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- Passengers aboard Ford Tri-Motor Airplane, 1929 - Americans initially wondered if air travel was safe. Fatal crashes by barnstorming pilots were well publicized, and wood and cloth airplanes did not inspire confidence. But when Henry Ford began making planes, the industrialist's solid reputation eased people's fears. Ford's all-metal Tri-Motors were rugged, dependable and safe. By the late 1920s these planes were the backbone of the budding airline industry.
- April 30, 1929
- Collections - Artifact
Passengers aboard Ford Tri-Motor Airplane, 1929
Americans initially wondered if air travel was safe. Fatal crashes by barnstorming pilots were well publicized, and wood and cloth airplanes did not inspire confidence. But when Henry Ford began making planes, the industrialist's solid reputation eased people's fears. Ford's all-metal Tri-Motors were rugged, dependable and safe. By the late 1920s these planes were the backbone of the budding airline industry.
- Interior of Ford Tri-Motor Airplane, 1928 - The interior of a Ford Tri-Motor airplane is seen in this 1928 view. Lightweight wicker seats were provided for passengers. The less the airplane itself weighed, the more passengers or cargo it could carry.
- July 13, 1928
- Collections - Artifact
Interior of Ford Tri-Motor Airplane, 1928
The interior of a Ford Tri-Motor airplane is seen in this 1928 view. Lightweight wicker seats were provided for passengers. The less the airplane itself weighed, the more passengers or cargo it could carry.
- Ford Tri-Motor Airplanes at Airport, 1930 - The rugged Ford Tri-Motor did not require a paved runway for takeoff or landing -- a good thing considering that grass airfields were common in the United States, even in major cities, until World War II. The Tri-Motor's flexibility helped make it one of the most successful early commercial airliners.
- June 23, 1930
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Tri-Motor Airplanes at Airport, 1930
The rugged Ford Tri-Motor did not require a paved runway for takeoff or landing -- a good thing considering that grass airfields were common in the United States, even in major cities, until World War II. The Tri-Motor's flexibility helped make it one of the most successful early commercial airliners.
- Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Equipped with Pontoons, 1931 - The Ford Tri-Motor's versatility was a big part of its success. By mounting a set of pontoon floats on the airplane's landing gear, any sufficiently large body of water became a runway. This modification was especially useful in places where landing strips -- paved or not -- were few and far between.
- September 04, 1931
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Equipped with Pontoons, 1931
The Ford Tri-Motor's versatility was a big part of its success. By mounting a set of pontoon floats on the airplane's landing gear, any sufficiently large body of water became a runway. This modification was especially useful in places where landing strips -- paved or not -- were few and far between.
- Ford Tri-Motor Airplane "City of Columbus," 1928 - This Ford Tri-Motor 5-AT-4, named <em>City of Columbus</em>, wears the markings of Transcontinental Air Transport. The pioneering airline, established in 1928, offered coast-to-coast service coordinated with the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. Passengers traveled from New York City to Los Angeles, flying by day and taking the train by night.
- November 20, 1928
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Tri-Motor Airplane "City of Columbus," 1928
This Ford Tri-Motor 5-AT-4, named City of Columbus, wears the markings of Transcontinental Air Transport. The pioneering airline, established in 1928, offered coast-to-coast service coordinated with the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. Passengers traveled from New York City to Los Angeles, flying by day and taking the train by night.
- Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Assembly Line, Dearborn, Michigan, 1927 - Henry Ford attempted to apply automobile assembly line techniques to the manufacture of airplanes, and to build them in large numbers. Monthly production peaked at 25 planes in June 1929. The Great Depression forced Ford to re-focus on his core auto business, and the company's commercial aircraft production ended in May 1933.
- February 07, 1927
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Assembly Line, Dearborn, Michigan, 1927
Henry Ford attempted to apply automobile assembly line techniques to the manufacture of airplanes, and to build them in large numbers. Monthly production peaked at 25 planes in June 1929. The Great Depression forced Ford to re-focus on his core auto business, and the company's commercial aircraft production ended in May 1933.
- Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Advertisement, "First Time Up!," 1928 - Air travel was something completely new for most Americans in the 1920s. Ford Motor Company offered an exciting -- and reassuring -- description of the experience in its advertisements for Ford Tri-Motor airplanes. Passengers "move twice as fast as the fastest express trains" secure in the knowledge that "if all three (engines) fail the plane has a gliding range of miles."
- 1928
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Advertisement, "First Time Up!," 1928
Air travel was something completely new for most Americans in the 1920s. Ford Motor Company offered an exciting -- and reassuring -- description of the experience in its advertisements for Ford Tri-Motor airplanes. Passengers "move twice as fast as the fastest express trains" secure in the knowledge that "if all three (engines) fail the plane has a gliding range of miles."
- Passengers Entering Ford Tri-Motor 4-AT Airplane, 1927 - Passenger air travel was a completely new -- and perhaps fearsome -- concept for most Americans in the 1920s. Images like this, used in national advertisements for the Ford Tri-Motor, helped convince a skeptical public of the safety of flying in a Ford plane. These educational advertisements offered an exciting and reassuring description of the flying experience, emphasizing "well-designed, well-constructed machines handled by competent pilots."
- September 08, 1927
- Collections - Artifact
Passengers Entering Ford Tri-Motor 4-AT Airplane, 1927
Passenger air travel was a completely new -- and perhaps fearsome -- concept for most Americans in the 1920s. Images like this, used in national advertisements for the Ford Tri-Motor, helped convince a skeptical public of the safety of flying in a Ford plane. These educational advertisements offered an exciting and reassuring description of the flying experience, emphasizing "well-designed, well-constructed machines handled by competent pilots."
- Ford Tri-Motor Airplane, Interior Passenger Cabin, June 1929 - Passenger air travel was a completely new -- and perhaps fearsome -- concept for most Americans in the 1920s. National advertisements for the Ford Tri-Motor promoted "roomy and comfortable" wicker passenger chairs -- one of the many advertised amenities used to convince a skeptical public of the appeal of flying in a Ford plane. Later models of the Ford Tri-Motor featured almuminum seats covered with leather.
- June 01, 1929
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Tri-Motor Airplane, Interior Passenger Cabin, June 1929
Passenger air travel was a completely new -- and perhaps fearsome -- concept for most Americans in the 1920s. National advertisements for the Ford Tri-Motor promoted "roomy and comfortable" wicker passenger chairs -- one of the many advertised amenities used to convince a skeptical public of the appeal of flying in a Ford plane. Later models of the Ford Tri-Motor featured almuminum seats covered with leather.
- Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Used by TWA, April 1932 - Among the interesting features on Ford's later Tri-Motors were storage bins built into the wings. TWA added the bins to some of its Tri-Motors in 1932. They provided room for mail and luggage without taking up limited cabin space. Ford liked the idea so much that it incorporated wing bins into the 5-AT-D model.
- April 12, 1932
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Used by TWA, April 1932
Among the interesting features on Ford's later Tri-Motors were storage bins built into the wings. TWA added the bins to some of its Tri-Motors in 1932. They provided room for mail and luggage without taking up limited cabin space. Ford liked the idea so much that it incorporated wing bins into the 5-AT-D model.