Trimotor (Tin Goose)
Ford · United States · first flew 1926 · airliner
The Ford Trimotor, nicknamed the Tin Goose, was a three-engined corrugated-metal airliner that helped launch scheduled US passenger air travel in the late 1920s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 3 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Corrugated aluminium skin over the entire fuselage and wings |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Three radial engines: one in the nose, one under each high wing
- Corrugated aluminium skin over the entire fuselage and wings
- Fixed tailwheel undercarriage and slab-sided 1920s airliner shape
Three radial engines (nose plus one under each high wing) and the unmistakable corrugated metal skin make the Tin Goose impossible to confuse.
Specifications
- The Trimotor (Tin Goose) has a length of 15.3 m (50 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 23.7 m (78 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 240 km/h (149 mph).
- Typical crew: 2-3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1926, the all-metal Trimotor offered rugged reliability that built public confidence in flying. Around 200 were produced, the larger 5-AT being the definitive model.
Variants
The main types were the 4-AT and the more powerful, larger-capacity 5-AT, with various engine and float fits adapting the aircraft for different operators.
Where you'll see it
Trimotors flew early US airline routes and bush operations and even an Antarctic expedition; several are preserved airworthy and still offer pleasure flights today.
Related aircraft
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