Ford's aviation legacy: the rise and fall of the Trimotor plane

Ford's aviation division produced the Ford Trimotor, the first all-metal commercial plane, in the late 1920s. The Trimotor gained popularity for its reliability and was used by early airlines, including Pan Am and TWA, securing airmail contracts. However, production of the Trimotor ended in 1933 after 199 units were built. The aircraft struggled against faster competitors like the Boeing 247 and DC-3, and Ford's reluctance to upgrade the design contributed to its decline. Ford lost $10.3 million on its aviation efforts, leading to the closure of the Stout Metal Airplane Division in 1936. Despite its initial success, the Trimotor quickly became outdated as the aviation industry advanced.