This was the thought that must have crossed the minds of many in April of 1914, when Anthony ”Tony“ Jannus (1889 – 1916) landed his ”airboat“ on Sarasota Bay. The Benoist XIV was a small biplane manufactured in the United States that could land on water and carry passengers. Jannus had flown 20 miles from Bradenton along the Manatee River and into Sarasota Bay; the entire trip took 27 minutes total.
He delighted the crowds by offering rides for $15 and in doing so he spurred a love of aviation in the area that still exists today. The local newspaper expressed hope that his arrival would spawn the beginning of a scheduled airline connection with Tampa, according to a historical marker.
The airline connection was not some far-fetched aspiration. Just a few months prior, Jannus had pioneered the inaugural flight of the St. Petersburg - Tampa Airboat Line, the world’s first scheduled airline using a fixed-wing aircraft, according to an article ”St. Petersburg- Tampa Airboat Line,“ on the website History.net.
Jannus himself was an early American pilot from Washington D.C. whose aerial exploits were widely publicized. He is credited as the first official airline pilot and the first person to parachute from a moving plane did so from one piloted by Jannus. He moved to St. Petersburg, Fla. In 1913, the article states.
(If the name Jannus sounds familiar, it might be because the popular music venue Jannus Live, formerly Jannus Landing, was named after the pilot, according to the venue website.)
Residents of Sarasota hoped Jannus would extend his airline south, but Jannus had opportunities elsewhere. He was hired by Curtiss Aeroplane Company to become a test pilot and trainer of Russian pilots flying Curtiss airplanes in combat during WWI. During a routine exercise in 1916, his engine failed and he and two other passengers crashed into the Black Sea. His body was never recovered, according to the article ”Tony Jannus, An Enduring Legacy of Aviation.“
Meanwhile, back in Sarasota, city leaders finally began seriously considering establishing an airport. With two U.S. Army Air Service bases near Arcadia, community leaders approached local congressmen and War Department representatives to learn how an auxiliary field could be established in the area, according to a historical site marker.
By then, the U.S. had entered the war and there was a need for airports. The only requirements were a level tract of land 1000 x 3000 feet without stumps or roots; a building to store oil and water; and a pole for a flag. The selected site was north of Fruitville Road and east of Tuttle Avenue, according to the marker.
Mayor George Franklin announced a day of community service so citizens could help prepare the field. It was called ”Franklin Field“ in his honor. Pilots-in-training began flying from Arcadia to the new air field in May of 1918, the marker states.
The field was also used for recreational purposes. Soldier would fly back and forth to attend baseball games and other social gatherings.
The war ended on November 11, 1918 and the army had no use for Franklin Field. The Dixon-Browning Company planned to offer sightseeing tours from the field, but the venture never materialized. Within two years, the field ceased to exist.
In 1924 the land was converted into a road for a new subdivision. Like many other new developments that are ironically named after what was there prior, the subdivision was called ”Avion.“
It was 10 years and participation before Sarasota would build a municipal airport. Tune in next week as we examine another era of aviation in the Sarasota area.
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