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'''Ford Air Transport Service''' is a defunct [[airline]] based in [[United States of America]]. The airline was also registered as Ford Air Freight Lines.
'''Ford Air Transport Service''' is a defunct [[airline]] based in [[United States of America]]. The airline was also registered as Ford Air Freight Lines.


== History ==
==History==
Ford in 1925 initiated Ford Air Transport Service - the world's first regularly scheduled commercial cargo airline.<ref>{{cite web|title=Henry Ford, Ford Motor Company Founder And Aviation Pioneer |url=http://www.countdowntokittyhawk.com/sponsors/ford/henryford.html}}</ref>
Ford in 1925 initiated Ford Air Transport Service - the world's first regularly scheduled commercial cargo airline.<ref>{{cite web|title=Henry Ford, Ford Motor Company Founder And Aviation Pioneer |url=http://www.countdowntokittyhawk.com/sponsors/ford/henryford.html}}</ref>


[[Image:CAM 6 First Flight Feb. 15, 1926.jpg|right|thumb|Letter from first CAM flight in a 2-AT]]
[[Image:CAM 6 First Flight Feb. 15, 1926.jpg|right|thumb|Letter from first CAM flight in a 2-AT]]
Ford Air Transport Service started with [[Stout 2-AT Pullman]] aircraft in 1925. Henry and Edsel Ford had an investment in Stout Engineering that became the [[Stout Metal Airplane Division of the Ford Motor Company]] later that year in August. The first 2-AT was built at the Stout factory in [[Dearborn, Michigan|Dearborn]] and called the "Maiden Detroit".<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Fords Will Transfer Freight by Airplane|date=12 April 1925}}</ref> The other aircraft in the fleet were also 2-AT's, named "Maiden Dearbon I, II, III and IV". Initially the aircraft were for Ford's company use. The airline's first scheduled commercial flights in America were begun when The "Maiden Detroit" flew 1,000&nbsp;lbs. of freight between factories in Detroit and Chicago on April 14, 1925.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|title=AIR EXPRESS LINE OPENS Success Scored by Ford Plane Regular Service Connecting Chicago and Detroit is Inaugurated Half-Ton of Freight Carried Between Cities in Less Than Three Hours|date=April 14, 1925}}</ref>
Ford Air Transport Service started with [[Stout 2-AT Pullman]] aircraft in 1925. Henry and Edsel Ford had an investment in Stout Engineering that became the [[Stout Metal Airplane Division of the Ford Motor Company]] later that year in August. The first 2-AT was built at the Stout factory in [[Dearborn, Michigan|Dearborn]] and called the "Maiden Detroit".<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Washington Post|title=Fords Will Transfer Freight by Airplane|date=12 April 1925}}</ref> The other aircraft in the fleet were also 2-AT's, named "Maiden Dearbon I, II, III and IV". Initially the aircraft were for Ford's company use.{{cn|date=July 2016}} The airline's first scheduled commercial flights in America were begun when The "Maiden Detroit" flew 1,000&nbsp;lbs. of freight between factories in Detroit and Chicago on April 14, 1925.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|title=AIR EXPRESS LINE OPENS Success Scored by Ford Plane Regular Service Connecting Chicago and Detroit is Inaugurated Half-Ton of Freight Carried Between Cities in Less Than Three Hours|date=April 14, 1925}}</ref>
Ford Air Transport served routes between Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland.<ref>{{cite book|title=Air Transportation|author=Robert M. Kane}}</ref> The airline logged over 1000 scheduled flights in its first year.
Ford Air Transport served routes between Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland.<ref>{{cite book|title=Air Transportation|author=Robert M. Kane}}</ref> The airline logged over 1000 scheduled flights in its first year.{{cn|date=July 2016}}


The aircraft operated out of [[Ford Airport (Dearborn)|Ford Airport]] off of two grass runways with night lighting.
The aircraft operated out of [[Ford Airport (Dearborn)|Ford Airport]] off of two grass runways with night lighting.{{cn|date=July 2016}}


