Thomas W. Benoist facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Wesley Benoist
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | December 29, 1874 |
| Died | June 14, 1917 (aged 42) Sandusky, Ohio, US
|
| Resting place | Hopewell Cemetery, Hopewell, Washington County, Missouri |
| Occupation | Aviator Aircraft designer Aircraft manufacturer Airline entrepreneur |
Thomas W. Benoist (born December 29, 1874 – died June 14, 1917) was an American aviation pioneer. He was an aviator, airplane designer, and builder. In just ten years, he created the world's first company to sell airplane parts. He also started a top airplane manufacturing company and a successful flying school. From January to April 1914, he even ran the world's first scheduled airline!
Thomas Benoist's Life Story
Early Years and First Interests
Thomas Wesley Benoist was born on December 29, 1874. His hometown was Irondale, Missouri. His parents were Pierre E. Benoist and Anna S. Gregory. By 1904, he was a successful businessman. He worked in the car industry in St. Louis, Missouri.
Discovering Aviation at the World's Fair
In 1904, Benoist helped fund a flying machine. It was like a helicopter, but it didn't work. This machine was shown at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. This event was also called the St. Louis World's Fair. At the fair, Benoist saw a observation balloon floating high up. He also watched glider demonstrations. These experiences made him very interested in flying. He decided to make aviation his future career.
Starting Aerosco: Airplane Parts
In 1907, Benoist teamed up with E. Percy Noel. They started a company called the Aeronautic Supply Company. It was known as Aerosco. This was the world's first company to sell airplane parts. At first, Aerosco sold only raw materials for aviation experiments. But soon, they sold kits to build whole airplanes. These kits included planes from famous makers like Blériot and Curtiss. They also sold many books about flying.
Becoming a Pilot
Benoist bought a Curtiss-style airplane. He quickly learned how to fly it. His first flight was on September 18, 1910. This happened at the Kinloch Park Aero Club field in Kinloch, Missouri. He performed flying shows across the Midwest and South. But he got hurt in a flying accident. This stopped him from joining a big aviation event in October 1910.
Benoist Flying School and Aircraft Company
In March 1911, Benoist opened the Aerosco Flying School. It was at Kinloch Field. Students from all over the United States came to learn. Later, it was called the Benoist Flying School. Around the same time, he bought out his partner. He moved Aerosco to a bigger place in St. Louis. He renamed it the Benoist Aircraft Company.
With the new name, he changed the company's focus. Instead of selling parts for other planes, he started building his own designs. He first made his own version of the Curtiss-Gill plane. Both the flying school and the factory were very successful. Soon, Benoist airplanes and pilots were famous across the United States.
On October 20, 1911, the Benoist Aircraft factory burned down. Five airplanes, tools, and all company files were lost. Even though he had no insurance, Benoist quickly recovered. He opened a new factory nearby. In November 1911, he hired pilot Tony Jannus. Jannus became the chief pilot. Before the end of 1911, Benoist designed and built his first original plane. It was called the Type XII Headless.
By 1912, Benoist Aircraft was one of the world's top airplane companies. The Type XII Headless made history. On March 1, 1912, pilot Jannus flew it over Kinloch Field. Albert Berry jumped from the plane. This was the world's first successful parachute jump from an airplane!
Later that year, they improved the Type XII. This led to the Land Tractor Type XII. As a floatplane, it set a distance record. It flew 1,973 miles (3,177 km) over water. This journey was down the Missouri River and Mississippi Rivers. It went from Omaha, Nebraska, to New Orleans, Louisiana. This happened between November 6 and December 16, 1912. During the trip, Jannus gave 42 flying shows. Thousands of people saw airplanes for the first time.
In December 1912, Benoist Aircraft built its first flying boat. It was the Type XIII Lake Cruiser. The company showed it off a lot in the summer of 1913. A bigger Type XIV flying boat came soon after.
The World's First Scheduled Airline
In 1913, Percival E. Fansler asked Benoist for help. He wanted to start an air passenger service. It would use Benoist Aircraft's new flying boats. The service would connect St. Petersburg and Tampa, Florida. At that time, traveling between these cities took a whole day.
Benoist signed a three-month contract on December 17, 1913. He agreed to provide the service. The St. Petersburg Board of Trade paid for half the costs. Benoist started the service on January 1, 1914. It was called the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line. He used a Benoist XIV flying boat. This was the first scheduled airline service in the world!
Two Benoist XIVs flew twice a day across Tampa Bay. The first contract ended on March 31, 1914. By then, they had carried 1,204 passengers safely. They only lost four days due to mechanical issues. Business then slowed down. The airline closed in late April 1914. Its two flying boats were sold.
Dream of Flying Across the Atlantic
In early 1913, Benoist and Jannus started building a large new flying boat. They hoped it could fly across the Atlantic Ocean. In early 1914, a newspaper in London offered a $50,000 prize. It was for the first flight across the Atlantic in under 72 hours.
The two men developed the Type XV flying boat. It could fly for 40 hours with six passengers. It was ready to fly in 1915. But World War I had started in July 1914. This made a transatlantic flight attempt impossible. Benoist Aircraft offered to build 5,000 Type XVs for the United Kingdom. These planes would help find submarines. But the British preferred planes from another company. So, the idea did not happen.
Financial Challenges and New Designs
Benoist Aircraft could not get a big contract for its planes during the war. By 1915, the company started having money problems. To save costs, Benoist moved the company. First, it went to Chicago, Illinois. Then, it moved to Sandusky, Ohio. There, it worked with the Roberts Motor Company. This company made the engines Benoist liked best. Benoist designed the Type XVI flying boat. He also designed the Type XVII landplane. Both appeared in 1916.
Thomas Benoist's Passing
On June 14, 1917, Benoist died. He hit his head on a telephone pole. This happened as he stepped off a streetcar. He was in front of the Roberts Motor Company in Sandusky. With Benoist gone, and still facing money problems, both companies closed. This happened in early 1918. Benoist Aircraft had built just over 100 airplanes in its history.
Benoist is buried at Hopewell Cemetery. This cemetery is in Hopewell, Washington County, Missouri.
Images for kids
