St. Petersburg Museum of History Part 1

St. Petersburg Museum of History Part 1 — the Benoist XIV, Tony Jannus and more

37º 46′ 26″ N / 82º 37′ 46″ W

Banner at the entrance to the St. Petersburg Museum of History — photo by Joe May

Near to The Dali Museum in St. Petersburg FL on the pier (with the inverted pyramidal building at its end) is the St. Petersburg Museum of History. It is quaint, with art and sculpture and exhibits the only flying replica of the first aircraft to be used as an airliner — the Benoist XIV airboat* (flying boat as they are now known) which was flown by the St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line in early 1914.

I saw this aircraft when it was flown on its one and only flight land at the seaplane basing on Davis Island in Tampa. It came in low, loud and gracefully with its two persons on board. Now is is on display suspended from the ceiling of a large room which is flooded by natural light. Poetically it lies not far from the St. Petersburg terminus of this historic and prescient airline operation.

Here are photos of this remarkable flying replica of the Benoist XIV airboat:

The Benoist XIV airboat — photo by Joe May

Profile of the Benoist XIV airboat — photo by Joe May

Front port side of the Benoist XIV airboat — photo by Joe May

Replica of Tony Jannus in the pilot's seat of the Benoist XIV — photo by Joe May

Stern view of the Benoist XIV airboat — photo by Joe May

Roberts Six, engine of the Benoist XIV — photo by Joe May

*A post entitled, Airline Operations  (by aircraft*) First Began Here — 97 years ago, was published on the first flight’s anniversary on 1 January 2011.