EAA AVIATION CENTER, OSHKOSH, Wisconsin — The national tour for the Experimental Aircraft Association’s 1929 Ford Tri-Motor aircraft will pause for one month in consideration of the coronavirus/COVID-19 situation and the health of flight crew and passengers.
A tentative date for resumption of the tour is April 16 in Hickory, North Carolina, although the situation will be continually monitored for any changes, EAA officials noted.
The month-long suspension of the Tri-Motor tour will cancel planned stops in Gainesville, Florida (March 19-22); Apalachicola, Florida (March 26-29); and Milledgeville, Georgia (April 2-5).
“As much as EAA thoroughly enjoys bringing the history of early aviation to communities through our Ford Tri-Motor’s national tours, the health and safety of our guests, crews, and volunteers is the top priority,” said Sean Elliott, EAA’s vice president of advocacy and safety. “Given the uncertainty of the situation throughout the country regarding the transmission of the coronavirus, we made the decision to pause the tour at this time and begin again next month.”
All pre-booked flight reservations are being fully refunded, officials noted.
EAA’s national Tri-Motor tours feature the 1929 Ford 4-AT-E, which has a colorful history. It has served as an airliner for Eastern Air Transport, a Cuban airline, and the government of the Dominican Republic. The airplane has also had roles in two movies — The Family Jewels (1965) starring Jerry Lewis, and Public Enemies (2009), starring Johnny Depp.
The airplane has been taken on tour annually since 1991. More information on the aircraft and tour is available at FlyTheFord.org.