Beginning of U.S. Commercial Airline Service
This aircraft, used in the first commercial airline flight, was a “flying boat” that could only carry one passenger at a time.
What is the Benoist Model XIV Airboat?
Early WWI aircraft were primarily used for this purpose before being armed for combat.
What is reconnaissance or intelligence gathering?
The first scheduled airmail flight took place in this year.
What is 1918?
This Florida city was the destination of the first commercial airline flight in 1914.
What is Tampa?
This German engineer proved metal could be used in aircraft by designing the Junkers J1.
Who is Hugo Junkers?
This pilot was chosen to fly the first airmail route but crash-landed in Maryland.
Who is George Boyle?
This was the cost of a ticket on the first commercial airline flight, equivalent to about $5,000 today.
What is $5?
This innovation allowed pilots to fire machine guns through the propeller without damaging it.
What is interrupter gear?
These large concrete structures helped guide airmail pilots during the day.
What are navigation arrows?
Despite its short lifespan, the St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line transported this many passengers in just four months.
What is over 1,200 passengers?
These types of wing configurations made WWI aircraft more maneuverable but less stable.
What are biplanes and triplanes?
This system of towers and beacons helped pilots fly safely at night across the U.S.
What is the Transcontinental Airway System?
This major limitation of the Benoist Airboat made it difficult to fly in most parts of the U.S.
What is its low altitude flight capability (around 50 feet)?
This engine type, popular in WWI, rotated with the crankcase and caused gyroscopic precession.
What is a rotary engine?
This was one major reason communities might have opposed the construction of airway beacons.
What is fear of airplanes flying overhead or loss of land?