CAM Contract Air Mail First Flights CAM-10

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web-catalog CAM Contract Air Mail First Flights CAM-10

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Page ccCAM010 (Revised 10/26/2007)

Background: The Air Mail Act of 1925 (Kelly Act) authorized the postmaster general to contract for domestic airmail service with commercial air carriers. It also set airmail rates and the level of cash subsidies to be paid to companies that carried the mail. By transferring airmail operations to private companies, the government effectively would help create the commercial aviation industry. Various routes were designated and contracts for carrying the mail over these routes were then awarded to many different private air service companies. The Contract Air Mail routes became known as CAM's.

CAM-10: CAM-10 was awarded to Florida Airways. FA was founded in 1926 by two former WW-I ace-pilots, Edward Vernon Rickenbacker and Reed M. Chambers. CAM-10 air service was inaugurated with both north and south flights on April 1, 1926 between Miami and Jacksonville Florida with interim stops in Fort Myers and Tampa. Postal mail covers carried on the inaugural flight between each point of landing and take-off are collectible and are known as CAM-10 covers. Florida Airways used a Curtis Lark for this initial April 1, 1926 air service.
Pilots flying different legs of this April 1st CAM-10 inaugural air service included, H.J. Brady, Leonard S. Flo, Ragner T. Freng and N.W. Potter.

10S1	260401	Jacksonville FL-Miami FL	FA	Freng	$9.00
10S2	260401	Tampa FL	FA	Potter	$21.00
10S3	260401	Fort Myers FL	FA	Brady	$45.00
10N4	260401	Miami FL	FA	Potter	$7.50
10N3	260401	Fort Myers FL	FA	Potter	$18.75
10N2	260401	Tampa FL	FA	Flo	$18.75

CAM-10: Florida Airways used a Ford-Stout 2-AT monoplane named the "Miss Miami" for its September 15, 1926 air service. The Ford-Stout was built by (Henry) Ford who had purchased the (William B) Stout Metal Airplane Co, in Dearborn MI in 1925 becoming the Stout Metal Airplane Division of the Ford Motor Company. The all-metal Ford-Stout was initially outfitted with a 400hp Liberty engine and was know by several names, the "Pullman," the "Air Sedan" and was nicknamed the "Tin Goose." It was the forerunner for the future Ford Tri-Motor plane. Pilots flying different legs of this September 15th CAM-10 inaugural air service included, H.J. Brady, Carl B. Eielson, Leonard S. Flo, Ragner Torkil Freng, N.W. Potter and Samuel H. Turner.

10S5	260915	Atlanta GA	FA	Eielson	$9.00
R10N11	260915	to Macon GA by "drop mail" from Atlanta GA	FA		$45.00
10S6	260915	Macon GA	FA	Eielson	$15.00
10S7	260915	Jacksonville FL	FA	Turner	$75.00
10S8	260915	Tampa FL	FA	Freng	$90.00
10S9	260915	Fort Myers FL	FA	Freng	$120.00
10N10	260915	Miami FL	FA	Brady	$11.25
10N9	260915	Fort Myers FL	FA	Brady	$22.50
10N8	260915	Tampa FL	FA	Potter	$22.50
10N7	260915	Jacksonville FL	FA	Flo	$22.50
10N6	260915	Macon GA	FA	Flo	$26.25

10S12	260927	Macon GA	FA	Potter	$150.00
R10S13	260927	to Macon GA by northbound plane	FA		$150.00
10N12	260927	Macon GA	FA	Eielson	$150.00

INDEX: First Flights by CAM Route #

INDEX: First Flights by AM Route #

INDEX: First Flights by Experimental Route #

INDEX: First Flights by AM Route #

INDEX: First Flights by Air Taxi Services Route #

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