St. Pete, FL Watched the Future of Flight Take Off Again on Oct. 30
If you live in St. Pete, you've probably driven past Albert Whitted Airport a hundred times without thinking twice about it. This morning, that little waterfront airport got its moment again.
Where it all started
A lot of people don't realize that commercial aviation was born right here. On January 1, 1914, aviation pioneer Tony Jannus carried former St. Petersburg Mayor Abe Pheil across Tampa Bay on what is recognized as the world's first scheduled commercial airline flight. The seaplane's flight took 23 minutes and landed on the Hillsborough River, and the former mayor paid $400 to be the first passenger. About 3,000 people watched from the St. Pete side as the ticket was auctioned off. (FOX 13)
What happened today
On Friday, Oct. 30, the City of St. Pete hosted Future of Flight: Jannus 2026 at Albert Whitted Park. The program opened at 9:00 a.m. with remarks from city leaders and representatives from Joby Aviation and Beta Technologies, plus a historical video, followed by a launch from Albert Whitted Airport and a live stream as the aircraft made their way to Tampa International Airport.
Joby flew its electric air taxi from Albert Whitted Airport in downtown St. Petersburg to Tampa International Airport as part of Florida's participation in a federal pilot program testing how electric air taxis can safely operate within the existing aviation system. The aircraft takes off and lands vertically, so it doesn't need a traditional runway, and Joby says it produces significantly less noise than a conventional helicopter. (FOX 13)
St. Pete was the kickoff, too. The flight opens the Florida leg of Joby's Electric Skies tour, with Orlando next on November 2, and the Florida Department of Transportation is leading one of eight projects in the federal eVTOL Integration Pilot Program. (Interesting Engineering)
What the city is planning
This wasn't a one-off photo op. St. Pete has been preparing for this for a while. The city's task force has recommended dedicated parking and charging areas for electric aircraft at Albert Whitted, long-term construction of vertiports, and standalone vertiports in high-demand areas like Downtown, the Gas Plant District, Gateway and near the beaches, along with a regional flight corridor linking Albert Whitted to Tampa International. The task force also stressed that new air mobility projects can't disrupt existing operations at Albert Whitted. (FOX 13)
So what does this mean if you live here (or want to)?
The biggest thing to know is that this is still early. The first eVTOL aircraft are expected to receive FAA certification within the next one to two years, so nobody's swapping the Howard Frankland for an air taxi tomorrow. (St. Pete Rising)
When buyers ask me about St. Pete, transportation and getting across the bay come up all the time. Seeing the city actively plan for new ways to connect downtown, the beaches and the airport is worth paying attention to. I'm not going to tell you this changes home values. Nobody knows that yet. What I can tell you is that St. Pete keeps investing in what's next, and that's part of why so many people want to be here.
Did you catch it?
If you were out at Albert Whitted this morning, I'd love to hear what you thought. If you're thinking about moving to St. Pete, take a look at my guide to the best neighborhoods in St. Pete or moving to Florida's Gulf Coast.
Thinking about St. Pete? I'll walk you through the neighborhoods closest to downtown, the waterfront and Albert Whitted, and what living there really costs.
Reach out anytime: Amanda@LeGaultLuxeGroup.com or (847) 899-1991.
Equal Housing Opportunity. Amanda LeGault, Licensed Real Estate Salesperson | FL License #SL3506757. Keller Williams on the Water, Sarasota | Brokerage License #CQ1045241. This article is general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, insurance, or financial advice.