National Air Transport Inc
Encyclopedia
National Air Transport Inc was an early United States
airline
that operated scheduled services between 12 May 1926 and its acquisition by United Air Lines on 7 May 1930.
with Detroit and New York
.
To insure a sound base for operations, Keys proposed an initial subscribed share capital of $2 million, many times that of other early airlines. Keys raised $1 million through his New York contacts and Fritsche raised $500,000 from Detroit interests. After further fund raising, the remaining $500,000 was subscribed by the sons of several leading Chicago business men. This enabled National Air Transport Inc (NAT) to be incorporated in the state of Delaware
on 21 May 1925. The total authorised issued share capital was fixed at an unprecedented $10 million.
A fleet of ten Carrier Pigeon biplane
aircraft was constructed by Curtiss, one of Key's other business interests. These were used to open the NAT airmail service on 12 May 1926 on a route Chicago-Moline-St Joseph-Kansas City-Wichita-Ponca City-Oklahoma City-Dallas.
In 1929 N.A.T. purchased Stout Air Services, Inc.
who continued to operate under the Stout name until United purchased N.A.T. Stout had purchased Ford Air Transport Service's
airmail routes in 1928, and flew Ford Trimotor's
.
commenced on 1 September. Initially the Curtiss Carrier Pigeons were used, but were quickly supplemented by 18 Douglas M-2 mailplanes taken over from the Post Office. In turn, these were supplemented in early 1928 by eight Travel Air 6000
biplanes.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
airline
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
that operated scheduled services between 12 May 1926 and its acquisition by United Air Lines on 7 May 1930.
Formation
Clement M. Keys formed North American Aviation in early 1925, for the express purpose of providing organization, finance and inspiration for the development of a large network of airlines, manufacturers and other aviation services, each nurturing the other. Keys contacted Carl B., Fritsche, general manager of the Aircraft Development Corporation of Detroit, with the idea of creating an airline to link ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
with Detroit and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
To insure a sound base for operations, Keys proposed an initial subscribed share capital of $2 million, many times that of other early airlines. Keys raised $1 million through his New York contacts and Fritsche raised $500,000 from Detroit interests. After further fund raising, the remaining $500,000 was subscribed by the sons of several leading Chicago business men. This enabled National Air Transport Inc (NAT) to be incorporated in the state of Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
on 21 May 1925. The total authorised issued share capital was fixed at an unprecedented $10 million.
Airmail contract bid and commencement of operations
Keys and other members of NATs board realised that the gaining of an airmail contract would be crucial to the early development of the airline. NAT therefore bid for the mail contract CAM 3 from the United States Post Office. This covered the Chicago–Dallas route and the contract was awarded to NAT on 7 November 1925. This was a key link in the US airmail network, connecting two very important cities and regions with the east-west transcontinental route through Chicago.A fleet of ten Carrier Pigeon biplane
Curtiss Carrier Pigeon
|-See also:-References:* Bowers, Peter M. Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947. London:Putnam, 1979. ISBN 0-370-10029-8.* . Flight, April 16, 1925, pp. 228–229.* , Flight, November 26, 1925...
aircraft was constructed by Curtiss, one of Key's other business interests. These were used to open the NAT airmail service on 12 May 1926 on a route Chicago-Moline-St Joseph-Kansas City-Wichita-Ponca City-Oklahoma City-Dallas.
In 1929 N.A.T. purchased Stout Air Services, Inc.
Stout Air Services
Stout Air Services is an airline based in the United States. Stout Air Services was the first regularly scheduled passenger airline in America.- History :...
who continued to operate under the Stout name until United purchased N.A.T. Stout had purchased Ford Air Transport Service's
Ford Air Transport Service
Ford Air Transport Service is a defunct airline based in United States of America. The airline was also registered as Ford Air Freight Lines.- History :...
airmail routes in 1928, and flew Ford Trimotor's
Ford Trimotor
The Ford Trimotor was an American three-engined transport plane that was first produced in 1925 by the companies of Henry Ford and that continued to be produced until June 7, 1933. Throughout its time in production, a total of 199 Ford Trimotors were produced...
.
New York-Chicago mail route
NAT wished to expand their network and they successfully bid for the key New York-Chicago airmail route CAM 17. On 2 April 1927, the airline was awarded the contract in competition with three other bidders. The carriage rate was to be $1.24 per pound of airmail carried. 14 pilots were taken on from the Post Office Department and the service over the difficult route over the Allegheny MountainsAllegheny Mountains
The Allegheny Mountain Range , also spelled Alleghany, Allegany and, informally, the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
commenced on 1 September. Initially the Curtiss Carrier Pigeons were used, but were quickly supplemented by 18 Douglas M-2 mailplanes taken over from the Post Office. In turn, these were supplemented in early 1928 by eight Travel Air 6000
Travel Air 6000
|-References:NotesBibliography* Auliard, Gilles. "Time Machine." Air Classics, April 2006.* Davies, R.E.G. Airlines of the United States since 1914. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1998. ISBN 1-888962-08-9....
biplanes.
Aircraft types operated
- Curtiss Carrier PigeonCurtiss Carrier Pigeon|-See also:-References:* Bowers, Peter M. Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947. London:Putnam, 1979. ISBN 0-370-10029-8.* . Flight, April 16, 1925, pp. 228–229.* , Flight, November 26, 1925...
- Douglas M-2
- Travel Air 6000Travel Air 6000|-References:NotesBibliography* Auliard, Gilles. "Time Machine." Air Classics, April 2006.* Davies, R.E.G. Airlines of the United States since 1914. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1998. ISBN 1-888962-08-9....
- Ford TrimotorFord TrimotorThe Ford Trimotor was an American three-engined transport plane that was first produced in 1925 by the companies of Henry Ford and that continued to be produced until June 7, 1933. Throughout its time in production, a total of 199 Ford Trimotors were produced...