The 14-A had only weak links with Ford's earlier, smaller Trimotor series, with a wingspan 50% greater, more powerful and differently mounted engines and nearly three times as many passengers in a much more spacious fuselage.

Its ailerons filled the outermost panels and, like the other control surfaces, were dynamically, though not aerodynamically, balanced.

[1] The fuselage structure was of the open channel truss type with steel members in the central part carrying wing, engine and undercarriage stresses and with dural elsewhere.

Each sub-compartment accommodated four passengers on double, face-to-face seats lit by a large window and was provided with sound insulation and heating.

When the aircraft was stationary the wheels were retracted but before take-off they were lowered pneumatically, increasing the 14-A's height by 4 ft 1 in (1.24 m), then raised again in-flight.

[1] The tail unit was conventional, with a tapered tailplane mounted on top of the fuselage and braced to it from below and the fin was triangular.