Michigan played a pivotal role in the development of commercial passenger air travel in the 1920s, with the introduction of the Ford Tri-Motor, which launched one of the nation's first passenger airline services from Ford Airport in Dearborn. The aircraft's lightweight construction and three engines provided a crucial safety assurance for the passengers. Following the passage of the 1925 Kelly Act, Stout Air Services expanded routes and Ford Air Transportation Service handled logistics. The Tri-Vehicic also promoted public trust through “reliability tours” to demonstrate the aircraft’s dependability.