Picture taken yesterday at Paso Robles, CA. The car is mine; the plane isn't.
One of my friends manages an antique airplane collection and they were planning a photo shoot. He generously allowed me to sneak the T in after they were done shooting and my son, Brian took this photo.
Dick,
Great photo! Thank you for posting.
I wonder, do the dimples under the mid-engine cowl and the corrugation have the same effects on aerodynamics as dimples on a golf ball? Does this goose fly better than its contemporaries?
It is a great picture.
Man that is s just beautiful !
Freighter Jim
Too cool!
George,
I doubt if the corrugations make it go any faster. As a matter of fact, I don't think a jet engine would make it go any faster !
When the Ford Trimotor was designed, aluminum skin was in its infancy. About the only widespread use of sheetmetal for airplane skin was by Junkers of Germany. And Junkers also used corrugated skin.
We can thank Jack Northrop (the flying wing guy) for really scientific usage of aluminum skin on airplanes. Northrop's big contribution was to make the outer skin carry part of the structural loads, rather than simply being a replacement for the fabric then in use. The Douglas DC-1 (followed by DC-2 and DC-3) was one of the early examples of stressed skin construction.
The theory is that the corrugations give the skin panels some stiffness in one direction, kind of like corrugated cardboard. The extra stiffness in the panels reduces the amount of internal, riveted-on stiffeners required.
That's about picture perfect Dick.
Saw a Ford Trimotor in Youngstown,OH last summer. Truly a unique machine! Among some of my favorite sounds, Flathead Fords, steam locomotives and old aircraft, the sounds of these three motors starting and running was quite the thrill!
Fantastic photo! Such a contrast in historic transportation. Both Ford, and a mere 20 years apart.
Amazing!
Thank you for sharing that picture!
I flew in a Ford Tri-motor on my way to report for AIT at Ft. McClellan in Anniston Al in 1976. I wasn't to sure we would make it, but we did.
Glover Ruckstell owned and flew three of them at the Boulder airport.
I rode in a trimotor. It wasn't a Ford trimotor, but it was a trimotor. What a ride. Didn't think it was going to get off the ground. Wonderful experence. If u ever have a chance to ride in one, do it.
Had a chance to fly in a ww2 bomber, but didnt. The next time, I will.
What a great pic of two very neat Ford's. Tim
Great stuff! Many Thanks!
Dick's excellent photo belongs on the vf cover (even if the antiquated two pg format doesn't work). jb
I flew in a Ford Tri-motor........in the copilot seat.......
The problem is one can't see anything but sky through the windshield but the side windows are pretty decent for site seeing.......
Watching the pilot land that thing on a dirt strip was cool.
His right hand was up and behind his head to trim the tail, one hand on the wheel and his head out the window to see when he could set 'er down........ LOL