Antony Habersack Jannus was born in Washington, D.C. back in 1889. In 1910, he was working as a boat engine mechanic when he became interested in flying. In 1911, he was given his pilot’s license. In 1913, he participated in an air exhibition where he flew the actress Julia Bruns 4,000 feet about Staten Island for twenty minutes.
He moved to Florida where he became a test pilot for the Curtiss Aeroplane Company. In July of 1915, he successfully flew the prototype Curtiss JN-3. In 1916, near Sevastopol, Russia his plane experienced engine trouble and crashed into the Black Sea, killing Jannus, his body was never recovered he was 27.
What you may not know about Antony is that in 1912, he flew the first airplane from which a parachute jump was make. In 1914, he flew the first scheduled commercial airline flight in the world using heavier-than-air aircraft from St. Petersburg, Florida to Tampa, Florida. The Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society, recognizes outstanding individual achievement in the scheduled commercial aviation industry. The award is presented each year.
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