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- Watching the Piccard Stratosphere Balloon Launch, Ford Airport, October 23, 1934 - The Piccard stratosphere flight departed from Ford Airport on October 23, 1934. Spouses Jean and Jeannette Piccard ascended 10.9 miles in a metal gondola carried by a hydrogen balloon. This image depicts a crowd standing in the airport's field in the early morning hours on the day of the balloon's launch.
- October 23, 1934
- Collections - Artifact
Watching the Piccard Stratosphere Balloon Launch, Ford Airport, October 23, 1934
The Piccard stratosphere flight departed from Ford Airport on October 23, 1934. Spouses Jean and Jeannette Piccard ascended 10.9 miles in a metal gondola carried by a hydrogen balloon. This image depicts a crowd standing in the airport's field in the early morning hours on the day of the balloon's launch.
- Ford Tri-Motor 5-AT-112 Airplane at Ford Airport, 1932 - In 1928, the Stout Metal Airplane Company, a division of Ford Motor Company, introduced a new airliner. The 5-AT was faster and more powerful than its popular predecessor, the 4-AT. It had a longer wingspan and higher passenger capacity, and became the most successful all-metal, multi-engine passenger plane in the country. Virtually all existing airlines flew Ford 5-ATs.
- June 24, 1932
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Tri-Motor 5-AT-112 Airplane at Ford Airport, 1932
In 1928, the Stout Metal Airplane Company, a division of Ford Motor Company, introduced a new airliner. The 5-AT was faster and more powerful than its popular predecessor, the 4-AT. It had a longer wingspan and higher passenger capacity, and became the most successful all-metal, multi-engine passenger plane in the country. Virtually all existing airlines flew Ford 5-ATs.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Edsel Ford and William B. Stout at Ford Airport, Dearborn, Michigan, April 1925 -
- April 01, 1925
- Collections - Artifact
Edsel Ford and William B. Stout at Ford Airport, Dearborn, Michigan, April 1925
- Group from Edison Institute Schools Visit the Piccard Stratosphere Flight Balloon at Ford Airport, September 1934 - The Piccard stratosphere flight departed from Ford Airport field on October 23, 1934. Spouses Jean and Jeannette Piccard ascended 10.9 miles in a metal gondola carried by a hydrogen balloon. This image was taken at one of the airport's hangars in September of 1934, and depicts the Piccards with a group of visiting children from the Edison Institute School.
- September 17, 1934
- Collections - Artifact
Group from Edison Institute Schools Visit the Piccard Stratosphere Flight Balloon at Ford Airport, September 1934
The Piccard stratosphere flight departed from Ford Airport field on October 23, 1934. Spouses Jean and Jeannette Piccard ascended 10.9 miles in a metal gondola carried by a hydrogen balloon. This image was taken at one of the airport's hangars in September of 1934, and depicts the Piccards with a group of visiting children from the Edison Institute School.
- Group from Edison Institute Schools Visit the Piccard Stratosphere Flight Balloon at Ford Airport, September 1934 - The Piccard stratosphere flight departed from Ford Airport field on October 23, 1934. Spouses Jean and Jeannette Piccard ascended 10.9 miles in a metal gondola carried by a hydrogen balloon. This image was taken at one of the airport's hangars in September of 1934, and depicts the Piccards with a group of visiting children from the Edison Institute School.
- September 20, 1934
- Collections - Artifact
Group from Edison Institute Schools Visit the Piccard Stratosphere Flight Balloon at Ford Airport, September 1934
The Piccard stratosphere flight departed from Ford Airport field on October 23, 1934. Spouses Jean and Jeannette Piccard ascended 10.9 miles in a metal gondola carried by a hydrogen balloon. This image was taken at one of the airport's hangars in September of 1934, and depicts the Piccards with a group of visiting children from the Edison Institute School.
- Construction of Ford Tri-Motor 14-AT Showing Center Hispano Suiza Engine, January 1932 - Ford Motor Company's Tri-Motor, built from 1926-1933, flew in many early American airline fleets. The all-metal airplane was rugged, dependable, and equally adaptable to passenger and freight service. Tri-Motors were built with some of the same mass production techniques used in Ford's automobile plants. This version, the 14-AT, featured three Hispano-Suiza Engines. This photograph reveals the interior of the central engine.
- January 05, 1932
- Collections - Artifact
Construction of Ford Tri-Motor 14-AT Showing Center Hispano Suiza Engine, January 1932
Ford Motor Company's Tri-Motor, built from 1926-1933, flew in many early American airline fleets. The all-metal airplane was rugged, dependable, and equally adaptable to passenger and freight service. Tri-Motors were built with some of the same mass production techniques used in Ford's automobile plants. This version, the 14-AT, featured three Hispano-Suiza Engines. This photograph reveals the interior of the central engine.
- Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Fuselage Being Constructed at the Stout Factory, Dearborn, Michigan, April 1929 - Ford Motor Company's Tri-Motor, built from 1926-1933, flew in many early American airline fleets. The all-metal airplane was rugged, dependable, and equally adaptable to passenger and freight service. Tri-Motors were built with some of the same mass production techniques used in Ford's automobile plants. The fuselage, or the main body of the airplane, is constructed in this photograph.
- April 30, 1929
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Fuselage Being Constructed at the Stout Factory, Dearborn, Michigan, April 1929
Ford Motor Company's Tri-Motor, built from 1926-1933, flew in many early American airline fleets. The all-metal airplane was rugged, dependable, and equally adaptable to passenger and freight service. Tri-Motors were built with some of the same mass production techniques used in Ford's automobile plants. The fuselage, or the main body of the airplane, is constructed in this photograph.