Keeping EAA’s Ford Tri-Motor in the Air — Tin Goose Alert
March 7, 2019 - In November 2018 EAA launched Project Tin Goose to help gain support to replace our 1929 Ford Tri-Motor’s wings. We are pleased to announce that we are now over $90,000 towards the $160,000 goal for private/chapter donations.
In addition to generous individual gifts, the following chapters have stepped up and rallied around EAA’s Ford Tri-Motor to keep it airworthy for future generations to enjoy and cherish.
Platinum ($10,000 and above):
• Ch. 91 - Lee's Summit, MO
Silver ($2,500-$4,999):
• Ch. 20 - San Francisco Bay, CA
• Ch. 939 - Southport, NC
Bronze ($1,000-$2,499):
• Ch. 23 - Salt Lake City, UT
• Ch. 122 - Harrisburg, PA
• Ch. 179 - Albuquerque, NM
• Ch. 17 - Knoxville, TN
• Ch. 420 - Casper, WY
• Ch. 241 - Dekalb, IL
• Ch. 5 - Middlefield, OH
• Ch. 1355 - Afton, TN
Other Support (< $1,000):
• Ch. 24 - Oklahoma City, OK
• Ch.1098 - Newalla, OK
• Ch. 347 - Brazonia, TX
• Ch. 455 - Enid, OK
• Ch. 732 - Fayetteville, AR
• Ch. 304 - Jackson, MI
• Ch. 170 - San Luis Obispo, CA
If your chapter is interested in contributing, please visit www.EAA.org/tingoose to pledge your support or contact Robin Kasel at (920) 426-6507 or rkasel@eaa.org. Your support is appreciated!
Wing Restoration Update
Cody Welch, Ford Tri-Motor pilot and EAA board member, sent along his report on the Tin Goose’s progress.
The aircraft was delivered on November 2 (a cold flight!). As soon as I landed, the plane was put on heavy DC-3 dollies and rolled in sideways. Both wings were removed during week one, then transported to the Hov-Aire construction site.
Both new wings were delivered to the Three Rivers hangar and the left one is in position for final fitting of the wing attach points. The vendor, Hov-Aire, left the wing attach brackets unriveted until the team could get the angle of incidence and dihedral perfect. Once the wing gets the attach points permanently fixed in position it will be taken back down for paint. At the same time, the other wing will be hoisted into position to go through the same process. The wings are absolute works of art. By the way, this is the same shop that re-skinned the outer wing panels of EAA’s B-17 following the Denver hail storm a few years ago.
