Dates

Event

1928

Constructed as a 4-AT-E.

9 October 1928

First flight.

1928

To Union Electric Light and Power Company, Saint. Louis, MO with new c/r NC7681.
Used as corporate transport.

30 April 1941

Certificate of airworthiness for N7861 (4-AT-E, 46) issued.

To Johnson Flying Service, Missoula, MT with new c/r NR7861.
Operated as a sprayer.

1947

Photographer: Philip C. Johnson
Notes: Johnson Flying Service - Ford Trimotor Tin Goose. Douglas-fir tussock moth control project in northern Idaho.

1956

Photographer: W.E. Steuerwald
Notes: 1956. - Ford Tri-motor airplane used for aerial spraying to control western spruce budworm epidemic. Carrying capacity - 400 gallons. Maintenance crew making daily service check on plane. Helena National Forest, Montana.

July 1961

Photographer: Don Haugo
Notes: The photo was taken in 1961 after I completed first-year Smokejumper training for the U.S. Forest Service in Missoula, Montana. This is the exact same plane that is in the National Naval Aviation Museum (N number is deleted) in Pensacola, Florida. I made 11 parachute jumps from this Ford Trimotor to forest fires in Montana and Idaho in 1961.

June 1964

Photographer: Don Haugo
Notes: This photo was taken in 1964 during refresher Smokejumper training in Missoula, Montana. The plane was owned by Johnson Flying Service of Missoula. They owned three Ford Trimotors when I smokejumped for the U.S.Forest Service in the 1960s. Johnson Flying Service was a private contractor and it did a lot of contract work for the USFS. It was a great plane to parachute from because of its slow speed (38 mph) when we exited the plane. Besides used for smokejumping in the summer, it was also used to fly in hay bales for mules at Moose Creek Ranger Station in Idaho. Often the pilot would let me fly from the co-pilots seat. It was a great adventure to fly to the backcountry of the Northern Rockies and parachute in to forest fires in some of the most scenic landscapes in America. This plane, N7861, is the same plane that is in the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. The N number has been deleted.

To Mr... Elliot with new c/r N7861.
Plane based at Palm Beach, FL.

1973

To National Naval Aviation Museum keeping c/r N7861.
Donated by Mr. Elliot.

1973

Based at National Naval Aviation Museum, NAS Pensacola, Pensacola, FL.
View the Location Dossier

31 January 1975

Civil registration, N7861, cancelled.

Markings Applied: N.A.S. PENSACOLA, US NAVY, 9206, RR-5
Marked as RR-5 A9206.

November 1977

Photographer: Larry Johnson

11 September 2003

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

11 September 2003

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield

8 October 2012

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield