Tony Jannus

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Tony Jannus (1889-1916), born Antony Habersack Jannus, was an early American pilot who conducted the world's first scheduled commercial airline flight on January 1, 1914. The 23 minute flight traveled between St. Petersburg, Florida and Tampa, Florida, passing some 50 feet above Tampa Bay in Jannus' Benoist biplane seaplane. Ex-mayor Abram C. Pheil, was the first passenger, having paid $400 at an auction for the privilege. The flight was the first scheduled of the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line.

Jannus was killed on October 12, 1916 when his plane (a Curtiss H-7 he was testing for the Russians) had engine problems and crashed into the Black Sea. His body was never recovered.