Benoist XIV

The Benoist XIV, often called the “Benoist Flying Boat,” was a small, single‑engine biplane built by the Benoist Aircraft Company in the United States during the early 1910s. Designed by Thomas W. Benoist, the aircraft first flew in 1913 and quickly proved itself as a versatile platform for both passenger service and military experimentation. Powered by a 75‑horsepower Roberts inline engine, the wooden‑frame, fabric‑covered craft featured a 33‑foot wingspan, a hull‑type fuselage that allowed water takeoffs and landings, and a simple open cockpit that accommodated a pilot and one passenger. Its most famous operation was the inaugural scheduled airline service between St. Petersburg and Tampa, Florida, launched on January 1, 1914, marking the world’s first regular commercial air route. The Benoist XIV also attracted the attention of the U.S. Navy, which evaluated the model for patrol duties and used it in the first successful naval air‑mail experiment. Though only a handful were built, the aircraft demonstrated the practicality of amphibious flight, helped launch commercial aviation, and set a precedent for future flying‑boat designs. Its elegant lines and reliable performance made it a popular training aircraft for aviators, and several examples survive in museums today, preserving its legacy for future generations.