Article Courtesy: The Alton Telegraph
EAST ALTON — A 1929 Ford Tri-Motor airplane landed Monday at St. Louis Regional Airport and will be available to the public for rides through the weekend.
The Ford Motor Co. built 199 Tri-Motor planes from 1926 to 1933, making them the first mass-produced passenger airliner. The first Tri-Motor took flight on Aug. 21, 1929.
Now, the Experimental Aircraft Association has brought a functioning Tri-Motor to the East Alton airport. The public can take a ride on the historic plane from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Saturday during the airport’s 24th annual open house. Flight tickets cost $70 for adults and $50 for children. Admission to the open house is free. To book a flight, visit www.flytheford.org.
The fly-in show and open house will also feature a Home Builders Association Home Show, a Wing and Wheels Car Show, radio-controlled airplanes, a bounce house and free flights for kids on Sunday.
Events include:
Ride the Ford Tri-Motor — 2-5 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday through Sunday
Home Builders Association Home Show — 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
Wing and Wheels Car Show — 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday
Radio Controlled Airplanes — 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
Make-a-Wish Bounce House, Food and Fun — 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
Free Flights for Kids — Sunday, Sept. 25
Free parking and admission every day.
For more information on the Tri-Motor flight, call 877-952-5395.
The Experimental Aircraft Association is based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and consists of 195,000 members and 900 local chapters. The association is an organization of aviation enthusiasts.