The safety and predicability of the first cargo flights were used to advantage in securing the first airmail contracts under the Kelly Act. The "Madien Detroit" entered [[Airmails of the United States|Contract Air Mail]] service on February 15, 1926 with Henry and Edsel Ford loading the first bag of mail. The aircraft flew from Detroit to Cleveland under fighter escort to become the first commercial transport of air mail. L.G. "Larry" Fritz piloted the aircraft with Ford and Stout as passengers for the one-hour-seventeen-minute flight. <ref>{{cite journal|magazine=AAHS Journal|date=Summer 1997|title=Maddux Air Lines 1927–1929|author=Ed Betts}}</ref> <ref>{{cite book|title=Airlines and air mail the post office and the birth of the commercial|author=F. Robert Van der Linden}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Tin Goose.|author=Owen Bombard}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Ford century Ford Motor Company and the innovations that shaped the world|author=Russ Banham}}</ref> The routes would be known as CAM-6 (Detroit to Cleveland), and CAM-7 (Detroit to Chicago).
The safety and predicability of the first cargo flights were used to advantage in securing the first airmail contracts under the Kelly Act. The "Madien Detroit" entered [[Airmails of the United States|Contract Air Mail]] service on February 15, 1926 with Henry and Edsel Ford loading the first bag of mail.{{cn|date=July 2016}} The aircraft flew from Detroit to Cleveland under fighter escort to become the first commercial transport of air mail. L.G. "Larry" Fritz piloted the aircraft with Ford and Stout as passengers for the one-hour-seventeen-minute flight.<ref>{{cite journal|magazine=AAHS Journal|date=Summer 1997|title=Maddux Air Lines 1927–1929|author=Ed Betts}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Airlines and air mail the post office and the birth of the commercial|author=F. Robert Van der Linden}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Tin Goose.|author=Owen Bombard}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The Ford century Ford Motor Company and the innovations that shaped the world|author=Russ Banham}}</ref> The routes would be known as CAM-6 (Detroit to Cleveland), and CAM-7 (Detroit to Chicago).{{cn|date=July 2016}}


In 1928 Ford sold the airmail routes to [[William Bushnell Stout|Stout]] who also was operating his own airline with Stout-Ford built aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|title=Air cargo's foundation|url=http://www.joc.com/joc_inc/history/p19.html}}</ref> The last official flight was in 1932.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ford Airport|url=http://www.dearbornarealiving.com/attractions.shtml}}</ref>
In 1928 Ford sold the airmail routes to [[William Bushnell Stout|Stout]] who also was operating his own airline with Stout-Ford built aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|title=Air cargo's foundation|url=http://www.joc.com/joc_inc/history/p19.html}}</ref> The last official flight was in 1932.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ford Airport|url=http://www.dearbornarealiving.com/attractions.shtml}}</ref>
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*[[Cleveland, Ohio]] ([[Airport]])
*[[Cleveland, Ohio]] ([[Airport]])


== Fleet ==
==Fleet==
The Ford Air Transport Service fleet consists of the following aircraft:
The Ford Air Transport Service fleet consists of the following aircraft:


Line 74: Line 74:


==Accidents and incidents==
==Accidents and incidents==
*On May 18, 1926, a Ford Air Transport 2-AT ''Maiden Deaborn I'' was involved in the first fatal accident for a commercial US aircraft in [[Argo, Illinois]]. The Contract Air Mail pilot crashed and was killed due to flight into poor weather conditions.<ref>{{cite journal|magazine=AAHS journal, Volume 39|author=American Aviation Historical Society}}</ref>
*On May 18, 1926, a Ford Air Transport 2-AT ''Maiden Deaborn I'' was involved in the first fatal accident for a commercial US aircraft in [[Argo, Illinois]]. The Contract Air Mail pilot crashed and was killed due to flight into poor weather conditions.<ref>{{cite journal|magazine=AAHS journal, Volume 39|title=AAHS journal, Volume 39 / American Aviation Historical Society|author=American Aviation Historical Society}}</ref>
*On May 12, 1928, a Ford Air Freight [[Ford Trimotor|4-AT-01]], NC 1492 crashed on takeoff from Dearborn Michigan killing two passengers.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Ford Tri-Motor 1926–1992|author=William T. Larkins}}</ref>
*On May 12, 1928, a Ford Air Freight [[Ford Trimotor|4-AT-01]], NC 1492 crashed on takeoff from Dearborn Michigan killing two passengers.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Ford Tri-Motor 1926–1992|author=William T. Larkins}}</ref>


== References ==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
==External links==


{{Airlines of the United States}}
{{Airlines of the United States}}

Revision as of 20:29, 7 July 2016

Ford Air Transport Service
FoundedTemplate:Avyear
Commenced operations1925
Ceased operations1932
HubsDetroit, Michigan
Fleet size5
Destinations3
Parent companyFord Motor Company
HeadquartersDetroit, Michigan
Key peopleHenry Ford, Edsel Ford

Ford Air Transport Service is a defunct airline based in United States of America. The airline was also registered as Ford Air Freight Lines.

