First commercial plane offering tours in southern Indiana

NORTH VERNON, Ind. (WDRB) -- The airplane that paved the way in commercial flying stopped in southern Indiana. Step aboard the Ford Tri-Motor and learn how it started the major airlines of today.

Nearly a century ago, airplanes were only used to haul mail and it took a week to go cross country by train. That is until a man by the name of Charles Lindbergh flew coast to coast.

"In 1927, Charles Lindbergh and the whole world was in aviation fervor at that time," says Bill Thacker, pilot for Ford Tri-Motor.

The very next year, Henry Ford decided he wanted to trade in mail for passengers. "Put a big engine on it, it didn't fly. They put two engines on it, it still didn't fly. So, they settled out with three engines.

So, that's why its got three engines, so that it would fly," Thacker said.

The Ford Tri-Motor was born in 1928 and people took fight. "It's got the wood with the pin striping, real pretty little lights, even though it didn't fly at night. It still had lights in it and that was just to make it look cool," Thacker said.

"In those days, it was so new to everyone and how they get people to do it, that's what amazes me," says passenger Cecelia Ellis.

The Experimental Aircraft Association or EAA invites the public on board.

"I was amazed. I was amazed at how comfortable it was and how not scary it was," Ellis said.

The non-profit organization is making stops around the country with all the proceeds supporting its efforts to 'share the Spirit of Aviation.'

It's offering flights in North Vernon this weekend. "I've never been on a plane this old, and I wondered what it would be like to be on that type of flight, and now I know," said North Vernon Mayor Mike Ochs.

Thacker is also a commercial pilot. "I get even more smiles out of this. You've got more leg room. Everybody gets their choice of an aisle and a window. It's a perfect experience," Thacker said.

According to Thacker, it was only a matter of a few years before the tri-motor was out of service. "It birthed the airline industry. Nothing really, other than the airplanes have gotten higher and faster and haul more people. It still does the same thing: gets from point a to point b, just like they figured it out in 1928," Thacker said.

The Ford Tri-Motor is at the North Vernon Airport Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Online booking is closed. Walk-up space is available.

It's also stopping at Bowman Field in Louisville Oct. 4 through Oct. 7. Reservations are not required, but are available. Click here for more information.