Flying through history aboard Ford Tri-Motor

OAK ISLAND, NC (WWAY) — Oak Island is playing host to a piece of history this weekend with the first commercial airliner, the Ford Tri-Motor.

The historic aircraft is giving the community an opportunity to take a flight back in time to see what air travel was like back in the 1920s.

President of EAA chapter 939 in Oak Island Rich Largent says he is excited the Tri-Motor is finally here.

“To bring a flying artifact like this to the community and allow them to see it and even fly in it, for people that fly that’s exciting,” Largent said.

The Ford Tri-Motor revolutionized air travel at a time when traveling by car was tough.

“It was the first all metal airplane manufactured in the United States where the passengers road indoors,” Captain Collin Soucy said. “Before this came along everything was an open cockpit and you can just imagine trying to sell tickets on a flight say from Chicago to Minneapolis in the winter time that just wasn’t going to happen.”

The aircraft changed the way people traveled across the country, and now the public is getting a chance to see how far airlines have come in nearly 80 years.

“People saying my grandfather or my great grandfather told me about flying in this airplane, so you’re expanding generations. Those people that come out are going to be able to touch what their grandparents experienced,” Largent said.

It is an experience those who have been aboard the Tri-Motor say you should not pass up.

“If you get a chance to do it you should come down and take a ride because there may not be a chance in a couple of years to do this ever again, take it while it’s here,” passenger David Trogdon said.

The Ford Tri-Motor is one of eight air crafts left, and one of two that fly yearly.

The Cape Fear Regional Jetport is offering tours through Sunday November 13th, for prices and more information click here.