If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Goodyear blimp tour
I was bumming around STS (Sonoma County Airport) yesterday evening visiting
a friend at his hanger when we noticed that the Goodyear Blimp was "docked" across the field in a rural part of the airport. We decided to hike on over after the airport closed (and becomes uncontrolled) and take a closer look. We half expected to get chased off as the sun had already set and the blimp wasn't docked in public accessible area. We were wrong though... We were greeted by the blimp's crew chief, Tony, who immediately handed us brochures and welcomed us to take a closer look. What we ended up getting was a 45-minute personal tour of just about every aspect of the blimp and it's operation. We sat in the gondola for a good 1/2 hour and just shot the breeze as the blimp rotated back and forth a bit on it's mooring like a big windsock. The controls are nearly identical to a modern twin, with the exception of no yolks and the addition of a big "elevator wheel." and a few other mystery controls. :-) See: http://www.sonic.net/randyw/goodyear.../DSC01047.html Tony couldn't have been more accommodating. At no time did we feel rushed and he insisted on giving us a tour of the support truck too. I never thought much of blimps (Zeps are another story) before last night, but now I'm a little awe-struck. Here are all the photos if you are interested: http://www.sonic.net/randyw/goodyear_blimp (ignore the mixed-in Fiat and Porsche photos) Best, Randy Wentzel Sonoma County CA. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
California Governor's Tour | Jim Weir | Home Built | 13 | October 6th 03 02:12 PM |
National Air Tour Pix | Jay Honeck | Home Built | 14 | September 14th 03 09:36 PM |
National Air Tour Pix | Jay Honeck | Owning | 11 | September 14th 03 09:36 PM |
Navy hopes blimp can be eye in the sky | Otis Willie | Military Aviation | 7 | September 11th 03 10:48 PM |
Navy hopes blimp can be eye in the sky | Otis Willie | Naval Aviation | 0 | September 10th 03 09:10 PM |