TRAVERSE CITY — A blast from the past over the skies of Northern Michigan this weekend.
Traverse City’s Experimental Aircraft Association is welcoming everyone to fly in a B-29 and Ford Tri-Motor.
It’s part of the summer tour to introduce flying to everyone, no matter how young you are.
The Ford Tri-Motor carries a rich history that dates back to 1929.
It is credited with helping start airline service in the U.S.
“It’s the first all metal airline in the country built, started in the late 20s, mid 20s, late 20s. And eventually some of these airplanes turned into a coast-to-coast airline in conjunction with, railroad travel. There was you could travel from New York to Columbus, Ohio, on a train, get on an airplane, fly all day and get on the train again,” said Tom “TJ” Leahy, Ford Tri-Motor pilot.
It’s also credited with inspiring generations to get into aviation.
“This aircraft was the first airplane I ever flew. So as a seventh grader, I got to fly up in the right seat. And it’s what got me in aviation. And so, I went to flight school, and I’m now a corporate pilot and flight instructor here at NMC,” said Christian Smith, Experimental Aircraft Association, Traverse City Chapter.
That same path is what the experimental aircraft association is hoping to influence now.
It’s just it’s a magnificent opportunity for really young people all the way to that older generation, that this was a part of their initial aviation experience when they were little kids. It’s just a fun spectrum of passengers were flying here all weekend,” said Smith.
Over the years, the tri-motor has worn many hats, from performing stunts to crop spraying, airborne weddings and even appearing in movies.
One thing that has not changed for almost 100 years, it continues to ignite a passion for flying.
“It’s really cool to be able to see, young kids here that, you know, you never know, may spark the bug to get them into flying all the way to, just talked to an 84-year-old, whose first flights were on a Ford Tri-Motor back in the, you know, the 20s and 30s. And another gentleman I talked to flew for tri motors back in the 70s,” said Smith.
You can still book a flight to fly in a tri-motor.
You just have to show up to NMC’s aviation building to do that in person.
The association sold about 200 tickets during pre-registration.