The Florida Aviation Historical Society

 

Our Tagline refers to the establishment of the Tampa St. Petersburg Airboat Service in 1914

 

FIRST AIRLINE FLIGHT WAS IN 1914

"The New Year's Day flight by Tony Jannus on January 1, 1914, was the first scheduled airline flight with a passenger and started him on a career, carrying passengers across Tampa Bay.  Jannus used a Benoist biplane seaplane in the flight from St. Petersburg to Tampa, Florida.  It was reported that he flew at a height of 15 feet on his trips across the bay."  This is from The Miami Herald, Sunday, Jan.1, 1984, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the flight.

 

From Sport Aviation, December 1983

Eaa--The Sport Aviation Association

"The anniversary of the flight has been celebrated in St. Petersburg and Tampa for many years and various aircraft have been used to commemorate the original flight.  A few years ago, the Florida Aviation Historical Society Undertook the construction of an accurate replica of the Benoist, with a target date of January 1, 1984 for completion -- the 70th anniversary of Jannus' 1914 adventure."

 

The Benoist relica is on display at the St Petersburg Museum of History.