Noted: Airplane pilot and world distance flying record holder.
He was hired by Stout Metal Airplane Division of the Ford Motor Company August 11, 1925 for 62 1/2 cents an hour to work in the airplane plant. In February of 1926 he had been appointed to relief pilot for Ford's Air Transport Service. When Edward Hamilton replaced Major Schroeder as airport manager in November of 1926, Harry was promoted to his assistant and Chief Test Pilot. Except for one flight made by Charles Lindbergh in 1927, the "1926 Ford Flivver" was flown exclusively by Harry Brooks. February 21, 1928 he set a world distance record while flying the Flivver; flying over 1,000 miles non-stop from Detroit, Michigan to Miami, Florida on 48 gallons of gasoline. On the return flight he crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. His remains were never found. Brooks' publicity is said by historians to have exceeded only that of William Mayo; the only other Ford employee allowed to receive such personal press attention.
He was hired by Stout Metal Airplane Division of the Ford Motor Company August 11, 1925 for 62 1/2 cents an hour to work in the airplane plant. In February of 1926 he had been appointed to relief pilot for Ford's Air Transport Service. When Edward Hamilton replaced Major Schroeder as airport manager in November of 1926, Harry was promoted to his assistant and Chief Test Pilot. Except for one flight made by Charles Lindbergh in 1927, the "1926 Ford Flivver" was flown exclusively by Harry Brooks. February 21, 1928 he set a world distance record while flying the Flivver; flying over 1,000 miles non-stop from Detroit, Michigan to Miami, Florida on 48 gallons of gasoline. On the return flight he crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. His remains were never found. Brooks' publicity is said by historians to have exceeded only that of William Mayo; the only other Ford employee allowed to receive such personal press attention.
Noted: Airplane pilot and world distance flying record holder.
He was hired by Stout Metal Airplane Division of the Ford Motor Company August 11, 1925 for 62 1/2 cents an hour to work in the airplane plant. In February of 1926 he had been appointed to relief pilot for Ford's Air Transport Service. When Edward Hamilton replaced Major Schroeder as airport manager in November of 1926, Harry was promoted to his assistant and Chief Test Pilot. Except for one flight made by Charles Lindbergh in 1927, the "1926 Ford Flivver" was flown exclusively by Harry Brooks. February 21, 1928 he set a world distance record while flying the Flivver; flying over 1,000 miles non-stop from Detroit, Michigan to Miami, Florida on 48 gallons of gasoline. On the return flight he crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. His remains were never found. Brooks' publicity is said by historians to have exceeded only that of William Mayo; the only other Ford employee allowed to receive such personal press attention.
He was hired by Stout Metal Airplane Division of the Ford Motor Company August 11, 1925 for 62 1/2 cents an hour to work in the airplane plant. In February of 1926 he had been appointed to relief pilot for Ford's Air Transport Service. When Edward Hamilton replaced Major Schroeder as airport manager in November of 1926, Harry was promoted to his assistant and Chief Test Pilot. Except for one flight made by Charles Lindbergh in 1927, the "1926 Ford Flivver" was flown exclusively by Harry Brooks. February 21, 1928 he set a world distance record while flying the Flivver; flying over 1,000 miles non-stop from Detroit, Michigan to Miami, Florida on 48 gallons of gasoline. On the return flight he crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida. His remains were never found. Brooks' publicity is said by historians to have exceeded only that of William Mayo; the only other Ford employee allowed to receive such personal press attention.
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