Pilot Ed Kornfield teaches volunteers how to close the door of the 1928 Ford Tri-Motor 5-AT-B at the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport on Thursday in Penn Township. The Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 857 will host the aircraft for flights through Sunday, Sept. 11. Joseph Ressler/Butler Eagle

PENN TWP — A little bit of aviation history flew into the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport Thursday afternoon.

A vintage Ford Tri-Motor 5-AT-B, serial No. 8, will be at the airport through Sunday, available for people to view and to purchase short 25-minute flights in what has been called the world’s first metal aircraft.

Butler County’s Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 857 is hosting the Tri-Motor’s visit.

Pat Polehla, tour coordinator with national EAA, said flight reservations have already been capped at 66 but flights are still available on a walk-up basis from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The cost is $85 for an adult and $50 for children. The plane holds 10 passengers, she said, but for $200 an 11th passenger can ride in the co-pilot’s seat.

The money goes to support the EAA and maintenance of the Tri-Motor.

“All the passengers will get either a window or aisle seat,” said Polehla. “A lot of the interior has been modified since the 5-AT-B took its first flight on Dec. 1, 1928.”

She said 199 of the Tri-Motor craft were built by the Stout Metal Aircraft Co., a subsidiary of Ford Motor Co.

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