Was just talking with a buddy about the airplanes from the EAA. It brought this back.
This is from a couple of years ago when I had the opportunity to fly right seat in one of their original Ford Tri-Motors. Not a replica, not something newly built, but one of the actual aircraft still flying.
The Ford Tri-Motor first flew in 1926 and became one of the earliest successful passenger airliners in the United States. Built by the Ford Motor Company, it was designed to bring some level of reliability and scale to commercial aviation. All-metal construction, corrugated aluminum skin, and three radial engines for redundancy at a time when engine failures were not uncommon. It typically carried around 8 to 12 passengers and was used by early airlines like Transcontinental Air Transport, which later became part of TWA.
The Experimental Aircraft Association keeps a couple of these flying as part of their touring program, bringing them around the country so people can experience early commercial aviation the way it actually was. No attempt to modernize the experience. You feel the vibration, hear the engines, and see exactly what passengers in the late 1920s and 30s would have experienced.
From the right seat, it’s a different perspective. You’re not just along for the ride, you’re watching how it all works, how it feels in the air, how much of it is still hands-on compared to anything modern.
They call them the “Tin Goose,” and once you’re up there, you understand why. It’s not about speed or efficiency. It’s about being part of something that defined the beginning of airline travel.
Five historic aircraft filled the skies over Palm Springs during the 2025 Memorial Day program at the Palm Springs Air Museum—each representing a different chapter of American aviation history and military service. My photographs of these aircraft in flight capture not only their striking forms against the desert backdrop but also the enduring legacy they carry.
The lineup included: – C-47 “What’s Up Doc?” – A D-Day veteran honoring airborne operations and troop transport. – P-51 Mustang “Bunny” – Flown in tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen and their place in aviation history. – P4Y-2G Super Privateer – The last flying example of this rare patrol bomber, once used by the Navy. – PBJ (Navy B-25 Mitchell) – A Navy-modified medium bomber that served in the Pacific theater. – T-28 Trojan N372C – A Cold War-era trainer that transitioned into combat roles in Southeast Asia.
Each aircraft flew as part of the museum’s commemorative program, honoring those who served and sacrificed in conflicts from World War II through the Vietnam War.
I’m especially pleased that five of these images were featured yesterday in the “BREAKING NEWS from LAST 24 HOURS” section on ZUMA Press, a strong acknowledgment of the visual and historical power of these aircraft in flight.
The B-29 Superfortress *Doc* made its approach into Palm Springs today, and I was there to photograph this rare and powerful sight. One of only two airworthy B-29s in the world, *Doc* is a flying piece of World War II history—its polished aluminum body and four roaring radial engines unmistakable against the desert sky.
Originally built in 1944 and fully restored after years in storage, “Doc” represents an era of engineering and aviation that shaped the course of history. Watching it on approach, gear down and props spinning, was a striking reminder of the aircraft’s legacy and the people who flew them.
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