Aviation Pioneer. He is credited with flying the first airplane from which a parachute jump was accomplished and for becoming the first commercial airline pilot. The son of a patent attorney, he became interested in flying when he attended an airshow at Baltimore, Maryland in 1910. He attended flight training that same year at College Park Airport, Maryland and received his pilot's license. In 1911 he became a test pilot for aircraft manufacturer Thomas Benoist in St. Louis, Missouri. On March 1, 1912 he piloted a Benoist biplane aircraft from which Albert Berry made the first successful parachute jump near Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. In 1913 he moved to St. Petersburg, Florida where he established St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line, a scheduled airboat route linking Tampa, Florida to St. Petersburg. He then left Florida to become a test pilot for the Curtiss Aeroplane Company. The following year he travelled to Russia to train pilots to fly Curtiss aircraft in combat during World War I. On October 12, 1916, while on a training flight with a two-man Russian crew, his aircraft developed mechanical problems and crashed into the Black Sea, near Sevastopol. His body was never recovered. In 1964 the Tony Jannus Award was created in his honor and given annually by the Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society in recognition of those who have made significant contributions to the commercial aviation industry.
Aviation Pioneer. He is credited with flying the first airplane from which a parachute jump was accomplished and for becoming the first commercial airline pilot. The son of a patent attorney, he became interested in flying when he attended an airshow at Baltimore, Maryland in 1910. He attended flight training that same year at College Park Airport, Maryland and received his pilot's license. In 1911 he became a test pilot for aircraft manufacturer Thomas Benoist in St. Louis, Missouri. On March 1, 1912 he piloted a Benoist biplane aircraft from which Albert Berry made the first successful parachute jump near Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. In 1913 he moved to St. Petersburg, Florida where he established St. Petersburg–Tampa Airboat Line, a scheduled airboat route linking Tampa, Florida to St. Petersburg. He then left Florida to become a test pilot for the Curtiss Aeroplane Company. The following year he travelled to Russia to train pilots to fly Curtiss aircraft in combat during World War I. On October 12, 1916, while on a training flight with a two-man Russian crew, his aircraft developed mechanical problems and crashed into the Black Sea, near Sevastopol. His body was never recovered. In 1964 the Tony Jannus Award was created in his honor and given annually by the Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society in recognition of those who have made significant contributions to the commercial aviation industry.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
Inscription
Died at Sea. Fear thou not for I am with thee Be not dismayed for I am thy God.
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