Florida Airways
Encyclopedia
Florida Airways is a defunct American
airline
. Founded in part by Eddie Rickenbacker
and based in the state of Florida
, the airline served the southeastern United States during the mid 1920s.
, Reed Chambers
, and Virgil Chinea who later claimed "it was the worst investment he ever made". Several outside investors were brought in including Richard F Hoyt, Anne Morgan, Percy Rockefeller, and Henry Ford
who bought 3 of his own Stout 2AT's
for the venture. Florida Airways started service on Paxon field in 1923. Florida Airways was the second airline in the world to start regularly scheduled passenger service behind Ford Air Transport Service
on June 1, 1926 The first service was from Tampa to Miami and Jacksonville
Florida Airways was a pioneer airline operating on the CAM (Commercial Air Mail
) routes that subsidized early air commerce through airmail contracts. Florida Airways secured the CAM-10 route between Miami and Atlanta. On September 15, 1926 a Florida Airways mail flight on the Tampa - Jacksonville - Atlanta route becomes the first commercial flight to land at Candler Field (forerunner to Atlanta International Airport). Passenger revenue was too low or sparse to solely support an airline. Florida Airways charged $60 for a one way Miami to Jacksonville Ticket in 1926. The number of passengers for 1926 totaled 939. In order to increase revenue, wet letters or even bricks with stamps were mailed back and forth on the airline.
By 1926, Florida Airways sought travel to Cuba
to keep solvency. On a business trip to negotiate rights, it was discovered that Juan Trippe
had already negotiated exclusive landing rights in Cuba for Pan American Airways a year earlier. Florida Airways ceased operations on 9 June 1927. Two months later, Harold Pitcairn founder of Pitcairn Aviation won the bid for the abandoned Miami-Atlanta airmail contract. Pitcairn Aviation would eventually become a part of Eastern Air Transport, later a part of North American Aviation Corporation
, which in turn became Eastern Airlines.
After Florida Airways stopped service, two Stout 2-AT's were purchased by Stout Air Services
, which went on to become United Airlines
.
On November 3, 1925 Henry Ford sent off 4 new Stout 2-AT's to Florida with an audience of 5000 spectators from Ford Airport (Dearborn)
. After a stop in Nashville, Tennessee
, the first Stout on takeoff Miss Fort Myers fishtailed on its takeoff run and crashed into Miss Tampa and Miss Miami sparing only Miss St Petersburg. Only three aircraft made it to Florida for initial delivery.
The 1926 Miami hurricane
killed 400, and left 50,000 homeless. It blew away a Florida Airways Stout 2-AT Pullman
tied down outside.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
airline
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
. Founded in part by Eddie Rickenbacker
Eddie Rickenbacker
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker was an American fighter ace in World War I and Medal of Honor recipient. He was also a race car driver and automotive designer, a government consultant in military matters and a pioneer in air transportation, particularly as the longtime head of Eastern Air Lines.-Early...
and based in the state of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, the airline served the southeastern United States during the mid 1920s.
History
Florida Airways was founded by Eddie RickenbackerEddie Rickenbacker
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker was an American fighter ace in World War I and Medal of Honor recipient. He was also a race car driver and automotive designer, a government consultant in military matters and a pioneer in air transportation, particularly as the longtime head of Eastern Air Lines.-Early...
, Reed Chambers
Reed Chambers
Reed McKinley Chambers was a pioneer in the American Aviation industry, as a flying ace in World War One, as founder of an early airline, and as founder and chairman of America's first aviation insurance company.-Early life and military service:...
, and Virgil Chinea who later claimed "it was the worst investment he ever made". Several outside investors were brought in including Richard F Hoyt, Anne Morgan, Percy Rockefeller, and Henry Ford
Henry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
who bought 3 of his own Stout 2AT's
Stout 2-AT Pullman
The Stout 2-AT "Pullman" or "Air Pullman" was a single engine all-metal monoplane that was used for early airline travel and air mail transport in America.-Development:...
for the venture. Florida Airways started service on Paxon field in 1923. Florida Airways was the second airline in the world to start regularly scheduled passenger service behind Ford Air Transport Service
Ford Air Transport Service
Ford Air Transport Service is a defunct airline based in United States of America. The airline was also registered as Ford Air Freight Lines.- History :...
on June 1, 1926 The first service was from Tampa to Miami and Jacksonville
Florida Airways was a pioneer airline operating on the CAM (Commercial Air Mail
Airmails of the United States
Airmails of the United States or U.S. Air Mail relates to the servicing of flown mails by the U.S. postal system within the United States, its possessions, and/or territories, marked as "Via Air Mail" , appropriately franked, and afforded any then existing class or sub-class of U.S...
