Diagram for Radio Beacon Patent, #1,937,876, Granted December 5, 1933
Add to SetSummary
The radio beacon may be Henry Ford's most important contribution to aviation. Early pilots depended on landmarks, preventing reliable navigation in bad weather. Ford's engineers developed a radio beacon that simultaneously transmitted the Morse code letter "A" (dot-dash) in one direction and the letter "N" (dash-dot) in another. The pilot steered until the separate signals merged into a steady hum.
The radio beacon may be Henry Ford's most important contribution to aviation. Early pilots depended on landmarks, preventing reliable navigation in bad weather. Ford's engineers developed a radio beacon that simultaneously transmitted the Morse code letter "A" (dot-dash) in one direction and the letter "N" (dash-dot) in another. The pilot steered until the separate signals merged into a steady hum.
Artifact
Patent
Date Made
05 December 1933
Subject Date
05 December 1933
Creators
Place of Creation
Keywords
Collection Title
On Exhibit
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Object ID
44.150.4.2
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company
Material
Paper (Fiber product)
Technique
Printing (Process)
Dimensions
Height: 11 in
Width: 7.75 in
Share Anywhere
Use this Artifact Card to share this great find with others. From historic images to vivid descriptions, a record of rich detail is bundled inside a single card.
