Pub. 7 2017 Issue 2

8 AT THE CENTER OF UTAH INDUSTRY D espite its importance, air trav- el is something most people take for granted, especially people who live in a city that serves as the hub for a major airline. It’s sometimes hard to remember that Orville and Wilbur Wright’s first flight was as re - cent as December 17, 1903, or that most people considered flying to be a heart- stopping adventure during the early days of aviation. Air travel has become so routine that people don’t give it a second thought. Advances in aviation have made it possible to quickly and safely travel across the country and around the world. Similar to aviation, people take the mining industry for granted, too. Most people don’t stop to think about the raw materials necessary tomake their lifestyle and standard of living possible. But the fact is today’s safe and environmentally responsible mining industry is an integral part of everything we do as a society. Including, of course, aviation. How did the aviation industry develop in Utah? Air travel predates the Model T Ford. It wasn’t until October 1, 1908 that the first Model T came off the Detroit production line in Ford’s Piquette Avenue plant. In essence, air travel and road trips were both developing at the same time. In addition, although trains came before cars and planes, the horse-and-buggy era overlapped all three. Utah’s location meant it could act as a midpoint for travelers across the U.S. for flight as well as for train travel. Utah’s leaders understood that being a transportation hub for the railroad was an economic benefit for Utah’s citizens. As air travel developed and became more important, they were soon excited by more than the thought of being able to fly. They understood that the new industry could benefit Utah, and they wanted to be a part of that development. During the early days of aviation, planes were often dismantled and shipped by AVIATION AND MINING