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- 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.
- Pilot Phoebe Omlie after Completing the Ford Reliability Air Tour, July 1928 - Phoebe Fairgrave Omlie started her aviation career as a barnstormer, then began flying in air races in the late 1920s. The first woman appointed to a federal aviation post, she served with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics from 1933-1936, and with the Civil Aeronautics Commission from 1941-1952. Omlie flew solo during the 1928 Ford Reliability Air Tour.
- July 28, 1928
- Collections - Artifact
Pilot Phoebe Omlie after Completing the Ford Reliability Air Tour, July 1928
Phoebe Fairgrave Omlie started her aviation career as a barnstormer, then began flying in air races in the late 1920s. The first woman appointed to a federal aviation post, she served with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics from 1933-1936, and with the Civil Aeronautics Commission from 1941-1952. Omlie flew solo during the 1928 Ford Reliability Air Tour.
- Curtiss Oriole Airplane, August 6, 1926 - The Curtiss Oriole was first produced in 1919. The three-seat, single-engine biplane featured a monocoque body made from laminated wood. The Oriole had a maximum speed of 86 miles per hour, but it was more comfortable cruising at about 70. Curtiss Oriole biplanes were used in both civil and military operations.
- August 06, 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Curtiss Oriole Airplane, August 6, 1926
The Curtiss Oriole was first produced in 1919. The three-seat, single-engine biplane featured a monocoque body made from laminated wood. The Oriole had a maximum speed of 86 miles per hour, but it was more comfortable cruising at about 70. Curtiss Oriole biplanes were used in both civil and military operations.
- Ford National Reliability Air Tour at Ford Airport, Dearborn, Michigan, September 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 National Reliability Air Tour at Ford Airport, Dearborn, Michigan, September 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.
- Edsel Ford and Henry Ford II at an Air Show, 1928 - Edsel Ford was photographed with his son, Henry Ford II, at the 1928 Ford Reliability Air Tour. The tours, organized to promote reliability and safety in commercial aircraft, were held annually from 1925-1931. They tested airplanes' abilities to maintain speeds and schedules. Henry Ford credited Edsel Ford with sparking Ford Motor Company's interest in aviation.
- June 30, 1928
- Collections - Artifact
Edsel Ford and Henry Ford II at an Air Show, 1928
Edsel Ford was photographed with his son, Henry Ford II, at the 1928 Ford Reliability Air Tour. The tours, organized to promote reliability and safety in commercial aircraft, were held annually from 1925-1931. They tested airplanes' abilities to maintain speeds and schedules. Henry Ford credited Edsel Ford with sparking Ford Motor Company's interest in aviation.
- Ford Tri-Motor Airplane in Flight over Dearborn Inn, 1931 - Edsel and Henry Ford conceived the Dearborn Inn as a business opportunity, a first-class hotel hosting pilots and travelers transiting through the adjacent Ford Airport. It is noted as one of the first airport hotels. It also served traveling Ford employees and dealers, and visitors to the nearby Edison Institute (later renamed The Henry Ford).
- 1931
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Tri-Motor Airplane in Flight over Dearborn Inn, 1931
Edsel and Henry Ford conceived the Dearborn Inn as a business opportunity, a first-class hotel hosting pilots and travelers transiting through the adjacent Ford Airport. It is noted as one of the first airport hotels. It also served traveling Ford employees and dealers, and visitors to the nearby Edison Institute (later renamed The Henry Ford).
- James Couzens and Edsel Ford at the National Air Tour, Ford Airport, October 3, 1925 - From 1925-1931, Ford Motor Company sponsored annual air tours to promote safety and reliability in commercial aircraft. Participating airplanes were rated on their ability to take off and land quickly and maintain consistent speeds. The 1925 contest included 17 planes from 11 different manufacturers. Participants traveled to 13 cities and covered 1,775 miles in six days.
- October 03, 1925
- Collections - Artifact
James Couzens and Edsel Ford at the National Air Tour, Ford Airport, October 3, 1925
From 1925-1931, Ford Motor Company sponsored annual air tours to promote safety and reliability in commercial aircraft. Participating airplanes were rated on their ability to take off and land quickly and maintain consistent speeds. The 1925 contest included 17 planes from 11 different manufacturers. Participants traveled to 13 cities and covered 1,775 miles in six days.
- Eddie Stinson with the Stinson Detroiter SB1, 1926 National Air Tour, Ford Airport - With his brother Jack, Eddie Stinson founded the Stinson Aircraft Company in Dayton, Ohio, in 1920. Five years later, the firm relocated to Detroit. Stinson produced more than 13,000 aircraft before a series of mergers brought an end to the brand in 1949. Eddie did not live to see his company's demise; he died in an airplane crash in 1932.
- August 06, 1926
- Collections - Artifact
Eddie Stinson with the Stinson Detroiter SB1, 1926 National Air Tour, Ford Airport
With his brother Jack, Eddie Stinson founded the Stinson Aircraft Company in Dayton, Ohio, in 1920. Five years later, the firm relocated to Detroit. Stinson produced more than 13,000 aircraft before a series of mergers brought an end to the brand in 1949. Eddie did not live to see his company's demise; he died in an airplane crash in 1932.
- Ford Reliability Tour at Ford Airport, Dearborn, Michigan, 1931 - From 1925-1931, Ford Motor Company sponsored annual air tours to promote reliability and safety in commercial aircraft. Pilots flew to pre-determined cities around the country, and their airplanes were rated on the ability to take off and land quickly and maintain consistent speeds. This 1931 tour photo shows a Ford Tri-Motor in the air and an autogiro on the ground.
- July 24, 1931
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Reliability Tour at Ford Airport, Dearborn, Michigan, 1931
From 1925-1931, Ford Motor Company sponsored annual air tours to promote reliability and safety in commercial aircraft. Pilots flew to pre-determined cities around the country, and their airplanes were rated on the ability to take off and land quickly and maintain consistent speeds. This 1931 tour photo shows a Ford Tri-Motor in the air and an autogiro on the ground.
- Curtiss "Carrier Pigeon" Biplane Entered into the 1925 Ford Reliability Tour, October 1, 1925 - From 1925-1931, Ford Motor Company sponsored annual air tours to promote reliability and safety in commercial aircraft. Airplanes were rated on their ability to take off and land quickly, and to maintain consistent speeds and schedules. Edsel Ford and Henry Ford provided financial support, commissioned the award trophy, and offered the use of the new Ford Airport in Dearborn, Michigan.
- October 01, 1925
- Collections - Artifact
Curtiss "Carrier Pigeon" Biplane Entered into the 1925 Ford Reliability Tour, October 1, 1925
From 1925-1931, Ford Motor Company sponsored annual air tours to promote reliability and safety in commercial aircraft. Airplanes were rated on their ability to take off and land quickly, and to maintain consistent speeds and schedules. Edsel Ford and Henry Ford provided financial support, commissioned the award trophy, and offered the use of the new Ford Airport in Dearborn, Michigan.