One hundred years ago on January 1st, commercial aviation began in St. Petersburg.
On Thursday night, the St. Petersburg Museum of History will be commemorating Tony Jannus's first commercial flight from St. Petersburg to Tampa.
The museum will be celebrating the centennial anniversary of commercial flight with a discussion panel including Warren Brown, an aviation historian, and Kermit Weeks, CEO of Fantasy of Flight in Polk City. Nevin Sitler, the museum's Director of Education, says it's fitting that the museum celebrate this centennial anniversary.
“Since we are the house of the Benoist aircraft, at least the replica, and this is the spot, less than I would say 100 yards from this location of the museum of history is where aviation history began,” Sitler said. “So it's fitting that we, the St. Petersburg museum of history recognize Tony Jannus and the Benoist company and the creation of the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat line.”
Doors open for the event at 6 p.m., they will be accepting donations.
