Flight in the slow lane

Maybe not as exciting as the Blackbird---but they do remain within sight far longer are the Goodyear blimps.

The one below was flying in endless circles over Met Life Stadium last night for the Jets/Browns game---the image of the Flag was only on one side but was a nice touch. Does anyone know how they do that?

At the cottage, which is close to Williamsport PA and the Little League world series, they keep the blimp at the airport. The airport is about 7 miles as the crow flies and a mountain ridge line from the cottage. The first time I saw them take off I was shocked--they come up from behind that ridge at about a 45 degree angle---and like someone shot them in the tail:omfg:

Yeah, I was surprised by the take off angle the first time I saw it as well.

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Originally Posted by Dave Grubb

the image of the Flag was only on one side but was a nice touch. Does anyone know how they do that?

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I didn't find that yet, but here is some interesting info about the blimp...One of them was stationed in Spring near Mike's house for many years...I missed my one chance for a free ride when I worked for Goodyear because I would have had to lose a day's pay, and I really needed the money...:wah:...Ben

I could see what appeared to be a grid where the flag image was. I assume they have programmable LED's to construct the image.

As an aside, the airport (MacArthur) referred to in the article is literally just across the street from where I am sitting right now---but I have never seen them here :shrug:

Like Ben said, they used to have a hanger and house a blimp about 5 miles south of me. I would see it in the air several days a week. The area I was assigned when I worked patrol included the blimp base and I used to try to get a MPH reading on my radar. Never managed to do that, probably because it was moving too slow.

I was always intrigued by the old huge hydrogen-filled Zeppelins of the 30’s. Those things were luxurious and the idea of them flying across the Atlantic without any idea what the weather was doing seemed incredible to me. Why they did not have more catastrophic losses before the Hindenburg fire put an end to the era is a mystery, although there were several previous disasters.

Helium has nearly the lift of hydrogen, but is much more expensive and rare. I read somewhere that helium is not only rare, but when we use the ground resources up, which humans are doing rapidly, that is it for helium except for ultra difficult extraction processes. Seems to me big uses of such rare resources to fill blimps, kids’ balloons and making funny voices is kind of a waste. I hope what I recall reading is wrong.

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Originally Posted by wacojoe

I hope what I recall reading is wrong.

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Probably one of our lesser worries right now, Joe, per Wikipedia...:nerd:...Ben

I knew I could count on someone to get to work for me and look that up. I will sleep better tonight.

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Originally Posted by wacojoe

I knew I could count on someone to get to work for me and look that up.

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I assume you got last month's statement for my services, but this "30 days to pay" nonsense has to stop...:flash:...Ben

I don’t pay my b*tches.

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Originally Posted by wacojoe

I don’t pay my b*tches.

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oh Joe I'm on retainer for Ben and I'm serving Fair notice on you you need to cease and desist remarks like this lest you suffer civil unrest in the state of Texas