1914 Benoist

This is a 1/3 scale model of the 1914 Benoist Air Boat. The original Benoist was designed and built by Thomas Benoist for service by the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat line. It was considered the world's first regularly scheduled airline service. 172 flights were flown before the service was discontinued.

Aviator Tony Jannus piloted the Benoist across Tampa Bay on January 1st, 1914.Twice-daily flights connected Tampa and St. Petersburg at a cost of $5 each way. The aircraft could accommodate just one paying customer, who could weigh no more than 200 pounds when combined with luggage.

This model Benoist has a wingspan of 15 feet and is just over 10 feet long. It was built by Robert Walker, with the help of members of the Florida Aviation Historical Society.