Ford 4-AT-E Trimotor

Ford Motor Company · United States · first flew 1928 · airliner

The Ford 4-AT-E Trimotor is the final and most numerous sub-variant of the 4-AT series, representing the mature production standard of Ford's corrugated-aluminium trimotor airliner.

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:

Final and most common 4-AT sub-variant of the Tin Goose
Corrugated aluminium airframe with three Wright Whirlwinds
High-wing trimotor with fixed spatted undercarriage

Identical silhouette to other 4-AT types; the corrugated Tin Goose appearance with three radials, high wing, and rectangular cabin is unmistakable.

Specifications

The Ford 4-AT-E 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

The 4-AT-E was produced in greater numbers than any other 4-AT sub-variant and served with more airline operators. By the late 1920s the Trimotor had become the standard equipment of several US airlines and was also exported to operators in South America and elsewhere. Several 4-AT-E airframes survive in airworthy or preserved condition, including examples at the Smithsonian and the Ford Museum.

Variants

The 4-AT-E is the last of the 4-AT series; it was succeeded by the heavier and more powerful 5-AT Trimotor with Pratt & Whitney Wasp engines.

Where you'll see it

Widely operated by US airlines including American Airways, TWA, and Pan American; several examples remain airworthy with museums and operators today.

Related aircraft

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