Benoist Airboat – Commemorative Flight

Some updates on the Benoist Project. Check them out.

Metal update
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_A2EDsv1Rg&feature=share&list=UUBEGbI4_GmxjVKIqCwrG66g

Launch Site report
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ6Mudi4UCM&feature=share&list=UUQh5nBjT472YgRVLZhLH_Pw

Wing Panel update
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOS7gpTwiCo&feature=share&list=ULpOS7gpTwiCo

I’m surprised that there isn’t more being made of this, especially in aviation circles. You’d think one of the major airlines would want to jump on board here for publicity purposes.

I had the same exact thought. Besides this post and the listed benoist2014.com website, there isn’t another thing about this anywhere. Curious!

Kermit Weeks is building a reproduction of the Benoist Airboat that made the first commercial flight on January 1, 1914. He plans to fly the replica on the 100 year anniversary, January 1, 2014.
http://youtu.be/FwF2LlhtGOw

That’s a very cool project. I’m surprised that there isn’t more being made of this, especially in aviation circles. You’d think one of the major airlines would want to jump on board here for publicity purposes. This is where they all started!

It might look like just a scattered bunch of wood and metal right now, but once they start the assembly it will come together rather quickly. The flight testing would be my big concern. And then the actual flight. With that, there’s a lot that can go wrong that is completely out of their hands.

From the looks of this video, they have a long way to go. Definitely questioning whether they’ll get it built in time.