) routes that subsidized early air commerce through airmail contracts. Florida Airways secured the CAM-10 route between Miami and Atlanta. On September 15, 1926 a Florida Airways mail flight on the Tampa - Jacksonville - Atlanta route becomes the first commercial flight to land at Candler Field (forerunner to Atlanta International Airport). Passenger revenue was too low or sparse to solely support an airline. Florida Airways charged $60 for a one way Miami to Jacksonville Ticket in 1926. The number of passengers for 1926 totaled 939. In order to increase revenue, wet letters or even bricks with stamps were mailed back and forth on the airline.
By 1926, Florida Airways sought travel to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
to keep solvency. On a business trip to negotiate rights, it was discovered that Juan Trippe
Juan Trippe
Juan Terry Trippe was an American airline entrepreneur and pioneer, and the founder of Pan American World Airways, one of the world's most prominent airlines of the twentieth century.-Early years:...
had already negotiated exclusive landing rights in Cuba for Pan American Airways a year earlier. Florida Airways ceased operations on 9 June 1927. Two months later, Harold Pitcairn founder of Pitcairn Aviation won the bid for the abandoned Miami-Atlanta airmail contract. Pitcairn Aviation would eventually become a part of Eastern Air Transport, later a part of North American Aviation Corporation
North American Aviation
North American Aviation was a major US aerospace manufacturer, responsible for a number of historic aircraft, including the T-6 Texan trainer, the P-51 Mustang fighter, the B-25 Mitchell bomber, the F-86 Sabre jet fighter, the X-15 rocket plane, and the XB-70, as well as Apollo Command and Service...
, which in turn became Eastern Airlines.
After Florida Airways stopped service, two Stout 2-AT's were purchased by Stout Air Services
Stout Air Services
Stout Air Services is an airline based in the United States. Stout Air Services was the first regularly scheduled passenger airline in America.- History :...
, which went on to become United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
.
Destinations
Country/Continent- Atlanta
- Jacksonville
- Miami
Fleet
The Florida Airways fleet consists of the following aircraft as of 1926| Aircraft | Total | Routes | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stout 2-AT Pullman Stout 2-AT Pullman The Stout 2-AT "Pullman" or "Air Pullman" was a single engine all-metal monoplane that was used for early airline travel and air mail transport in America.-Development:... |
3 | |||
| Travel Air Travel Air The Travel Air Manufacturing Company was an aircraft manufacturer established in Wichita, Kansas in the United States in January 1925 by Clyde Cessna, Walter Beech, and Lloyd Stearman.-Company history:... |
2 | |||
| Curtiss Lark | 1 | Miss Tallahassee | ||
| Stinson Detroiter Stinson Detroiter |-See also:... |
1 | Miss Atlanta |
Incidents and accidents
Ford Airport (Dearborn)
Ford Airport in Dearborn, Michigan was one of the first modern airports in the world. The airport operated from 1924 to 1947, and the site is now part of Ford Motor Company's Dearborn Proving Ground. The airport is about 360 acres in size....
. After a stop in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, the first Stout on takeoff Miss Fort Myers fishtailed on its takeoff run and crashed into Miss Tampa and Miss Miami sparing only Miss St Petersburg. Only three aircraft made it to Florida for initial delivery.
The 1926 Miami hurricane
1926 Miami Hurricane
The 1926 Miami hurricane was a Category 4 hurricane that devastated Miami in September 1926. The storm also caused significant damage in the Florida Panhandle, the U.S. state of Alabama, and the Bahamas...
killed 400, and left 50,000 homeless. It blew away a Florida Airways Stout 2-AT Pullman
Stout 2-AT Pullman
The Stout 2-AT "Pullman" or "Air Pullman" was a single engine all-metal monoplane that was used for early airline travel and air mail transport in America.-Development:...
tied down outside.