Our octogenarian neighbor Bill stopped by at noon today to tell us that there is a 1926 Ford Trimotor plane at the Stuart airport, and they were offering tours and flights. He was headed over there to book a flight and we said we would take the Silverwing scooter over to see him go flying. Bill got there in time to jump on board, and we arrived just as this magnificent restored aircraft took flight.
The ride was about 15 or 20 minutes long and we waited until they landed to see Bill, along with touring the outside and inside of the plane.
The inside is luxurious for the period, complete with wood paneling, drapes on the windows, and classic lighting.
Nine cyclinders run each of the three motors.
The gauges are outside the cockpit on the wing struts! The pilots have to monitor them by looking out the windows.
Engine emblem...
View from the tail of the plane. The skin is all corrugated aluminum.
There were 199 of these Trimotors built between 1926 and 1933. There are 18 left in the world and only eight are airworthy. The builder's emblem...
The passenger windows are single pane and had quite a view.
Sometimes the spur of the moment opportunities turn out to be the best experiences, just like this one did. We sure enjoy being diverse!
😎
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