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- Equipment Inside the Radio Beacon Station Building at Ford Airport, September 10, 1926 - Early pilots depended on landmarks, preventing reliable navigation in bad weather. Henry Ford's engineers developed a radio beacon that simultaneously transmitted two Morse code letters, allowing pilots to steer until the separate signals merged into a steady hum. The original beacon station at Ford Airport (shown here) was removed in 1933 and is now on display inside the museum.
- September 10, 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Equipment Inside the Radio Beacon Station Building at Ford Airport, September 10, 1926
Early pilots depended on landmarks, preventing reliable navigation in bad weather. Henry Ford's engineers developed a radio beacon that simultaneously transmitted two Morse code letters, allowing pilots to steer until the separate signals merged into a steady hum. The original beacon station at Ford Airport (shown here) was removed in 1933 and is now on display inside the museum.
- Engine Designed by Glenn Curtiss for the Aerial Experiment Association's "Silver Dart" Airplane, 1908-1909 - In 1907, Alexander Graham Bell recruited a team of young aviation enthusiasts for his elite Aerial Experiment Association (AEA). The group produced a string of airplanes that ultimately achieved manned flight and contributed key developments to the fledgling field of aviation. AEA "motor expert" Glenn Curtiss designed this water-cooled engine to prevent overheating and allow for longer flights.
- 1908-1909
- Collections - Artifact
Engine Designed by Glenn Curtiss for the Aerial Experiment Association's "Silver Dart" Airplane, 1908-1909
In 1907, Alexander Graham Bell recruited a team of young aviation enthusiasts for his elite Aerial Experiment Association (AEA). The group produced a string of airplanes that ultimately achieved manned flight and contributed key developments to the fledgling field of aviation. AEA "motor expert" Glenn Curtiss designed this water-cooled engine to prevent overheating and allow for longer flights.
- Letter Congratulating Edsel Ford for Involving Ford Dealers with Airmarking Buildings in Their Towns, January 15, 1926 - Edsel Ford championed the development of commercial aviation in the United States. As an aid to aerial navigation, he wrote letters to Ford dealers encouraging them to paint two things on each dealer's roof: the name of the city and an arrow pointing due north. More than 4,000 communities had aerial markings of some sort by 1929.
- January 15, 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Letter Congratulating Edsel Ford for Involving Ford Dealers with Airmarking Buildings in Their Towns, January 15, 1926
Edsel Ford championed the development of commercial aviation in the United States. As an aid to aerial navigation, he wrote letters to Ford dealers encouraging them to paint two things on each dealer's roof: the name of the city and an arrow pointing due north. More than 4,000 communities had aerial markings of some sort by 1929.
- Commemorative Plate, Featuring Glenn Curtiss, circa 1910 - Glenn Curtiss pioneered aileron control systems and designed some of the first successful seaplanes. He formed an exhibition flying team, and he set several flight records of his own. Starting in 1909, Curtiss was involved in a bitter patent dispute with the Wright brothers. It wasn't resolved until 1917, when World War I forced the creation of a patent pool.
- circa 1910
- Collections - Artifact
Commemorative Plate, Featuring Glenn Curtiss, circa 1910
Glenn Curtiss pioneered aileron control systems and designed some of the first successful seaplanes. He formed an exhibition flying team, and he set several flight records of his own. Starting in 1909, Curtiss was involved in a bitter patent dispute with the Wright brothers. It wasn't resolved until 1917, when World War I forced the creation of a patent pool.
- The Aviation Country Club of Detroit Trophy Race at the National Air Races, St. Louis, Missouri, October 6, 1923 - Air races provided pilots and manufacturers with an opportunity to test new technologies and show them off to enthusiastic audiences. From the 1920s through the 1940s, the annual National Air Races were the premier competition in the United States. The 1923 event took place in St. Louis, Missouri, where pilot Al Williams won with a speed of 243.67 mph.
