Ever wonder what luxury air travel was like in the 1930s? Well, you can find out this summer when the EAA’s Ford Tri-Motor visits airports in the central part of the country this season beginning March 28-30 at Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, home of the EAA.
The Tri-Motor is currently scheduled to visit 11 other cities in 9 states before winding back up at Wittman Regional for the EAA’s AirVenture 2025, July 21-27. More cites may be added and will be announced as they are finalized.
In addition, the EAA’s B-25 Berlin Express will also be on tour and making a few joint stops with the Ford Tri-Motor as noted on the schedule. More stops may be added for the B-25 as well. The Berlin Express got its name from its appearance in the 1970 satirical war film Catch-22.
Here is the current schedule:
- March 28-30: Oshkosh, Wisconsin (with B-25)
- April 4-6: Iowa City, Iowa (with B-25)
- April 11-13: St. Louis, MO
- April 18-20: North Little Rock, Arkansas
- May 2-4: Reserve, Louisiana
- May 9-11: Bolton, Mississippi
- May 16-18: Millington, Tennessee
- May 23-25: Mayfield, Kentucky
- May 30-June 1: Springfield, Illinois
- June 6-8: Bolingbrook, Illinois
- June 13-15: Madison, Wisconsin (with B-25)
- June 20-22: St. Cloud, Minnesota
- July 21-27: AirVenture 2025 (with B-25)
Tickets for the Tri-Motor ride are $105 for adults and $85 for kids 17 and under. Tickets aboard the B-25 are $475 when purchased in advance.
The North American Aviation B-25 was a medium bomber that served in all theaters during World War II. It was introduced and named in honor of Brig. Gen. William “Billy” Mitchell, a pioneer in U.S. military aviation. It was made famous by its bombing attack on mainland Japan in April 1942 just months after Pearl Harbor. That assault was led by Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle and much to raise morale after the devastating surprise attack at Pearl.
Ford Motor Company bought the Stout Metal Airplane Company and its designs in 1925. Ford turned the design into a trimotor and began building them for the civilian market. Originally designed for passengers, the seats could easily be removed and adapted for cargo.
Nearly 200 of the Tri-Motors were built and over a hundred airlines around the world flew them. Several were used for executive transportation by corporate operators including manufacturing and oil & gas companies.
FMI: FlyTheFord.org , FlyTheB25.org
