Ford 4-AT Trimotor
Ford Motor Company · United States · first flew 1926 · airliner
The Ford 4-AT Trimotor, nicknamed the 'Tin Goose', was the initial production version of Henry Ford's all-metal trimotor airliner, which became one of the first successful American airliners and a symbol of early commercial aviation.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 15.19 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Corrugated aluminium skin on all surfaces
- Three Wright Whirlwind radials — one in nose, one on each wing
- Fixed spatted undercarriage with large chord wing
Unmistakable corrugated aluminium skin, high-wing trimotor layout with a nose engine plus one outboard engine under each wing, and a boxy rectangular fuselage cross-section.
Specifications
- The Ford 4-AT 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 launched the Trimotor in 1926 based partly on the Fokker Trimotor concept but using an all-metal corrugated aluminium structure inspired by Junkers practice. The 4-AT series used three Wright J-4 or J-6 Whirlwind radials and carried up to eight passengers. It equipped the early fleets of airlines including Ford Air Transport, Stout Air Services, and later American Airlines and TWA, helping establish scheduled air travel in the United States.
Variants
The 4-AT series encompassed sub-variants 4-AT, 4-AT-A through 4-AT-E, differing primarily in engine fits and passenger capacity; the heavier 5-AT used three Pratt & Whitney Wasps.
Where you'll see it
Operated by numerous early US airlines in the late 1920s and 1930s; Trimotors remain airworthy at several museums including the EAA AirVenture collection.
Related aircraft
- Ford 4-AT-A Trimotor
- Ford 4-AT-B Trimotor
- Ford 4-AT-D Trimotor
- Ford 4-AT-E Trimotor
- Albatros L 73
- Avia BH-25
- de Havilland DH.66 Hercules
- Handley Page W.9a Hampstead
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