The Aero Experience at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019: Ford Trimotor Flights and Ford Exhibit

The Aero Experience resumes our coverage of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019, sponsored by Elite Aviation, by continuing with the Ford Trimotor theme from our previous post. There were two late 1920's vintage Ford Trimotors flying throughout the week and weekend, and they became as common in the air as the Bell 47 helicopters that constantly circled overhead. The EAA sponsors two Ford Trimotors, one under lease from the Liberty Aviation Museum, for national tours and flight experiences at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh each year. For a close-up look at the EAA's Ford Trimotor, check out the story we posted several years ago covering our flight around the St. Louis area: Aviation History Comes Alive As EAA Ford Trimotor Returns to St. Louis Area.

The Ford Trimotor was a development of the 2-AT all-metal, single-engine transport produced by the Stout Metal Company in the early 1920's. Ford acquired Stout in 1925, and the tri-motored 4-AT was designed to be a then-modern 8-passenger airliner. Later models, the 4-AT and 5-AT, were larger and accommodated up to 17 passengers. Here we feature the two Ford Trimotors flying during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019: the EAA's 4-AT-E with the handsome blue Eastern Air Transport logo and the Liberty Aviation Museum's 5-AT-B, City of Port Clinton/City of Wichita, in Transcontinental Air Transport livery. The history of these aircraft can be found by clicking on the links above.

Below are several cycles of the flights taken on each aircraft over several days:  

 

The modern Ford Motor Company had another elaborate exhibit this year, featuring displays of their vehicles. The attraction again this year was the themed Ford Mustang, this year commemorating Bud Anderson's Old Crow P-51 Mustang flown in World War II. Here we take a tour of the exhibit, including the setup, Old Crow Mustang on a revolving platform, and even a paper airplane throwing contest. The Old Crow Mustang, customized by Roush Performance, earned the EAA $400,000 for aviation education programs when it was auctioned on Thursday during EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2019! Other attractions included the EAA's Ford Flivver replica and rides in antique Fords around the grounds.