Plane from 1929 takes flight in Asheville - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

The metal, the propellers, the very design of the Ford Tri-Motor Plane just brings you back.

"This is the first all-metal airplane manufactured in the United States where passengers rode indoors," said pilot Colin Soucy.

Soucy usually spends his time as a commercial jet pilot, but he's volunteered his time to pilot the plane that launched scheduled flights in the United States.

"For most of the major airlines, this was the first airliner they had, which is the Ford Tri-Motor," he said.

The plane was originally built in 1929 by the Ford Motor Company. Their venture into airplane making didn't last - their planes became obsolete for passenger flying by the mid-1930s. But the plane's use continued in the Caribbean during World War II, and has proven useful in fighting forest fires.

SLIDESHOW: 1929 airplane takes flight over WNC

But Soucy admits this specific plane does have a classic feel.

"Just the sights and sounds of 1929," he said. "You'll hear the creak of the tires, the engines when they start up, there's a nice rumble to them, and the look - when you look out - you can see yourself in 1929 flying across the country."

That classic feel also includes a big advantage over today's planes - leather seats, a lot of leg room, and every seat being a window seat. But it also includes a ride that is somewhat loud, and slow by today's aviation standards - only 90 mph.

"There's plenty of room, unlike a present-day plane where you can't do anything," said passenger Michael Cooney.

It was a simpler time - one that Soucy hopes to show others.

"I've been telling people flying's been going down the tube since 1929," Soucy said.

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