Take off in the sky in one of the most unique and influential aircraft in aviation, the Ford 4-AT Trimotor, Microsoft Flight SimulatorThe sixth edition of Famous Flyer.
The Ford 4-AT Trimotor is a pilot’s dream machine: a metal, high-wing, three-engine passenger and cargo plane. Ruggedly built, it can operate out of some of the world’s most stringent airfields, and with its renowned forgiveness in the air, the Trimotor takes pilot confidence to new heights.
The introduction of the Trimotor by Ford’s Heavy Metal Aircraft Division was one of the most important milestones in the early history of commercial passenger aviation. The strong, powerful and comfortable aircraft enabled several long-haul routes, including the route connecting Key West, Florida to Havana, Cuba. About 100 airlines used the Ford Trimotor during its operational tenure, a testament to its reliability and efficiency. The 4-AT even saw limited service in military logistical support.
The aircraft made its maiden flight on June 11, 1926, and entered service later that year; 199 were produced during a production run that lasted from 1926 to 1933. The crew was one or two crew and carried up to 12 passengers in total, including pilots. The Trimotor, actively and vigorously backed by Henry Ford, quickly established itself as one of the luminaries of the golden age of flight.
The 4-AT features a corrugated aluminum structure on its fuselage, wings, tail section and control surfaces. It measures 49 feet, 10 inches long, stands 11 feet, 9 inches high, and has a wingspan of 74 feet. It has a traditional box and a standard fixed bottom. The plane can be equipped with floats for handling water or skis for taking off and landing on snow or glaciers.
The trimotor is powered by three 300-horsepower, 9-cylinder Wright J-6-9 Whirlwind radial piston engines, each turning a 2-bladed, fixed-pitch propeller. Two engines are located under the main wing, one on each side, suspended from the plate. One engine is mounted on the nose of the aircraft. The Trimotor has a range of 570 miles, climbs at 920 feet per minute, and has a service ceiling of 16,500 feet above sea level. It has a stopping speed of 57 miles per hour, cruises at 115 mph and a top speed of 132 mph.
The Ford 4-AT Trimotor comes with five livery patterns (Black Ford, Emerald Harbor, New Guinea, Spanish Republic, and World Travel) and three landing gear configurations (land wheels, floats, and skis). This classic is available today for one week free until the boil; Starting June 30 at 11:59 PM PDT, it will be available for $14.99. Explore the world from the cockpit of this iconic plane that works in fine detail – the sky is calling!
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