Ford Tri-Motor for Sale
by Norm Hill FBX 63 | posted: October 02, 2007
Here's a rare opportunity to own a 1929 Ford 4-AT-E Tri-Motor restored to an extraordinarily high standard. This is arguably the most original and perfect example of this historically important aircraft, and it remains a national treasure in its own right.
This Tri-Motor, registered NC9612 (also use N9612 for internet research), has a unique history. In 1929 it was delivered as a new passenger plane to Mamer Flying Service in Spokane, Washington. It was later sold to K-T Flying Service of Honolulu and was at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Brought back to the mainland in 1946 by a private owner, it was leased by TWA for their 1949 20th anniversary celebration. It then went to an agricultural operator in Idaho and was modified as a sprayer and also as one of the pioneer forest fire fighting air tankers. Johnson Flying Service in Montana flew it for several years to drop Smoke Jumpers and supplies to fire fighters. Since 1969 the plane has been privately owned and hangar stored by Dolph Overton and was part of his Wings and Wheels museum collection. It is currently owned by the Overton Family Trust, which was created by Mr. Overton to fund the plane's restoration and facilitate its sale.
The Ford will be displayed and run for the PTB (Petersburg-Dinwiddie Airport) Aviation Expo on Oct 27th 2007.
The airport is 12 mi. from Richmond, Va.