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1929 Ford Tri-Motor Flight

moose135moose135 Registered Users Posts: 1,417 Major grins
edited November 6, 2013 in Other Cool Shots
The Experimental Aircraft Association was in town this weekend, offering rides in a 1929 Ford Tri-Motor at Monroe Airport just outside of Charlotte. It is one of two that they have been touring with - one which they own, and this one, owned by the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum. I missed them when they were on Long Island earlier this summer, and when I heard about this visit, I immediately booked a flight for this morning. I got to the airport around 8:30 for a 9am flight, but the weather wasn't good this morning - 400 foot ceiling, fog, mist - but the forecast was for improving conditions. Finally around Noon, the ceiling rose, the sun poked through a bit, and they called us for the first flight of the day.

1. Waiting on the weather...

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2. Corrugated aluminum skin, and the control cables run outside the fuselage!

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3. Cockpit

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4. Takeoff!

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5. Cruising over Charlotte

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6. Second flight of the day departing.

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7.

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8. Three round engines!

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The Moose is Loose!
http://www.moose135photography.com

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    black mambablack mamba Registered Users Posts: 8,321 Major grins
    edited October 19, 2013
    That's some terrific stuff, John. Nice mix of detail and far-away shots. I'm really attracted to # 4.
    Yep, good stuff.thumb.gif

    I took a brief ride on one of those Ford Tri-Motors being flown out of St. Augustine....very much like the circumstances you're describing. The strongest memory I have of that experience ( which occurred about 10 years ago ) relates to how loud that plane was. But it was a real thrill to fly in such a piece of history.

    Take care, buddy,

    Tom
    I always wanted to lie naked on a bearskin rug in front of a fireplace. Cracker Barrel didn't take kindly to it.
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    ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,910 moderator
    edited October 19, 2013
    I can't imagine what it must have been like as a passenger back in the day. Especially considering that any kind of air travel was in its infancy then.

    Very cool pictures!
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
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    JuanoJuano Registered Users Posts: 4,881 Major grins
    edited October 20, 2013
    Great series, Congrats!
    Cristóbal


    www.mind-driftphoto.com
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    KennySKennyS Registered Users Posts: 85 Big grins
    edited October 21, 2013
    Beautiful series Moose! The ride must have been awesome!
    http://www.sopicturethis.net
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    rwellsrwells Registered Users Posts: 6,084 Major grins
    edited October 22, 2013
    Great series John. thumb.gif

    Nice mix of shots. What a treat that must have been to take a ride in that old bird!
    Randy
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    MilanMilan Registered Users Posts: 166 Major grins
    edited November 6, 2013
    I love it (both the airplane and your images). Must be an awesome experience to fly in one of these!
    Milan
    http://milan.smugmug.com
    http://500px.com/macmilan
    twitter: @milanovec
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