Instructor: Mike Skinner
After World War I, Henry Ford took a personal interest in aviation, collaborating with aircraft designer William Stout, which resulted in the famous Ford Trimotor Airplane, introduced in 1925. Later, Ford built B-24 bombers during WWII using assembly-line production techniques at the Willow Run Plant. In addition to the history of these initiatives, Ford Motor Company's use of corporate aircraft and Edsel Ford ll's ownership of Pentastar Aviation since 2001 will also be discussed.
About the Presenter: Mike Skinner is a native Detroiter who holds bachelor's and master's degrees from Wayne State University. He has been a Detroit and Ford history buff for more than half a century and served as president of both the Dearborn and Grosse Pointe Historical Societies. He has also been a board member and volunteer at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant since the building was acquired and converted into a museum in 2000.
