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- Plexiglas and Plastic Models Used at the Willow Run Bomber Plant, February 1944 - The American automobile industry's greatest contribution to the World War II effort, apart from the sheer scale of its work, was its technical expertise in quantity manufacturing. Automakers refined the smallest details in an item to increase the speed with which it could be made. That knowledge was reflected in everything auto companies produced during the war, from helmets to helicopters.
- February 03, 1944
- Collections - Artifact
Plexiglas and Plastic Models Used at the Willow Run Bomber Plant, February 1944
The American automobile industry's greatest contribution to the World War II effort, apart from the sheer scale of its work, was its technical expertise in quantity manufacturing. Automakers refined the smallest details in an item to increase the speed with which it could be made. That knowledge was reflected in everything auto companies produced during the war, from helmets to helicopters.
- Ford Tri-Motor Airplane, Interior Cabin Showing Steward Serving Passengers, September 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.
- September 01, 1930
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Tri-Motor Airplane, Interior Cabin Showing Steward Serving Passengers, September 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.
- Man Opening Door of Equipment Building, 1915-1930 -
- Collections - Artifact
Man Opening Door of Equipment Building, 1915-1930
- 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.
- Launching the 1902 Glider with Orville Wright Piloting, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina - The Wright brothers' 1902 glider was their third aircraft tested at Kill Devil Hills in as many years. It was also the first built with aerodynamic calculations based on the Wrights' own wind tunnel tests. The improvements in performance were stunning. The brothers made more than 700 glides in 1902. Many were over 500 feet long, and some exceeded 600 feet.
- October 01, 1902
- Collections - Artifact
Launching the 1902 Glider with Orville Wright Piloting, Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina
The Wright brothers' 1902 glider was their third aircraft tested at Kill Devil Hills in as many years. It was also the first built with aerodynamic calculations based on the Wrights' own wind tunnel tests. The improvements in performance were stunning. The brothers made more than 700 glides in 1902. Many were over 500 feet long, and some exceeded 600 feet.
- As Safe as a Suspension Bridge, 1919-1920 - Glenn Curtiss, whose airplane business flourished during World War I, established a state-of-the-art research and experimentation facility on Long Island, New York, in 1917. At the Curtiss Engineering Corporation, a handpicked team built, tested, and refined propellers, engines, and airplanes. This brochure claimed a scientific approach made Curtiss airplanes as safe as the more established modes of transportation Americans already trusted.
- 1919-1920
- Collections - Artifact
As Safe as a Suspension Bridge, 1919-1920
Glenn Curtiss, whose airplane business flourished during World War I, established a state-of-the-art research and experimentation facility on Long Island, New York, in 1917. At the Curtiss Engineering Corporation, a handpicked team built, tested, and refined propellers, engines, and airplanes. This brochure claimed a scientific approach made Curtiss airplanes as safe as the more established modes of transportation Americans already trusted.
- Building the B-24 Center Wing in Record Time, Willow Run Bomber Plant, 1942 - At Willow Run, Ford Motor Company built B-24 bomber planes for World War II using automobile mass production techniques. Airplanes were much more complex than cars. They required constant design changes poorly suited to a standardized assembly line. Ford overcame these difficulties and, at the plant's peak, Willow Run crews produced an average of one bomber every 63 minutes.
- November 30, 1942
- Collections - Artifact
Building the B-24 Center Wing in Record Time, Willow Run Bomber Plant, 1942
At Willow Run, Ford Motor Company built B-24 bomber planes for World War II using automobile mass production techniques. Airplanes were much more complex than cars. They required constant design changes poorly suited to a standardized assembly line. Ford overcame these difficulties and, at the plant's peak, Willow Run crews produced an average of one bomber every 63 minutes.