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- 1920 Dayton-Wright RB-1 Monoplane - Designer Milton Baumann and pilot Howard Rinehart hoped to win the 1920 Gordon Bennett Air Race with their Dayton-Wright RB-1. Years ahead of its time, the airplane featured a single cantilevered wing, movable wing flaps for adjustable camber settings, an enclosed cockpit, and retractable landing gear. But a failed control cable knocked Rinehart out of contention. The RB-1 never raced again.
- 1920
- Collections - Artifact
1920 Dayton-Wright RB-1 Monoplane
Designer Milton Baumann and pilot Howard Rinehart hoped to win the 1920 Gordon Bennett Air Race with their Dayton-Wright RB-1. Years ahead of its time, the airplane featured a single cantilevered wing, movable wing flaps for adjustable camber settings, an enclosed cockpit, and retractable landing gear. But a failed control cable knocked Rinehart out of contention. The RB-1 never raced again.
- 1939 Douglas DC-3 Airplane - The Douglas DC-3, introduced in 1936, carried 21 passengers -- enough to fly profitably without relying on subsidies from air mail contracts. While the DC-3's economy appealed to airlines, its rugged construction and comfortable cabin attracted passengers. More than any other aircraft, the DC-3 ushered in the era of dependable, long-distance air travel in the United States.
- 1939
- Collections - Artifact
1939 Douglas DC-3 Airplane
The Douglas DC-3, introduced in 1936, carried 21 passengers -- enough to fly profitably without relying on subsidies from air mail contracts. While the DC-3's economy appealed to airlines, its rugged construction and comfortable cabin attracted passengers. More than any other aircraft, the DC-3 ushered in the era of dependable, long-distance air travel in the United States.
- 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.
- 1928 Junkers W33 "Bremen" Airplane - The <em>Bremen</em> was the first aircraft to fly nonstop from Europe to North America. Hermann Kohl, Ehrenfried Guenther von Huenefeld, and James Fitzmaurice took off from Baldonnel, Ireland, on April 12, 1928, and touched down on Greenly Island, Canada, the next day. The east-to-west crossing, made against prevailing winds, was more difficult than a flight from North America to Europe.
- 1928
- Collections - Artifact
1928 Junkers W33 "Bremen" Airplane
The Bremen was the first aircraft to fly nonstop from Europe to North America. Hermann Kohl, Ehrenfried Guenther von Huenefeld, and James Fitzmaurice took off from Baldonnel, Ireland, on April 12, 1928, and touched down on Greenly Island, Canada, the next day. The east-to-west crossing, made against prevailing winds, was more difficult than a flight from North America to Europe.
- Model Airplane Plans for the 1926-1931 Ford Tri-Motor Model "5-AT-C," circa 1955 - Model airplanes have been a popular hobby since the 1920s. Early modelers built from scratch, but entrepreneurs soon saw the business possibilities in making and selling model kits. Balsa wood was a favorite building material due to its strength, light weight, and the ease with which it could be shaped.
- circa 1955
- Collections - Artifact
Model Airplane Plans for the 1926-1931 Ford Tri-Motor Model "5-AT-C," circa 1955
Model airplanes have been a popular hobby since the 1920s. Early modelers built from scratch, but entrepreneurs soon saw the business possibilities in making and selling model kits. Balsa wood was a favorite building material due to its strength, light weight, and the ease with which it could be shaped.
- 1909 Bleriot XI Monoplane - Small enough to be taken apart and shipped anywhere, the Bleriot XI could be reassembled from drawings, with basic tools, in about nine hours. Louis Bleriot proved the design's worth in 1909 when he piloted an XI Monoplane on the first flight across the English Channel.
- 1909
- Collections - Artifact
1909 Bleriot XI Monoplane
Small enough to be taken apart and shipped anywhere, the Bleriot XI could be reassembled from drawings, with basic tools, in about nine hours. Louis Bleriot proved the design's worth in 1909 when he piloted an XI Monoplane on the first flight across the English Channel.
- 1927 Stinson SM-1 Detroiter Monoplane, "The Pride of Detroit" - William S. Brock and Detroit businessman Edward F. Schlee tried to fly this airplane around the world in 1927. Starting from Harbour Grace, Canada, they flew east for 12,295 miles. At Tokyo, Japan, a typhoon -- and worried telegrams from family and friends -- convinced them to end the attempt. Nevertheless, they were celebrated as heroes when they returned to the United States -- by ship.
- 1927
- Collections - Artifact
1927 Stinson SM-1 Detroiter Monoplane, "The Pride of Detroit"
William S. Brock and Detroit businessman Edward F. Schlee tried to fly this airplane around the world in 1927. Starting from Harbour Grace, Canada, they flew east for 12,295 miles. At Tokyo, Japan, a typhoon -- and worried telegrams from family and friends -- convinced them to end the attempt. Nevertheless, they were celebrated as heroes when they returned to the United States -- by ship.
- Eben G. Tileston and Charles E. Graham with the "Dearborn Inn" Ford Tri-Motor 4-AT-48 Airplane, July 1931 - Independence Air Tours, in connection with the Dearborn Inn, operated an aerial tour service from Ford Airport in Dearborn, Michigan. Note the headphones hanging above each seat. They allowed passengers to hear the tour narrator's commentary. Three engines, combined with an uninsulated cabin, made a flight in a Ford Tri-Motor a noisy experience.
- July 18, 1931
- Collections - Artifact
Eben G. Tileston and Charles E. Graham with the "Dearborn Inn" Ford Tri-Motor 4-AT-48 Airplane, July 1931
Independence Air Tours, in connection with the Dearborn Inn, operated an aerial tour service from Ford Airport in Dearborn, Michigan. Note the headphones hanging above each seat. They allowed passengers to hear the tour narrator's commentary. Three engines, combined with an uninsulated cabin, made a flight in a Ford Tri-Motor a noisy experience.
- Toy French Monoplane, 1920-1940 - Toy companies began making small, inexpensive, yet colorful, tin toys in the late 19th century. Over the years, toymakers stamped tin into shapes of animals, trains, boats, soldiers and even this airplane. Children could purchase these low-priced toys from shopkeepers or street vendors. These mass-produced toys -- though not meant to last -- provided fun for just a few pennies.
- 1920-1940
- Collections - Artifact
Toy French Monoplane, 1920-1940
Toy companies began making small, inexpensive, yet colorful, tin toys in the late 19th century. Over the years, toymakers stamped tin into shapes of animals, trains, boats, soldiers and even this airplane. Children could purchase these low-priced toys from shopkeepers or street vendors. These mass-produced toys -- though not meant to last -- provided fun for just a few pennies.
- 1928 Ford 4-AT-B Tri-Motor Airplane, "Floyd Bennett," Flown Over the South Pole by Richard E. Byrd - The Ford Tri-Motor was the most popular airliner of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Its rugged dependability led Richard Byrd to choose a Tri-Motor for his attempt to be the first person to fly over the South Pole. On November 28-29, 1929, Byrd and a crew of three achieved that goal in this plane.
- November 01, 1929
- Collections - Artifact
1928 Ford 4-AT-B Tri-Motor Airplane, "Floyd Bennett," Flown Over the South Pole by Richard E. Byrd
The Ford Tri-Motor was the most popular airliner of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Its rugged dependability led Richard Byrd to choose a Tri-Motor for his attempt to be the first person to fly over the South Pole. On November 28-29, 1929, Byrd and a crew of three achieved that goal in this plane.