- October 06, 1923
- Collections - Artifact
The Aviation Country Club of Detroit Trophy Race at the National Air Races, St. Louis, Missouri, October 6, 1923
Air races provided pilots and manufacturers with an opportunity to test new technologies and show them off to enthusiastic audiences. From the 1920s through the 1940s, the annual National Air Races were the premier competition in the United States. The 1923 event took place in St. Louis, Missouri, where pilot Al Williams won with a speed of 243.67 mph.
- Radio Goniometer Used at Ford Airport, circa 1927 - 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.
- circa 1927
- Collections - Artifact
Radio Goniometer Used at Ford Airport, circa 1927
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.
- Ford Reliability Tour at Ford Airport, Dearborn, Michigan, 1930 - From 1925-1931, Ford Motor Company sponsored annual air tours to promote reliability and safety in commercial aircraft. Pilots flew to pre-determined cities, and their airplanes were rated on the ability to take off and land quickly and maintain consistent speeds. The 1930 tour included 18 entries and visited 29 cities in the United States and Canada.
- September 27, 1930
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Reliability Tour at Ford Airport, Dearborn, Michigan, 1930
From 1925-1931, Ford Motor Company sponsored annual air tours to promote reliability and safety in commercial aircraft. Pilots flew to pre-determined cities, and their airplanes were rated on the ability to take off and land quickly and maintain consistent speeds. The 1930 tour included 18 entries and visited 29 cities in the United States and Canada.
- Detroit News--Airplane--Lockheed Orion--James V. Piersol, William A. Kuenzel and Early Bird--Item1 - The <em>Detroit News</em> bought a new Lockheed Orion in 1934 to assist in its news-gathering efforts. The monoplane, christened "Early Bird", contained space for a reporter or radio operator, a compact radio broadcasting station and three cameras--one of which was located in a streamlined nacelle on the left wing. A viewfinder in the cockpit interior helped the pilot line up the wing-mounted camera.
- June 10, 1934
- Collections - Artifact
Detroit News--Airplane--Lockheed Orion--James V. Piersol, William A. Kuenzel and Early Bird--Item1
The Detroit News bought a new Lockheed Orion in 1934 to assist in its news-gathering efforts. The monoplane, christened "Early Bird", contained space for a reporter or radio operator, a compact radio broadcasting station and three cameras--one of which was located in a streamlined nacelle on the left wing. A viewfinder in the cockpit interior helped the pilot line up the wing-mounted camera.
- Amelia Earhart in the Avro-Avian Biplane Received from Lady Heath, 1928 - World-renowned Irish pilot Mary, Lady Heath, was an inspiration to Amelia Earhart. After Lady Heath took Earhart for a flight in her Avro Avian biplane, which Heath had flown solo from South Africa to Great Britain, Earhart was so impressed that she bought the aircraft and shipped it back to the United States. Soon Earhart's own fame eclipsed Lady Heath's.
- 1928
- Collections - Artifact
Amelia Earhart in the Avro-Avian Biplane Received from Lady Heath, 1928
World-renowned Irish pilot Mary, Lady Heath, was an inspiration to Amelia Earhart. After Lady Heath took Earhart for a flight in her Avro Avian biplane, which Heath had flown solo from South Africa to Great Britain, Earhart was so impressed that she bought the aircraft and shipped it back to the United States. Soon Earhart's own fame eclipsed Lady Heath's.
- Amelia Earhart Meets Richard Byrd aboard SS President Roosevelt, Returning from the Transatlantic Flight, July 6, 1928 - Amelia Earhart was congratulated by explorer Richard Byrd for her 1928 flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Earhart, riding as a passenger with pilot Wilmer Stultz and mechanic Louis Gordon, made the crossing in a Fokker F.VII Tri-Motor airplane. Byrd used a similar Fokker on his North Pole flight in 1926.
- July 06, 1928
- Collections - Artifact
Amelia Earhart Meets Richard Byrd aboard SS President Roosevelt, Returning from the Transatlantic Flight, July 6, 1928
Amelia Earhart was congratulated by explorer Richard Byrd for her 1928 flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Earhart, riding as a passenger with pilot Wilmer Stultz and mechanic Louis Gordon, made the crossing in a Fokker F.VII Tri-Motor airplane. Byrd used a similar Fokker on his North Pole flight in 1926.