The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-04-13
PLANE CARRIES
FORD MAIL To
CHICAGO
maiden Dearborn. First OF
New Line, Takes Off on
Premier Flight

IiOItiOt u6H
DETROIT, Mich. April 13.-A'
9:22 this morning Maiden Dear
BORN one of a, proposed fleet OF
planes that will establish aerial
communication between Ford's
Dearborn plant and assembly, fac
tories located in other cities. hoped
off from the Ford Airport at Dear
born on its first voyage to Chicago
The Maiden Dearborn" carried
light automobile parts for Chicago
and Ford plant mail weighing ap-
proximately 1000 pounds. The
plane was expected to reach the
haywood air field in Chicago IN
three hours. Later the time is ex-
pected to be cut down to about two
hours.
Leaving Chicago in the afternoon
the plane carrying another cargo
Of 1000 pounds win return to the
Ford airport here where 1t Is
acheduled to arrive about $50 p. m.
The airplane was designed and
manufactured in Detroit. Another
shin of the same type is near com.
pletion and is expected to be placed
in the Ford inter-plant service.
The ships have a capacity OF
1000 pounds and a maximum speed
OF 116 miles an hour.
Henry Ford. Mrs. Ford and their
son, Edsel, witnessed the take OH
of the Maiden Dearborn.
Ideal Flying Weather
An almost ideal flying morning
greeted the well wishers aad fhers.
The 1000 pounds of light frelghc
were to be transferred from the
Ford plant at Hegewich, III. A
special air transport truck was 10
convey it there from the haywood
air mail field. From Hegewich it
will go by rail to Houston and Dai-
las. Texas: Milwaukee, Oklahoma
City. Denver, San Francisco, Los
Angeles, Seattle and Minneapolis
and st. Paul.
Edsel Ford appeared at the Dear
born field a few minutes before the
plane took off at 9:22 a. m. It
circled the field two minutes and
then arose and Strengthened out, and
away at 9:25 a. m. 1t flew to
Bryan, Ohio, where it swung onto
the regular Chicago air mail route.
Other Lines Planned.
A formal statement, issued by COM
pany officials after the departure
sf the freight plane, declared that
as soon as the Dearborn Chicago
service has been firmly established
three new services will start. With
Dearborn as the home base. they
wall be routed to st. Louis. Iron
10 M
st. Paul.
Edsel Ford said informally later
that the new planes. when they
begin coming out on a production
basis. probably viii be disposed Of
through the regular sales units
OF the Ford Motor Company.
When the air transport carrying
tho 1000 pounds Of freight which
was to be carried through the air
&C Chicago reached the field. Mrs.
Henry Ford took the first package
and transferred it from the auto
nlotile to the airplane. Henry
Ford put the second piece of freight
aboard and Edsel Ford slowed the
third.
Ford Backing Plans.
For the time being three trips
viii be made weekly between Dear
born and Chicago. according to the
plans of Edsel Ford.
Henry Ford is going to employ
all his resources in aiding the
development of commercial avia-
ton, he indicated today, in an
exclusive interview, to Interna-
tional News Service. He is "keenly
interested" and he feels. he said,
that it is NOW or never" to begin
the solid establishment of COM
merciaI flying.
The automobile manufacturer and
Mrs. Ford were among the very
first spectators to arrive at the
field from which the epoch making
first flight started.
Just Out of Bed.
81 just got out OF bed" he said,
but / couldn't miss anything like
this. It's a very big thing and I
am keenly interested in it. from
every angle.
There is not a doubt in the
world that commercial aviation. pas
Benger and freight transportation
you know, can be successful"
Are you going to get behind 1t
yourself?" Mr.. Ford was asked.
Yes" he replied. I'VE are going
10 see that IT is made success.
ALSO we are going to take the
public into our confidence in this
thing. It's SO big that everybody
will be interested. We are going to
tell the public just what happens
from stage to stage of the develop
ment as we go along.
A Young Mans Job.
up to the present I haven't
taken any particular charge of this
flying business. / left it to Edsel
/ think it's young mans job and,
besides, it is Edsel's friends who
are inter ested in the proposition.
But now that the product is
ready to be used, l am more inter