St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line: The World’s First Airline, Part 4


What the Press Said at the Time

Several newspapers from other cities around Florida made some noises questioning the safety of the aircraft and the Airboat Line when service was begun in St. Petersburg / Tampa.

The Jacksonville News reported that "St. Petersburg papers might secure an obituary sketch of all aeroplane passengers at the same time they take the manifests. It might save some time." No passengers of the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat line were ever injured on a flight, although one passenger was taken off (unhurt) onto a motorboat after the airboat struck a submerged object and received hull damage upon landing. The plane was quickly repaired and returned to service.

Across town, the Jacksonville Metropolis editorialized: "St. Petersburg is now a city of pelicans, porpoises & planes."

The Tampa Tribune noted that the first flight had been made "without mishap" and gave the event a banner headline in its January 2 edition--"The First Commercial Air Ship Line Inaugurated." The article stated: "When the airboat arrived yesterday morning, a crowd of 2,000 was waiting near the temporary landing [site] , another 1,000 saw what they could from the Lafayette Street bridge, and 500 more were across the river. When the dock was reached, an enthusiastic cheer went up, and there was a clapping and the waving of hats and handkerchiefs. A moment later, there was a rush down the three narrow planks connecting the platform with the shore; men, women and children [were] fighting to get down to the boat and its two occupants."

The Estero Eagle asked, "Is Tampa such a tough and wicked old city that its residents are preparing to fly from it?"

The Tampa Tribune responded to the Eagle question: "All airboat passengers have been from St. Petersburg and are apparently eager to get to Tampa."

The St. Petersburg Independent, defending itself against the Tampa slur, replied: "It is noticeable that the time from Tampa is always faster than the time to Tampa. Once having reached Tampa, no matter how anxious to get there, the passengers are always in a hurry to get away."

Lasting Legacy

The St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line operated flights between St. Petersburg and Tampa for just over four months. While the Airboat Line was not very profitable during the months it operated, it didn't lose money, either. This small company demonstrated to the world that air transportation could be a viable business. Fansler stated in a speech the day of the initial flight: "What was impossible yesterday is an accomplishment today, while tomorrow heralds the unbelievable". The company also proved that aircraft with good maintenance and competent pilots could provide safe public transportation.

The copyright of the article St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line: The World’s First Airline, Part 4 in Airlines is owned by John L. Hoh, Jr.. Permission to republish St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line: The World’s First Airline, Part 4 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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