One of the places we visited on our recent vacation was to The Henry Ford. (It is a museum but they delete it in the title). Between the Greenfield Village and The Henry Ford, they are an unbelievable collection of Americana buildings and items. One of the items was a Ford Trimotor. I have included my question to The Henry Ford about that aircraft and their response.

My Question: "We recently visited the Village and the Museum and totally enjoyed ourselves. I have one question that I can not answer and request your help. The Ford Trimotor aircraft has always interested me. I have ridden on the EAA Trimotor before. My question is about the one on display in the museum. It is displayed with the center/fuselage engine with a 3 bladed propeller, while the wing-mounted engines with 2 bladed propellers. I have never seen that combination before, either in a google-image search or other Trimotors I have seen. I am by no means a Trimotor expert, just someone who has an interest. If you can help me with your resources it would be appreciated. Thank you ahead of time. Once again we really enjoyed our visit to the Henry Ford."

Henry Ford Response: "Hi Kurt,

Thanks for writing to us at the Benson Ford Research Center with your question.

You are correct, Trimotors typically had three 2 blade propellers, and this one did when it was first built. It was modified for increased power for the South Pole expedition because it would be carrying greater weight than usual. 4AT-B Trimotors usually had three Wright Whirlwind, 9-cylinder, 200-horsepower, radial, air-cooled internal combustion engines with 2 blade propellers each, for the South Pole expedition the middle engine was replaced on this plane with a Wright Cyclone, 9-cylinder, 520-horsepower, radial, air-cooled engine and a three blade propeller. 

I hope this information is helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks and have a nice day,    Kathy

I really appreciated their very quick response to my question. If you have not visited this facility and you are near or in Dearborn, Michigan, make this museum a must see destination.