Wow, thanks for all the information gathering and input. You guys really know your stuff.
What struck me as odd about the Tr-Motor was the corrugated metal skin. The corrugations are everywhere, even the top and underside of the wing!
What keeps this plane in the air? The short field take off ability is incredible. Do you think little vortexes or jetties are formed at the boundary layer (via the corrugations)? Would this help or hurt lift? I know this plane does not have much of a top speed, but it beats traffic any day.
I talked to a semi-retired architect yesterday who said that there was a commercial Tri-Motor run operating in S.E. Michigan to Toledo Ohio as late as the Mid-1970's. Take that DC-2
