DAVID J. GAUTHIER MEMORIAL COLLECTION
No. 7393. Ford 5-AT-C Tri-motor (N414H c/n 5-AT-74)
Source unknown

Ford 5-AT-C Tri-motor

01/31/2008. Making its first flight on September 4, 1929, the Tri-motor was operated as a company demonstrator, inclusive as a twin-float seaplane. On November 4, 1932, it was sold to Pan American Airways (PAA), and in 1935 was registered as XA-BCX to Cia Mexicana de Aviacion (CAM) of Mexico, returning to PAA in 1936. In 1940 it went to CAM again, registered as XA-BKS, while it became LG-AFA with Cia Guatemalteca de Aviacion of Guatemala, in May 1941.

In the fifties it returned to the USA and registered as N414H it received its CoA on November 13, 1957. Its changed hands several times, briefly operated by Trans World Airlines (1963) and American Airlines (1965), before it was sold to John Seibold, then President and co-owner of Scenic Airlines and Grand Canyon Airlines in 1977.

Having made numerous Grand Canyon flights, and a brief movie career in "To Be or Not To Be" in 1983 (sprayed as Hitler's personal Ju 52/3m personal transport), the aircraft nowadays is used only for promotional tours. When not in the air, it is displayed at the Grand Canyon Airlines terminal at the Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Arizona, during the summer, while during the winter is on display at The Air Museum Planes of Fame, Valle, Arizona.

Created January 31, 2008