First Flight Sculpture

A full-scale stainless steel replica of the 1914 Benoist airboat stands at the entrance to the St. Petersburg Pier, commemorating the world’s first scheduled commercial flight. On January 1, 1914, pilot Tony Jannus flew the original Benoist from Tampa to St. Petersburg, crossing Tampa Bay in 23 minutes. The installation sits near the site of the original hangar and overlooks the same waters where the flight began.

Artist Mark Aeling and MGA Sculpture Studio fabricated the piece using stainless steel plate and tubular construction. Based in St. Petersburg, the studio specializes in large-scale public art integrating metal fabrication with advanced casting and assembly.

HK Lighting ZXL16-I and ZXL20-I Accent Lights illuminate the sculpture’s structure and surface detail. Each fixture is machined from solid stainless steel to complement the material of the artwork and provide long-term durability in the Tampa Bay coastal environment.