Sachdev Wings#3

3. What role did Henry Ford and other businessmen play in the development of the aviation industry?

Henry Ford was an astute businessmen who saw aviation as an up and coming industry. He decided to establish a regular air service between Detroit and Chicago (p 240). With commercial aviation in mind, he partnered with Willam B. Stout by buying his company and establishing an airport which set a new standard in aviation at the time. Ford’s commitment of resources into an industry still in infancy helped provide the jumpstart aviation needed to emerge as a viable business. Henry Ford was a pioneer of the time, and his involvement definitely provided the popularity needed by the aviation industry. Ford’s trademark was that of quality and reliability, and he capitalized on opportunities when Fokker airplanes were grounded after a plane crash. His continued involvement in the industry strengthened the belief that flight was now in man’s total control, but still had to be improved. Henry Ford played a big part in commercializing airplanes.

Fokker also began a manufacturing operation of airplanes, whose range and reliability dominated the headlines. Charles Lawrance set up his own firm to manufacture the improved radial engines. Frederick B Rentschler lead the Wright Aeronautical Company through continued and sustainable improvements in the field of aviation.

Had it not been for the interest by astute businessmen such as Ford, Stout, Lawrance, Rentschler etc., we may have not made the progress we have so far in the aviation industry.

6. What influence did Charles Lindbergh have on aviation during his career?

Charles Lindbergh was a young pilot who had 1,100 hours of flying experience with the army as a young pilot. He was a curious and adventurous American who was always looking for new challenges. In 1919, Orteig challenged the world’s pilot to fly from New York to Paris or vice versa- this was the kind of opportunity Lindbergh was looking for. At just 25 years old, Lindbergh successfully completed this flight which had before his success, seemed impossible. He instantly became a superstar, not just in the aviation realm, but in the entire world – he achieved a great feat. According to Margery Brown, he came to represent the very core of what young aviators at the time were looking to be, he represented ideals of courage, freedom and confidence (p 254).
His achievement was no easy task- he had thousands of hours of flying experience which enabled him to achieve this feat. Moreover, he had multiple hurdles to jump through. He chose to defer from the path taken when he chose not to use the modern trimotor airplanes, but instead use a single engine airplane. Lindbergh approached multiple sellers to procure an airplane but was repeatedly denied.

Lindbergh achieved at a very young age, what many had died in an attempt to achieve. He became an iconic American figure with his historic flight from New York to Paris.

13. How did the aviation industry and government encourage youth to be interested in aviation?

In Germany, Hitler Youth were able to participate in a glider program which was directly aimed at creating future aviators. In America however, the movement was much different.

Hollywood’s tryst with aviation began in the late 1920s which reached the lives of millions, many of which were young men and women. Additionally, the comic strips about aviation were extremely popular. More prominently, clubs and youth organizations started to pop up with a focus on motivating, educating and providing resources for the youngsters interested in aviation. This included the Junior Birdmen of America, Boy Scout’s Air Scout Program (1942-1949), Jimmy Allen Flying Club, Air Youth of America and high level of involvement by NASA in supporting the next generation of aviators. Around this time, modeling also became extremely popular, and was seen as an activity which was the predecessor of building real aircrafts. The Cleveland Model Company, The Guillow Company and The Academy of Model Aeronautics boomed at the time.