Ford Airliner Projects

Hi,


I use the search about those two aircraft,but I never saw any topic about them,the
Ford 10-A was four engined airliner and transport aircraft project,powered by four
P & W Hornet engines,and the Ford twin engined high-wing flying boat project,as
a transport aircraft of 1928.


Ford Tri-Motor 1926-1992,by William T. Larkins

More info about the 10-A and also the 12-A development:

Thank you Stargazer.

Good find Gentlemen... thanks for sharing.

Hi,

this Model for Ford aircraft looks like 10-A Project,or ... ?,page 184;

https://books.google.com.eg/books?id=RHt86xArAsoC&printsec=frontcover&hl=ar&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

I think that is actually the 14AT. The 10AT, 12AT, and 14AT all had the same basic fuselage, just different engines and engine configurations. The 14AT had two Hispano-Suiza V-12 engines buried in the wings and a Hispano-Suiza W-18 mounted on a pylon above the aircraft. The model seems to match that configuration. In addition, the magazine the image came from was printed in September 1932. That is a little after when Ford was touting the recently completed 14AT. The 10AT and 12AT were passed over in the 1929-1930 time frame. The 14AT was scrapped in June 1933.

Many thanks to you WJPearce.

Some images of one-off Ford Trimotors, source 'Profile' No,156, Ford Trimotors.

cheers,
Robin.

Hi,

just a patent for Henry Ford,it was a ten-engined airliner.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/270201223/ford-airplane-patent-vintage-airplane

Hesham, thank you for interesting images!
Is any accompanying text available?

Looks like ten engines works only on five propellers.
Seems, that engines have been coupled in order to more compact placement along wingspan?

Silencer,

It was not unusual in patent applications or even GA 3-views to not show all the propellers. I suspect each nacelle had a propeller in the plans.

AlanG

My dear Silencer,

here is a more Info;

https://www.google.com/patents/US1816216?dq=henry+ford+airplane&hl=ar&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjP5fiYtavPAhVDQBQKHQJ6D5QQ6wEIHzAA

The key feature of this patent is that the engine is designed as an integral part of the wing structure, a loadbearing member.

https://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/originalDocument?CC=US&NR=1816216A&KC=A&FT=D&ND=3&date=19310728&DB=&locale=en_EP

Thanks for the links to the Ford' patent.
It's more complicated, then I expected.
Not only engines were the integral part of wing' structure, but their shafts have been mechanically to provide synchronous rotation of overlapping propellers - if I understand the drawings correctly (sorry, unable to read the text of patent for now).
This reminds me two things - Kaman' helicopters with overlapping rotors and Wagner Twin-Tripacer http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/HornDavid/8788.htm
In later case propellers rotates in separate planes, though

Anyway, Ford' patent demonstrate to me inability of the famous car' manufacturer to establish same enterprise fro aircraft' production. Except from Ford Trimotor all other prototypes looks at least... non-pleasant for me.
And all these - under guidance of famous designers, like Stout, for example.

Hi,

the Ford 15-P was not airliner,but consider an experimental airplane,it was a side-by-side two-seat tailless low-wing monoplane,powered by one 115 hp Ford V-8 engine.

I do like that last one.

You can fly one for a few bucks:

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – One of the nation’s oldest airliners is making a stop in the Valley and is available for flights.

The Liberty Air Museum’s 1928 Ford Tri-Motor will land at the Youngstown Regional Airport and offer rides Thursday, July 7 and Friday, July 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
[...]
Flights can be reserved now via EAA’s Ford Tri-Motor website at FlyTheFord.org. Prices range from $52 to $72.

Click to expand...

From the Aviation Legacy of Henry and Edsel Ford, by Timothy J. O'Callaghan, the only known photo of the 14AT with landing gear extended.

Also, the 15AT wind tunnel model of a strut braced low wing Ford twin engine. Note leading edge taper towards the fuselage similar to a Lysander. Possibly both leading and trailing edges taper.

An unknown Ford Low Wing Trimotor. Original picture in the Henry Ford Museum.

List of Ford aircraft and a timeline of some Ford aeronautical developments.

Early Ford Aeronautical Developments
1909 The Ford-Van Auken 1909 Monoplane was the first of a series of aircraft built with and for the Ford Motor Company. Similar to the Bleriot design.
1924 Ford Airport was developed in Dearborn, Michigan. Dedicated in January 1925 it contained the Stout factory. Ford Air Transport Service between Dearborn and Chicago begins in 1925.
1925 Ford built the only private dirigible mooring mast in the US. It was a 284 ft mooring tower first used by airship RS-1 in 1926.
1926 Ford Fliver, single seat low wing with Anzani engine.
1927 Ford Fliver, single seat low wing with Ford engine.
1927 Two seat, twin engine amphibian designed by Bill Stout. Appears to be a tandem wing design with ventral vertical stabilizers.
1927 Five seat, single engine high wing monoplane built by Stout Metal Airplane Division of Ford Motor Co.
1928 Large twin engine amphibious seat plane design.

