Ford 4-AT-A Trimotor

Ford Motor Company · United States · first flew 1926 · airliner

The Ford 4-AT-A Trimotor is the first lettered production sub-variant of the Ford Trimotor, incorporating minor refinements over the initial 4-AT batch while retaining the same basic corrugated aluminium trimotor layout.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	3 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	15.19 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

First lettered sub-variant of the 4-AT Trimotor series
Corrugated aluminium 'Tin Goose' construction
Three Wright Whirlwind radial engines

Indistinguishable from other 4-AT sub-variants in the air; the corrugated skin, high-wing trimotor layout, and fixed spatted undercarriage are the defining visual characteristics.

Specifications

The Ford 4-AT-A Trimotor has a length of 15.19 m (50 ft).
It has a wingspan of 22.56 m (74 ft).
Its maximum speed is 185 km/h (115 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Ford introduced sub-variant suffixes as production continued and small incremental improvements were made to the basic Trimotor design. The 4-AT-A differed from the initial 4-AT in minor respects such as engine specification and interior fittings. These early variants established the type's reputation for ruggedness and reliability on early US airline routes.

Variants

Part of the 4-AT series that ran from the baseline to the 4-AT-E; all share the basic airframe and three-Whirlwind engine arrangement.

Where you'll see it

Operated by early US airlines including Ford Air Transport and Stout Air Services in the late 1920s.

Related aircraft

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