"My favorite airplane" Topic

I fell in love with it as a kid when my dad built a model of it (Monogram, iirc), complete with sled and dogs (which he strung together with dental floss) and arctic explorers. I saw illustrations of it in the same role in a Nat Geo magazine. And then there was "The Seven Family Jewels", where Jerry Lewis shows off his "great bird" to his niece, after the 707 taxis out of the way, revealing the rather unprepossessing "Tin Goose" behind. In flight, he loses his map out the window and tries to fetch it from the leading edge of the wing. Unforgettable stuff!

Wiki says that there are 18 known Trimotors still around.

I had a "bucket list" item, going to the Grand Canyon to fly in their Tin Goose. But came to find out that the picture I have is actually rather old, probably from the 30s and Grand Canyon Airlines hasn't flown a Trimotor since way back then. Oh, well. There is always the EAA, should they ever come to town (I took a flight in their B-17, Aluminum Overcast, almost five years ago).

OKAY! This post is totally messed up. First off, I got the "time out lock". I waited and posted again. It went through. I edited and went out. It wasn't on the board page!? I hit the back button and tried to edit and got the "you cannot edit" beyond the hour window message. Then I tried to comment, as I am now, and when I hit the post button, I was told the topic did not exist??? I posted a NEW one, and this new attempt posted as a second comment on the "does not exist" i.e. original post. What will happen when I hit the "Done" button, who can tell?

I seem to have outfoxed The Bug. But I am not crossing my fingers. Anyway! enjoy the airplane, I do….

Isn't there one that operates over Lake Erie?

rmaker, there used to be but I don't think it does anymore if it's the one I'm thinking of.

There's one near me about an hour away that offers rides on weekends for about $45. USD It's up at the Oshkosh EAA Museum.

I liked the Tri-motor as a child and drew pictures of several imaginary versions, including one with three jet engines. Don't know what the attraction was.

Grelber

I think there's one at the Air Force Museum in Dayton. Non-flying,I assume.

Funny what childhood imprints,isn't it? First ever model I had was the old 49 cent Hawk Dauntless kit,Christmas present at age 9 or 10. Been my favorite plane ever since.

Funny you should mention the "Tin Goose". It no longer flys between Port Clinton and Put-In-Bay. I believe that Island Airlines ceased operations in the late 80s, early 90s.

I did however fly on it as a boy (10ish yo). I actually got to ride in the Co-Pilots seat during the 15 minute flight. I remember the pilot kept reaching up above the door and turning a crank. I asked him why he was doing that, he replied that the squirrels that made the center propeller run were slowing down, so he turned the crank to make them run faster…….

There is a small aviation museum in Port Clinton, Ohio now that is restoring a Tri-Motor back to flying condition….the Liberty Aviation Museum. Here are few pictures of the work in progress……

Brings back memories watching the Tin Goose fly by when I was younger. Island Airlines stopped using it in 1986. It took 45 minutes to fly the 17 mile round trip.

More info here from a 2008 article
link

@Bob: Thanks!