Residents and tourists had a chance to barnstorm Vero Beach in a piece of history last weekend, flying in a lovingly restored 1929 Ford Tri-Motor. Affectionately known as the Tin Goose, the plane is recognized as one of the world’s first luxury airliners.
Now owned by Paul Poberezny, founder of the Experimental Aircraft Association based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, there are many stories connected to this historic model 4-AT-E aircraft, which was number 146 when it rolled off the Ford Motor Company assembly line and made its maiden flight on Aug. 21, 1929. The aircraft helped to usher in the age of commercial air travel as an Eastern Air Transport plane.
“There were 199 Tri-Motors built; the first came out in 1927,” said Colin Soucy, the EAA volunteer who piloted the plane. “There are only eight remaining that can fly, but most of those are in museums. This was the first time passengers flew indoors, in an enclosed cabin. It became the first plane for Eastern Airlines and it flew 90 miles per hour. That doesn’t sound very fast today, but in 1927 that was blistering.”
This plane was also flown by Cubana Airlines and the government of the Dominican Republic before returning to the U.S., where it saw use barnstorming, crop dusting, aerial firefighting and even had a role in a Jerry Lewis movie. In 1973 a mishap occurred while grounded, when a severe storm lifted it from its tie-downs and smashed it back down, belly up.
A 12-year restoration returned the plane to its former glory and EAA volunteers now travel the country sharing the lovely vintage craft with the public. Inside, Art Deco-style reading lights and wooden trim line the cabin walls, and the plane’s comfortable cushioned seats – nine passenger seats – offer more leg room than today’s cramped aircraft. The plane also gives new meaning to air-conditioning – through open windows in the cockpit and small port hole-type openings that allow air to circulate throughout the cabin.
“They do a tour of about 20 cities; about one weekend a month except December, and Vero Beach is one of them,” said Donna Miller. She and husband Carl were among the local EAA Chapter 99 volunteers helping out over the weekend. “We’re going to be our own little airline for the next three days. It helps raise money to keep this flying.”
She said proceeds would also help support the local EAA, which has a lending library and holds various workshops for flying enthusiasts such as her husband.
“I had my first flying lesson in 1969,” said Carl Miller, an experienced pilot in a variety of aircraft. “Now I’ve started flying a powered paraglider; it’s a flex-wing machine you fly with a motor on your back.”
The local EAA, which currently has around 30 active members, also strives to get the younger generation interested in aviation through its Young Eagles Flights.
“We take kids up and introduce them to flying,” said EAA member Alex Walters. “We have a flight simulator we put them on and also we take them up.”
For more information, visit eaa99.com or FlyTheFord.org.