Jive-Bomber submitted a new blog post: The Flying Ford Flathead... Continue reading the Original Blog Post
Way cool. An all aluminum flattie - whooda thunk? I gotta wonder about the connection between engine and prop. It must have been quite a collection of gearboxes and u-joints, as it had to go under the cockpit. Either that or a heckuva driveshaft tunnel straight thru.
What a nicely shaped little guy. I would have put a tail fin on it to see if I could make it more stable and then...
Very cool, just a downright appealing little bugger.As for the Tri-Motor , there was one out at McCarran in Las Vegas that was used as a very small restaurant.My grandmother and I ate there, and they would occasionally do dinner flights.We had the ground version,but how many people can say that they ate on a Tri. The interior was interesting,it had the Brobdingnagian version of WWII bomber seats and wood paneling, giving it the aesthetics of a 1930's motor home.The 15p definitely meets my style requirements, though.
Ford's Dearborn Development Center on Oakwood is the old airport. Some of the old buildings are still there, including a big hangar. And the runway, although possibly repaved. Right across the street is the Mariott Dearborn Inn, originally built to provide close lodging to well-to-do travelers. Try Google maps.
I was thinking the same thing. The flying flathead threads that start "my flathead stopped running" probably are not going get any responses from the OP.
I see no provision for carb ice under that Stromie either, yikes! The Ford Fliver, a single place more conventionally configured AC , had a "B" motor. Middle '30's experiment ended with the death of the test pilot. A replica hangs in the Ford Museum. Pietenpols, a popular homebuilt AC , was designed for an "A" motor. '
Great story ! For anyone who is interested in this kind of stuff, I would highly recommend the WAAM Museum in Hood River, Oregon. I have visited there twice in the last 6yrs on our trips from Wisconsin out to visit our daughter in Portland. What I love about the museum is the pairing of vintage light aircraft.....vintage motorcyles.....vintage cars. There are several Ford engine conversions on display, as well as motorcycle engine conversions such as Henderson and Indian. I really do have to cringe when I look at the heavy old cast iron Ford flathead V/8 hanging way out in front of the old airplanes......took some really skilled people to ever get them off the ground.....and then actually fly them. Plan to spend a LOT of time there if you visit. The staff and owners are great people. Have fun
Very interesting. I have to wonder if any of those aluminum engines are still around or if any were used in vehicles .
Way back when, a friend had a little old plane that had belonged to his father, I don't recall the make, but it had a model B engine mounted upside down. Love to see an aluminum flattie, although I expect the standard cracks may be more difficult to repair.
Probably Pietenpol experimental, its a design from the '30's still being built and flown albeit with many other engines such as Corvair and Pinto.
Jive-Bomber... Very cool ! That little guy reminds of some of the current "surveillance" planes that are in use...those small flyers that can get in-and-out of almost anywhere, have night vision, tracking beams, etc. The technology in the one shown here from decades ago is one-upped in the New Millennium, but can you imagine the look on the kids & adults faces when they saw that over 80 years ago ?! It would have been envisioned in the world's of Buck Rogers & Flash Gordon. Thanks, Jonnie www.legends.thewwbc.net
Nice history info , 1st time hearing about this, as much as they show on the Discovery channel about "American History"it was never mention when they were talking about Henry Ford , they did mention his attempt to "FORD" town in South America, Cool Airplane ,more like a Bad ass radical design before its time
Arrow Aircraft of Lincoln, NE built a Arrow Sport V/8, using a 1936 Ford V/8 which was modified for aircraft use. That was approved by the US Department of Commerce. The certificate official #601 dated 4/15/1936 and certificate Official #151 dated 8/12/1936. Arrow did not build many, but there as still a few around
Leave it to Henry....an airplane for the masses. I wonder what it would have been like with a tail.... Great design.
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