Single Engine Ford Airliner
2-AT Pullman
Stout's monoplane with a single 400 hp (300 kW) Liberty L-12 V-12 engine, developed into 3-AT. 11 Built.

Ford/Stout Trimotors
3-AT
Stout's tri-motor prototype with three 200 hp (150 kW) Wright J-4 Whirlwind radial engines. Outboard engines on wings, and nose engine mounted very low. One built. First trimotor built in the USA.
4-AT
Prototype with three 200 hp (150 kW) J-4 Whirlwinds, with outer engines below wings. Two pilots in open cockpit, and eight passengers given half-round windows. One built.
4-AT-A
Production enclosed-cockpit version with rectangular windows with top corners rounded. 14 built.
4-AT-B
4-AT-Bs with three 220 hp (160 kW) Wright J-5 Whirlwind radials. Carried 12 passengers. 39 built.
4-AT-C
4-AT-B with nose engine replaced by a 400 hp (300 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp radial. One built.
4-AT-D
4-AT-Bs with lengthened 78 ft 0 in (23.77 m) wings and fitted with various engines and other minor modifications. One built and two modified.
4-AT-E
4-AT-Bs with three 300 hp (220 kW) Wright J-6-9 Whirlwind nine-cylinder radials. 24 built with rectangular windows as used on 5-AT-A.
4-AT-F
4-AT-E but stressed for higher loads. One built.
5-AT-A
4-AT-E with longer 77 ft 10 in (23.72 m) wing and fuselage with an extra window on each side, powered by three 420 hp (310 kW) Wasps. Carried 13 passengers. Three built.
5-AT-B
5-AT-A powered by 420 hp (310 kW) Wasp C-1 or SC-1 radials. Carried 15 passengers. 41 built.
5-AT-C
Improved version with engine cowlings and wheel pants, similar to the Ford 5-AT-A. Carried 17 passengers. 51 built.
5-AT-CS
5-AT-C floatplane with twin Edo floats. One built.
5-AT-D
Wings 8 in (20 cm) higher for taller cabin, and weights increased. Powered by three 450 hp (340 kW) Wasp SC radials. 20 built.
5-AT-DS
5-AT-D floatplane with Edo floats. One built.
5-AT-E
Version with outboard engines moved to wing leading edges. One 5-AT-C modified for tests, but converted back.
5-AT-80
Experimental engine configuaration of the 5AT with engines built into the wings instead of mounted under the wings.
6-AT-A
Economy 5-AT-A with reduced power, load and performance. Three 300 hp (220 kW) Wright J-6-9 Whirlwind radials. Three built.
6-AT-AS
6-AT-A floatplane with Edo floats. One modified.
7-AT-A
6-AT-A with 420 hp (310 kW) Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial in the nose.
8-AT
5-AT-C converted to single-engine freighter. Six different engines ranging from 575 to 700 hp (429 to 522 kW) installed. One built.[18]
9-AT
4-AT-B with three 300 hp (220 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior radial engines. One built.
10-AT
Project for larger aircraft with two engines above fuselage and two on wings. None built but developed into 12-AT and built as 14-AT as a trimotor.
11-AT
4-AT-E with three 225 hp (168 kW) Packard DR-980 Diesel radial engines. One built.
12-AT
Project, development of 10-AT, not built.
13-A
5-AT-D with two 300 hp (220 kW) Wright J-6-9 Whirlwind radials, and a 575 hp (429 kW) Wright Cyclone radial in the nose. 1 built.
14-AT
Similar to 10-AT and 12-AT, 1 built but not flown, was to have carried 32 passengers.
15-AT
Twin engine, strut braced monoplane with reverse taper at the wing root to the engine nacelle.

Ford Bombers
Green Arrow
Ford's 1942 attempt to design a bomber, known as the Green Arrow, using 'chemurgy' materials to create its airframe.
XB906
Ford's failed attempt at achieving a US Army contract for a trimotor bomber based on the 5-AT-D.

Later Sport Aircraft
15P
1935 sport flying wing tailess design.

Licenced to Manufacture Aircraft at Ford
B-24
Licensed to build the Consolidated B-24 during WWII.
CG-4A
Ford built Waco CG-4A gliders during WWII begining in 1942.
CG-13A
Ford was contracted to build 50 CG-13A gliders during WWII.