Albert Kahn and the First Modern Airport: Ford Airport in Dearborn

Albert Kahn and Henry Ford both played leading roles in putting America and the world on wheels, but they also played a significant role in putting people into the skies. Ford Airport in Dearborn (1924-1947) pioneered many world firsts, including paved runways, radio-guided flight, passenger terminals and schedules, and its role in the development of the revolutionary Ford Trimotor airplane. On behalf of the Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation, join us for a free Zoom lecture with Tony Ettwein to explore this remarkable chapter in aviation history and the visionaries who made it possible. 

Donations are gratefully accepted to support the foundation’s mission.

Tony Ettwein is a fourth-generation resident of southwest Michigan. Raised on an 1853 farm, Tony recently retired from a career in health care quality and compliance to a serious calling as an amateur historian. He enjoys reading and talking with other history fans, especially about Michigan and Abraham Lincoln. Tony has written for Michigan History, Chronicle, Michigan Runner, the Kalamazoo Gazette, and the Kalamazoo area’s Good News Paper. Tony is on the board of directors of the Kalamazoo Abraham Lincoln Institute.

In addition to the 2024 book Texting Lincoln: A semi-true tale of an Illinois prairie lawyer’s return to Kalamazoo, Tony authored the book 1968: Turning Points, published in 2018.

Tony and his wife, Molly, live in Portange and visit their grown-up kids whenever they can.