Ford 5-AT-C Trimotor
Ford · United States · first flew 1929 · transport aircraft
The Ford 5-AT-C Trimotor, known as the 'Tin Goose', was the most powerful variant of Ford's corrugated-metal trimotor airliner, able to carry 13-15 passengers on US airline routes in the late 1920s and early 1930s. It became an icon of early commercial aviation.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Corrugated Duralumin skin on fuselage and wings — unmistakable texture |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Corrugated Duralumin skin on fuselage and wings — unmistakable texture
- Three Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial engines — one in the nose, one under each wing
- High-wing monoplane with fixed spatted undercarriage
The corrugated Duralumin skin is the single most distinctive feature — no other significant airliner used this finish. Three radials (one in the nose, one below each wing) and a high-mounted straight wing complete the identification.
Specifications
- The Ford 5-AT-C Trimotor has a length of 15.32 m (50 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 23.72 m (78 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 204 km/h (127 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Ford introduced the 5-AT series in 1928, powered by three Pratt & Whitney Wasp engines rather than the Wright Whirlwinds of the earlier 4-AT. The -C sub-variant featured minor refinements and was delivered to airlines including Pan American, United, and TWA. The Trimotor's all-metal corrugated construction was unusually robust for its era, and several survive in airworthy condition to this day.
Variants
The Ford Trimotor family includes the 4-AT (three Wright Whirlwinds), 5-AT (three P&W Wasps), and several sub-variants A through D with different engine fits and interior arrangements; the 5-AT-C was the penultimate sub-variant before the 5-AT-D.
Where you'll see it
Operated by nearly every major early US airline and exported internationally; also used by the US Army Air Corps and Navy; examples flew in South America, Europe, and Australia.
Related aircraft
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