold Chin, Clare Coe, John A. Collings, Kathryn B.

Creedy, Eddie DeLarm, William H. Dowling, Ernest E. Dryer, Lee

Flanagin, Eugene O. Frank, Lawrence G. Fritz, Gordon H. Fountain,

Dale Glen, Bernie Godlove, E.B. Brownie Gray, John Guglielmetti,

Robert E. Hayden, Bob Henry, William H. Hightower, Carles J. Hirst,

Glen H. Hoppin, Richard E. Hulse, Perry G. Hutton, Mrs. Leona

Inman, Donald M. Ive , Roben R. Johnson, Thunder Johnson, Frank

H. Jerdone, George F. Kreitzberg, Otto E. Kirchner, Stanley E.

Knauss, Jim Larkin, Norman Layman, Charles Le Master, John Louck,

Charles E. Mathews, Gaylord Moxon, Frank D. Oergel Jr., David

Ohlwiler,ByronG.O'Hara, W. Kelly Owen, IrvPerch, Paul Poberezny,

George H. Prudden, William B. Stout, Laurent Savaard, Frederick D.

Smith, Stan Stanton, Penn Stohr Jr., Floyd Tohline, D.W. Tommy

Tomlinson, Tom Towle, Harry Volpe, Arthur E. Walker, William G.

Walker, Robert Waltermire, Rex Williams, Jerry Wood and Donald

Wong.

Four individuals require special mention. Jack Barbery, indefatigable

researcher and generous friend, has shared the results of many hours

of tedious work in the FAA files in Oklahoma City. Pete Bower ha

pleaded, cajoled and continuously contributed material for a revised

and updated edition. Dan R. Post, knowledgeable publisher of Ford

auto books, for encouragement and support over many years. Lastly,

Carl Apollonio has guided the book through difficult times since June

1988 and his perserverence and interest brought about this beautiful

volume.

Appendixes:

Appendix 1: Model Designations

Appendix 2: Characteristics and Performance

Appendix 3: Approved Type Certificates

Appendix 4: CAA Memos - Letters of Approval

Appendix 5: Cross-Index by U.S. Registration

Appendix 6: Cross-Index to Foreign Registrations

Appendix 7: SIN Listing, Model 4-AT

Appendix 8: SIN Listing, Model 5-AT

Appendix 9: SIN Listing, All Other Models

Appendix 10: Ford Tri-Motor Owners

I. Airlines

II. Companies

III. Individuals

IV. Governments

Appendix 11: Performance of Ford Aircraft in Reliability Tours

Appendix 12: Cross-Index to Military Ford Tri-Motors

Appendix 13: Ford Tri-Motor ames

Appendix 14: Accident Summary

Appendix 15: Ford Factory Employees

Appendix 16: Ford Tri-Motor Pilots

272

273

274

275

276

277

278

279

280

281

The problems with photo credits increase with age as photographs pass

from the person [hat took them through various collectors who often

have bought collections from someone else who did not record the

William T. Larkins

Book Design by Robert Biondi

PholO all Page I: Details of the nose of an Army Air Corps C-9 (29-224) on July 2, 1929. The Air orps painted a legend

on the side of their plancs in the late 1920s giving weights and capacities for the individual airplane as shown in the box on

the right. (Ford Archives)

Dust jacket photo courtesy of Michael 0' Leary.

Library of Congress Catalog umber: 92-60363

All rights rescrvcd. 0 part of this work may be reproduced or used in any forms or by any mcans - graphic, electronic

or mechanical, including photocopying or information storage and retrieval systems - without wrillen permission from

the copyright holder.

288

289

290

292

294

Primed in the United States of America.

ISB : 0- 8740-416-2

We are interested in hearing from authors with book ideas on related topics.

Published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd.

1469 Morstein Rd.

West Chester, PA 19380

Please write for a free catalog.

This book may be purchased from the publisher.

Please include 2.95 postage.

Try your bookstore first.

Bibliography

Vintage Airline Timetables

Index

301

306

317

'73 U

Introduction

production by the world's largest automobile manufac-

turer to a continuously refined design, backed by exten-

sive advertising and publicity concerned with safety at a

time when such dependabil ity and safety was crucial, that

put Ford ahead of all of its competitors. The value of the

corporate name "Ford MotorCompany" cannot be under-

estimated and the result is best indicated by a study of the

contemporary transports.

William B. Stout and his Liberty-powered 2-AT

brought about Henry and Edsel Ford's interest in aviation

in 1924. Both a small factory and a flying field were built

by Ford and leased to Stout for further research and

development. Out of this start came the first tri-motor as

well as a company airfreight line. In 1925 Ford bought out

the Stout Metal Plane Company and thus began active

participation and encouragement of aircraft design and

production which was to last through 1932.

The Ford Tri-Motor, together with the complimentary

engineering and thought that surrounded its development

during the formative years of American air transport,

remains to this day a fine example of good engineering,

planning and production.

The production and refinement of this aircraft, and

the accompanying research and development of ground

and air aids to airline management carried on by the Ford

Motor Company, was unquestionably one of the most

important factors in the historical development of air

transportation in this country. The design of an aircraft is

not always the deciding factor in its success. Quite often,

as with the Ford Tri-Motor, a series of supporting circum-

stances and the accident of time and place produce a

legendary airplane.

It was the application of a modified assembly line

Below: The end of the 1930 Ford Air Tour ,\lith the factory and

Greenfield Village in the background. The Tri-Motors are 5-AT-60

(#5) flown by /-larry Russell, and 7-AT-1 flown by Myron Zeller.

(Ford Archives)

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