Historic aircraft to be showcased at Veterans Airport

MARION - The first mass-produced airliner - the Ford TriMotor 5-AT-B - will be showcased Thursday at Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois. The aircraft flew its first flight on Dec. 1, 1928, and calls the Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton, Ohio, home today. The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) is responsible for bringing the plane to the region.

The plane will be available to the general public from 2-5 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday just east of the main terminal ramp at the airport.

The Ford TriMotor 5-AT-B has a cruising speed of 122 mph and a ceiling of 18.500 feet. The craft is 50 feet, 3 inches in length and 12 feet, 8 inches tall. It has a wingspan of 77 feet, 6 inches. It seats 12.

In 2014, the aircraft was acquired by Ed Patrick and Liberty Aviation Museum volunteers ferried it across the country to its new home. After further maintenance to ensure the aircraft was tour-ready, Liberty entered into a lease agreement with EAA, working together to showcase the historic aircraft around the country.

For more information about the history of the Ford TriMotor and the tour, please visit http://flytheford.org.<object id="Extra Pictures" type="x-im/image" uuid="45CA585D-23E5-4C3C-82B8-420475BF98E7"><links><link rel="self" type="x-im/image" uri="im://image/45CA585D-23E5-4C3C-82B8-420475BF98E7.jpg" uuid="45CA585D-23E5-4C3C-82B8-420475BF98E7"><data><title><![CDATA[