Ford Trimotor vs Spirit of St. Louis
Top speed, range, size and history side by side. Each was built for its own job, so this shows how they differ, not which is better.
The Ford Trimotor is faster: 241 km/h against 214 km/h for the Spirit of St. Louis. The Spirit of St. Louis flies further: 6,600 km against 885 km for the Ford Trimotor. The Ford Trimotor has the wider wingspan: 23.7 m against 14 m for the Spirit of St. Louis. The Ford Trimotor is heavier at takeoff: 6.12 tonnes against 2.33 tonnes for the Spirit of St. Louis. The Ford Trimotor first flew in 1926, 1 year before the Spirit of St. Louis (1927).
| Ford Trimotor | Spirit of St. Louis |
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| Top speed | 241 km/h (150 mph) | 214 km/h (133 mph) |
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| Range | 885 km (550 miles) | 6,600 km (4,101 miles) |
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| Length | 15.2 m (50 ft) | 8.4 m (28 ft) |
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| Wingspan | 23.7 m (78 ft) | 14 m (46 ft) |
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| Max takeoff weight | 6.12 t (13,492 lb) | 2.33 t (5,137 lb) |
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| First flight | 1926 | 1927 |
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| Crew and capacity | 2 crew, 9 to 13 passengers | 1 pilot |
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| Engines | 3 × radial piston | 1 × Wright J-5 radial |
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| Built by | Ford | Ryan Airlines |
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| Country | USA | USA |
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