Ford Airport Dearborn

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Ford Airport Dearborn

Latitude and Longitude : 42°18'0.42"N, 83°13'14.75"W

Historical timeline

1924: 20,000 square foot (1,900 m&²) Stout Metal Airplane Company factory opens

1925: Ford Airport is dedicated as the first modern airport, equipped with two grass runways and flood lights for night landings.

1925: Henry Ford builds the largest, most modern and only privately owned permanent Dirigible mooring mast. It was only used twice and demolished in 1946.

1925: Ford Air Transportation Service between " Detroit " (Dearborn) and Chicago begins – the first regularly scheduled airline in the United States

1925-31: Annual National Air Tour to demonstrate safety and reliability of commercial aviation starts and ends at Ford Airport.

1926: First successful radio guided flight, using system developed by Ford Motor Company.

1926: Stout factory is replaced with a 62,000 square foot (5,800 m&²) facility to build new Ford Tri-Motors using assembly line production for the first time.

1928-29: Grass runways are paved—the first concrete runways in the world.

1931: Dearborn Inn opens—one of the first hotels built to service the air traveler.

1938: First vehicle test track is laid down.

1947: Ford Air Transport Office moves to Detroit Metropolitan Airport , ending Ford Airport operations.

2003: June 9 - Five vintage airplanes, including two Ford Tri-Motors, fly into Dearborn Proving Grounds; the first time in 56 years the test track is used as an airport. The planes were part of the "Taking Flight: Ford's History in Aviation" exhibit, which was one facet of Ford Motor Company's 100th anniversary celebration.

2005: Major reconstruction and renovation work adds more test track surfaces and handling courses.

2006: Site renamed as the Dearborn Development Center