Northland Kids Get a Magical Adventure on Rare Plane
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Photojournalist:
SUPERIOR - Well deserving kids got a free ride on the world's first mass produced airliner.
The kids are part of Mentor Duluth, a program matching Northland kids with positive role models.
For many of them, it was the first time they've ever flown on a plane.
It was a bundle of nerves and excitement as they boarded the plane on a new adventure.
"Scared, scared and good a little bit of both," said one rider.
They took off and flew 1,000 feet in the air riding over Superior and the harbor.
"I saw Superior Lake, my house and my grandma's house," said Mentor Duluth passenger Donnie.
"You could see like everything and you could see the lake it was really pretty," said Mentor Duluth passenger Karlee.
"Everything down below looked like a video game," said Mentor Duluth passenger Kaitlyn.
The venture was made possible by a generous donation which paid for nine kids from the program to fly in the vintage plane.
"They wanted it to go to deserving kids who wouldn't have an opportunity to do something like this," said Mentor Duluth Program Advocate Cassie Flynn.
The plane is a fully restored 1929 Ford Tri–motor Airliner and is just one of a few dozen left in the world.
"It has three radio engines and each of the engines is 450 horsepower," said Bill Irving, Experimental Aircraft Association President of the Superior Chapter. "The skin on the airplane is made out of corrugated metal."
It landed at the Richard I. Bong Airport as a part of a tour bringing in nostalgia and history.
"Educate the public on aviation and aviation history," said Irving.
After the 15 minute ride the kids landed with all smiles.
"It was awesome," said Karlee. "It was like the best thing ever."
"Yea it was fun," said Donnie.
The kids say they will leave with more than just the experience of riding on a historic plane.
"Get rid of my fears," said Donnie.
"I feel like just because you're scared doesn't mean that it's scary, just because it looks scary," said Karlee.
Rides on the Ford Tri–motor Airliner are available to the public until Sept. 3.