History

Ford in 1925 initiated Ford Air Transport Service - the world's first regularly scheduled commercial cargo airline.[1]

Letter from first CAM flight in a 2-AT

Ford Air Transport Service started with Stout 2-AT Pullman aircraft in 1925. Henry and Edsel Ford had an investment in Stout Engineering that became the Stout Metal Airplane Division of the Ford Motor Company later that year in August. The first 2-AT was built at the Stout factory in Dearborn and called the "Maiden Detroit".[2] The other aircraft in the fleet were also 2-AT's, named "Maiden Dearbon I, II, III and IV". Initially the aircraft were for Ford's company use.[citation needed] The airline's first scheduled commercial flights in America were begun when The "Maiden Detroit" flew 1,000 lbs. of freight between factories in Detroit and Chicago on April 14, 1925.[3] Ford Air Transport served routes between Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland.[4] The airline logged over 1000 scheduled flights in its first year.[citation needed]

The aircraft operated out of Ford Airport off of two grass runways with night lighting.[citation needed]

The safety and predicability of the first cargo flights were used to advantage in securing the first airmail contracts under the Kelly Act. The "Madien Detroit" entered Contract Air Mail service on February 15, 1926 with Henry and Edsel Ford loading the first bag of mail.[citation needed] The aircraft flew from Detroit to Cleveland under fighter escort to become the first commercial transport of air mail. L.G. "Larry" Fritz piloted the aircraft with Ford and Stout as passengers for the one-hour-seventeen-minute flight.[5][6][7][8] The routes would be known as CAM-6 (Detroit to Cleveland), and CAM-7 (Detroit to Chicago).[citation needed]

In 1928 Ford sold the airmail routes to Stout who also was operating his own airline with Stout-Ford built aircraft.[9] The last official flight was in 1932.[10]

Most of the 2-AT's eventually were sold to Florida Airways, the forerunner of Eastern Airlines.[11]

Destinations

Fleet

The Ford Air Transport Service fleet consists of the following aircraft:

Ford Air Transport Service Airlines Fleet
Aircraft Total Routes Notes
Stout 2-AT Pullman 5 Detroit-Chicago, Detroit-Cleveland
4-AT-01 1 Crashed May 12, 1928

Accidents and incidents

  • On May 18, 1926, a Ford Air Transport 2-AT Maiden Deaborn I was involved in the first fatal accident for a commercial US aircraft in Argo, Illinois. The Contract Air Mail pilot crashed and was killed due to flight into poor weather conditions.[12]
  • On May 12, 1928, a Ford Air Freight 4-AT-01, NC 1492 crashed on takeoff from Dearborn Michigan killing two passengers.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Henry Ford, Ford Motor Company Founder And Aviation Pioneer".
  2. ^ "Fords Will Transfer Freight by Airplane". The Washington Post. 12 April 1925.
  3. ^ "AIR EXPRESS LINE OPENS Success Scored by Ford Plane Regular Service Connecting Chicago and Detroit is Inaugurated Half-Ton of Freight Carried Between Cities in Less Than Three Hours". Los Angeles Times. April 14, 1925.
  4. ^ Robert M. Kane. Air Transportation.
  5. ^ Ed Betts (Summer 1997). "Maddux Air Lines 1927–1929". AAHS Journal.
  6. ^ F. Robert Van der Linden. Airlines and air mail the post office and the birth of the commercial.
  7. ^ Owen Bombard. The Tin Goose.
  8. ^ Russ Banham. The Ford century Ford Motor Company and the innovations that shaped the world.
  9. ^ "Air cargo's foundation".
  10. ^ "Ford Airport".
  11. ^ Douglas J. Ingells with Ralph Dietrick. Tin Goose, The Fabulous Ford Trimotor.
  12. ^ American Aviation Historical Society. "AAHS journal, Volume 39 / American Aviation Historical Society". AAHS journal, Volume 39.
  13. ^ William T. Larkins. The Ford Tri-Motor 1926–1992.
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