Benoist XIV
The Benoist XIV, also called The Lark of Duluth, was a small biplane flying boat built in the United States in 1913 in the hope of using it to carry paying passengers. The two examples built were used to provide the first heavier-than-air airline service anywhere in the world, and the first airline service of any kind at all in the United States. The first fixed-wing scheduled airline was started on January 1, 1914. The flight was piloted by Tony Jannus and flew from St. Petersburg, Florida, to Tampa, Florida, operated by the St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line.
Summary from Wikipedia, photo via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA.
- Manufacturer
- Benoist Aircraft
- Category
- Seaplanes & amphibians
- First flight
- 1913-01-01
Specifications
- Cruise speed
- 56 kt
- Max speed
- 56 kt
- Range
- 109 nm
- Empty weight
- 1,250 lb
- Powerplant
- Roberts straight-6
- Engines
- 1
- Seats
- 2
- Length
- 26 ft
- Wingspan
- 44 ft
- Number built
- 2
Specifications are approximate and may vary by variant. Compiled from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Reference and training only. Specifications vary by variant — consult the manufacturer and the official documents.