Boing Boing pal Todd Lappin took a preview ride in the Airship Ventures craft that will be debuting on Halloween in the Bay Area (see previous BB post about that). Here's a snip from Todd's account:
Operated by a startup called Airship Ventures, the Zeppelin NT will be based out of Moffett Field, Calfornia — a fitting home, as Moffett was built by the US Navy during the 1920s to serve as a base for military dirigibles.
The new Zeppelins are filled with the inert helium instead of highly flammable hydrogen, they're only about one-quarter the size of than the old giants, and they're equipped with modern technology and avionics. Power is delivered by three Lycoming engines that put out around 200 horsepower each, and the airship frame is constructed from a combination of of aluminum and carbon fiber.
Boarding an airship is not at all like boarding a conventional aircraft, because an airship doesn't sit still; it tends to bob and sway as the wind blows the big balloon around. As a result, climbing on board the Zeppelin is a bit like stepping from a stable dock onto a boat that's rocking on a gentle sea.
Flight Report: Aloft in a Zeppelin Airship (Telstar Logistics)
Previously: Historic Halloween Steampunk Airship Ride With Victorian Rockers Abney Park
