Pan Am's Latin American Workhorse
More Fords flew in the colors of Pan American than for any other airlineówith the possible exception of TACA, the Central American carrier which bought up every used Ford it could find when other airlines had moved on to modern airliners. Most of Pan Am's Fords were flown by its subsidiaries or associates in Latin America, and most of them were the so-called heavy-duty models, with Pratt & Whitney Wasp engines. These were various series of the 5-AT, although in 1933 Pan Am acquired some of the Whirlwind-powered 4-ATs for operations in Cuba.
The Ford Tri-Motor first went into service in the United States on 2 August 1926. Pan American chose it for its mainline routes in Latin America in 1928. Charles Lindbergh piloted the inaugural flight under C.M.A.s colors, from Brownsville to Mexico City on 10 March 1929. Unfortunately the delivery of the mail on this occasion was delayed, as it was left, undiscovered for three weeks, in the luggage compartment situated in the thick wing. Access was by a special hand-operated cranking tool, and the local ground staff did not know of its existence until later.
Although there were quite a few variants, two basic series emerged: the 4-AT, with Wright Whirlwind engines, suitable for most domestic uses, and the 5-AT, equipped with the 420 horsepower Pratt & Whitney Wasp engines, for heavy duty work such as in South America. The last Ford Tri-Motor came off the line in September 1932, and at least three are still in flying condition today.
Pan Am's Latin American Workhorse
More Fords flew in the colors of Pan American than for any other airlineówith the possible exception of TACA, the Central American carrier which bought up every used Ford it could find when other airlines had moved on to modern airliners. Most of Pan Am's Fords were flown by its subsidiaries or associates in Latin America, and most of them were the so-called heavy-duty models, with Pratt & Whitney Wasp engines. These were various series of the 5-AT, although in 1933 Pan Am acquired some of the Whirlwind-powered 4-ATs for operations in Cuba.
The Ford Tri-Motor first went into service in the United States on 2 August 1926. Pan American chose it for its mainline routes in Latin America in 1928. Charles Lindbergh piloted the inaugural flight under C.M.A.s colors, from Brownsville to Mexico City on 10 March 1929. Unfortunately the delivery of the mail on this occasion was delayed, as it was left, undiscovered for three weeks, in the luggage compartment situated in the thick wing. Access was by a special hand-operated cranking tool, and the local ground staff did not know of its existence until later.
Although there were quite a few variants, two basic series emerged: the 4-AT, with Wright Whirlwind engines, suitable for most domestic uses, and the 5-AT, equipped with the 420 horsepower Pratt & Whitney Wasp engines, for heavy duty work such as in South America. The last Ford Tri-Motor came off the line in September 1932, and at least three are still in flying condition today.
