This paper explains that, while many people contributed to the birth of
aviation in America, most of them are known to the
public. Henry Ford also made a significant contribution, and the paper pays tribute to this. The writer shows how Ford laid many of the building blocks required for commercial
aviation as we know them today: communication links, runways, airports, and finally, the all-metal
aircraft with the Ford Tri-motor. The Ford Tri-motor became one of the world's first successful passenger airliners.