Ford Tri-Motor: Passenger Travel
17 artifacts in this set
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Loading Passenger Luggage into Ford Tri-Motor 5-AT-81, Ford Airport, Dearborn, Michigan, 1930
Photographic print
Stout Air Lines advertised direct airplane service between Detroit and Cleveland, but this wasn't strictly true. Stout's "Detroit" terminal was, in fact, Ford Airport in Dearborn, ten miles west of the city. Passengers gathered at a station in Detroit and were shuttled by bus to the Dearborn airport where they boarded the actual plane.
Air Travel Brochure, "Fly to Detroit in 100 Minutes," circa 1928
Brochure
Air travel cost more than train or bus transportation, but it was faster. One could fly from Cleveland to Detroit in just 100 minutes -- have your breakfast in Cleveland, spend the business day in Detroit, and be back in Cleveland for dinner, as this brochure colorfully explained it. The same trip took 3 hours and 50 minutes by railroad.
Ford Tri-Motor Airplane, Interior Passenger Cabin, June 1929
Photographic print
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.
"Highways of the Sky," Advertisement Promoting Commercial Air Travel on Ford Tri-Motor Airplanes, 1928
Advertisement
As the United States expanded in the twentieth century, air travel became an efficient alternative for the transportation of goods, services, and people. This advertisement compares the early days of commercial aviation to the early days of transcontinental rail travel, and predicts that air travel will become hugely popular -- especially on the Ford Tri-Motor airplane.
Stout Air Lines Ford Tri-Motor 4-AT-34 Airplane at Ford Airport, October 1928
Photographic print
Model 4-AT airliners were designed and built by engineers of the Stout Metal Airplane Company, purchased from William Stout by Ford Motor Company. These rugged planes earned a reputation for being safe and dependable. Many commercial airlines -- including Stout's newly formed Stout Air Lines -- purchased 4-ATs for passenger travel. Here, one of his airliners takes on well-dressed passengers in Dearborn, Michigan.
Stout Air Lines Brochure with Air and Rail Connections, 1929
Brochure
In 1929, Stout Air Lines offered regular passenger flights between Detroit and Chicago, and Detroit and Cleveland, with intermediate stops along both routes. Service was via Ford Tri-Motor airplanes. Flying time from Detroit to Chicago was about three hours, and about 100 minutes from Detroit to Cleveland. Connecting air and rail lines took Stout passengers farther into the Midwest and Northeast.
Ford Tri-Motor Airplane, Interior Cabin Showing Steward Serving Passengers, September 1929
Photographic print
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.
Air Show Poster, Inman Brothers Flying Circus, "Airplane Rides," 1936
Poster
The only thing more exciting than watching pilots perform aerobatic stunts was flying in an airplane yourself. Exhibition squads offered short flights at prices far lower than expensive commercial airline fares. Inman Brothers Flying Circus would take you into the sky for just 50 cents. For a dollar, you could enjoy an "extra long thrill ride."
Map of the Stout Air Services' Detroit-to-Cleveland Air Route, circa 1928
Map (Document)
Stout Air Services offered scheduled passenger flights between Detroit and Cleveland in the late 1920s. The travel time was 100 minutes. Instead of flying directly across Lake Erie, pilots took the overland route seen on this map. This routing allowed pilots to navigate by visible landmarks and gave them places to land in the event of an emergency.
Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Advertisement, "First Time Up!," 1928
Advertisement
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."
Ford Tri-Motor Airplane, Interior View of Passenger Cabin, October 1929
Photographic print
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 appeal of flying in a Ford plane. Airplane amenities included beautifully decorated interiors, food and refreshments served by an attendant, comfortable wicker chairs, and a toilet equipped with running water.
Passenger Seating inside Ford Tri-Motor 4-AT-4, 1927
Photographic print
Model 4-AT and 5-AT Tri-Motors were designed and built by the Stout Metal Airplane Company, a division of Ford Motor Company. These rugged planes earned a reputation for being safe and dependable; and in the late 1920s and 1930s they were the backbone of the scheduled airline industry. This photograph shows the interior of a 4-AT equipped with lightweight wicker seats used for passenger service.
Passengers Seated Inside a Ford Tri-Motor Airplane, October 1928
Photographic print
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. The all-metal Tri-Motors were rugged, dependable and safe. By the late 1920s these planes were the backbone of the budding airline industry.
Passengers Entering Ford Tri-Motor 4-AT Airplane, 1927
Photographic print
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."
Advertisement Promoting Commercial Flight in Ford Tri-Motor Airplanes, "Your Place...," March 1931
Advertisement
While air travel was not exactly an everyday experience by March 1931, when Ford Motor Company published this advertisement, it was certainly a regular feature of American life. Ford rightfully claimed some credit for that. Its all-metal Tri-Motor airplane, built from 1926-1933, was rugged, reliable, and widely used in both passenger and freight airline service.
Passengers Seated during Flight in Ford Tri-Motor Airplane, 1929
Photographic print
The Ford Tri-Motors were designed and built by the Stout Metal Airplane Company, a division of Ford Motor Company. These rugged planes earned a reputation for being safe and dependable; and in the late 1920s and 1930s they were the backbone of the scheduled airline industry. This photograph shows the plane's interior equipped with lightweight wicker seats used for passenger service.
Passengers Entering Ford Tri-Motor 4-AT Airplane, 1927
Photographic print
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."