Ford Tri-Motor (N9645)

There are a couple other photos of this cockpit in the FA gallery already, but I went ahead and added this one because it has a slightly more "close up" view of the "Ford" name on the wheels. Also, the one other feature I find really interesting on the instrument panel is the speedometer. Look. It registers the speed all the way up to 99 MPH. (lol) **
This Ford Trimotor, N9645 / NC9645, was a special visitor here at Reno Tahoe International. Sponsored by EAA Chapter 1361, the visit would have been special simply because N9645 is a Ford Trimotor; however, its visit here was extra special because it was (in a sense) returning "home." After being involved in a mishap and WFU in the 50s, this Tri sat unused until it was purchased in the mid 60s by Bill Harrah who had it repaired and refurbished -- and then brought it to -- Reno. He named it "City of Reno" and it was "home based" here at RNO. Sometime in the 70s, Harrah decided to discontinue flying it, and he had it placed into his world famous (at the time) automobile museum where it was displayed with his fabulous car collection. When Harrah passed away, his family auctioned off much of the automobiles in the collection AND also auctioned off N9645. It ended up in the Evergreen Air Museum in McMinnville, OR, on display and renamed "City of McMinnville." When the museum encountered financial difficulties a few years ago, N9645 was purchased and now flies around the country offering rides. Today, N9645 is named "City of Port Clinton" on its starboard side and "City of Wichita" on the port side.
** NOTE ... During our Media Flight over downtown Reno, we were told we were cruising at 86 MPH.