Historic Plane Gets Some Air Time Ahead Of Oshkosh 2008

A classic aircraft from the early days of commercial air travel re-creates those days in the Midwest this spring and early summer, as the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) brings its restored 1929 Ford Tri-Motor airliner to eight cities in five states.

The tour includes opportunities for aviation enthusiasts in that part of the nation to see and ride in the world's first mass-produced airliner. It begins in Detroit, MI on May 30-June 1 and continues through Iowa, Indiana, Ohio and Illinois through June and early July. Some of the airports on the tour likely first saw a Ford Tri-Motor on their grounds 80 years ago.

"This airplane allows people to experience true living history of aviation, as well as learn more about EAA and our mission to help people fully participate in the world of flight," said Adam Smith, director of the EAA AirVenture Museum in Oshkosh, where the airplane is based. "As we bring the airplane to this region of the country, thousands of people will get a rare glimpse of a unique flying machine that changed the way people travel in America."

The Ford Tri-Motor, nicknamed the "Tin Goose," was built by the Ford Motor Company in the late 1920s. EAA's airplane underwent a 12-year restoration beginning in the 1970s and since the mid-1980s, has been based at the EAA museum's historic Pioneer Airport. This facility is a faithful re-creation of an early aerodrome, including flying activities from a 2,000-foot grass airstrip.

At each tour stop, visitors will have the opportunity to take 15-minute flights aboard this unique aircraft. Those flights are available for $40 for EAA members and $50 for non-members.

A secure flight-reservation system and complete information are available through EAA's Tri-Motor tour web site.

FMI: www.flytheford.org