|
How can I get a ride on the Goodyear Blimp?
Rides on the Goodyear blimps are available at the invitation of the company only. Most of the lucky riders are Goodyear customers, winners of local charity auctions, local dignitaries, or members of the press.
What happens if the ship shuts off power to both engines?
The pilot could fIy the ship as he would a free balloon, gradually valving off helium to let the blimp down. lf just one engine is shut off, the blimp can easily fIy and maintain ballonet pressure on the other one.
How many crewmen and pilots are there for each ship?
The usual complement is seventeen crewmen (riggers, engine mechanics, ground handlers, and electronic technicians), five pilots, and a public relations manager. Crewmen also share driving chores in the bus and truck and they take turns standing watch over the ship which is never, ever, left alone.
How do the pilots learn to fly blimps?
Goodyear trains its own pilots. All Goodyear LTA pilots are also certified as instructors, and they share teaching duties when a new student is assigned to one of the operations. Goodyear only takes applications from fixed-wing pilots who already have commercial instrument, and multi-engine ratings. A college education is also a big bonus for an applicant.
What is it like to ride in the Goodyear blimp?
It is the flight of dreams, smooth, slow and close to the ground. The cabin windows can be opened on a nice day, and passengers (the ship carries only six) can lean out and wave to people on the ground. You can see the ground in far greater detail than from a plane, and a given point stays in view for much longer, since the ship moves at only thirty-five miles per hour.
What is it like to fly the blimp?
The blimp has a life of its own in the air. Its movements are slow and ponderous, and yet it reacts very intimately to air currents and thermals. It can take several seconds for the ship to respond to the pilot's commands, and as a result, blimp pilots soon develop a feel that helps them counteract the blimp's inclination to aimless meanderings. The control surfaces are as big as barn doors, they are not power-assisted. On a turbulent day, the pilot might find himself half standing in the seat as he lays both feet onto one big rudder pedal to force the ship into a turn. For the most part the blimp is a relaxing joy to fly. The slow cruise speed is a special treat for a pilot used to fixed-wing flight, since he can gaze out and observe the passing landscape in much finer detail.
Do people get airsick in the blimp?
It's less likely than in almost any other aircraft. On a long flight in turbulence it is possible to get seasick, however, since the blimp will pitch and roll much like a boat. Fortunately, the envelope absorbs the bumpiness on normal flights, and the ride is usually as smooth as can be.
How high does the blimp usually fly?
Most flights, whether with passengers or cross-country, are at 1,000-1,500 feet. Goodyear likes to keep the ship close to the ground so that people can see it more easily. It has a maximum altitude, depending on the variables of the atmosphere, of about 5.000 feet. Beyond that height the air gets thinner and the helium expands, causing automatic safety valves to open.
Is the blimp safe?
Goodyear has flown passengers in its blimps for over fifty years without interruption (except for World War II), with no serious injuries. It's probably the safest form of air travel ever devised.
|
