  Lowell Board Administrator Username: Lowell Post Number: 4076 Registered: 10-2003 |
Two of the famous Goodyear blimps [technically dirigibles?] are coming to MI. One head for City Airport and to prepare to hover over the Dream Cruise while the other will head off to Brooklyn for the Michigan International Speedway weekend race. | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 1219 Registered: 10-2003 |
i think you're correct the first time lowell; dirgibles and zeppelins are rigid frame while blimps are non-rigid. goodyear has some kinda relationship with the airfield on grosse ille. i remember going down there a few years ago and being able to get up close and personal to a blimp while they fueled it up. | ||
Kimmiann Member Username: Kimmiann Post Number: 72 Registered: 10-2005 |
Yes, Rsa, the blimps always dock at Grosse Ile when they are in town. My mother served on the GI Airport Commission many years ago and managed to use those connections to get my dad a ride on one when he was dying of cancer. | ||
Flybydon Member Username: Flybydon Post Number: 162 Registered: 01-2005 |
Good News Lowell, Flyby just loves looking at those strange flying machines. http://www.aerialpics.com/D/go odyear.html http://www.aerialpics.com/D/Sn oopyOverDet.html | ||
Ndavies Member Username: Ndavies Post Number: 2722 Registered: 10-2003 |
Lowell, Are you sure about them being at City airport? The blimps in the past have overnighted at Grosse Ile Airport for Detroit events. They usually stay at the Ann Arbor Airport for MIS and Michigan Stadium events. They've been doing this for at least 30 years. I'd be very surprised if they changed their base this time around. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 1788 Registered: 10-2003 |
Wow, great pics Don!!! | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 1220 Registered: 10-2003 |
thanks don! i had forgotten the time that all four were in town. i was living in corktown at the time and heard this very strange roar outside. i ran out to see what it was just in time to see all four of them fly over in formation. very cool. | ||
Raptor56 Member Username: Raptor56 Post Number: 33 Registered: 05-2007 |
seeing 4 blimps flying in formation is pretty bad ass! how did we get the honor of having 4 blimps in town during 2002? Great Pics! | ||
Elsuperbob Member Username: Elsuperbob Post Number: 29 Registered: 03-2007 |
I love seeing the blimps. I just wish I could have been around in the 30s to see the massive dirigibles, as wide as these blimps are long, floating "silently" over New York. I've sometimes wondered if City Airport could be converted into a modern blimp (potentially dirigible if the new ones ever catch on) landing and construction site. Something that wouldn't cause much noise pollution or risk of dangerous crashes to the neighborhoods surrounding it. | ||
Vic_doucette Member Username: Vic_doucette Post Number: 346 Registered: 10-2003 |
I'm supposed to ride on one Saturday to view the cruise. Can't wait!! | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 5108 Registered: 08-2004 |
The Blimps are small potatoes compared to the massive German Zeppelin's of the 1920's and 1930's. Somewhere I remember seeing a pic of the Graf Zeppelin over downtown Detroit during its' round the world flight in 1929. When the Empire State Building was built in 1930-32, it was planned with a Zeppelin mooring at the summit. But the dangers of the wind and downdrafts prevented that from ever taking place. | ||
Elsuperbob Member Username: Elsuperbob Post Number: 30 Registered: 03-2007 |
I will have to find that photo Gistok... I didn't know any of them had ever come to Detroit. It would have been amazing to see an object longer than Detroit's tallest building was tall hanging over the city. And, yes, that Empire State scheme would have been one daring walk even if there had been no worries of downdrafts. A walk 1200 feet in the air would not have been for the faint hearted | ||
Elsuperbob Member Username: Elsuperbob Post Number: 31 Registered: 03-2007 |
I found it Gistok in the Wayne State Archives. A photo of her high above the West Side with Michigan Central in the foreground below. http://dlxs.lib.wayne.edu/cgi/ i/image/image-idx?med=1;q1=193*;rgn1=vmc_da;sid=f0f24 1a531c505563b400e22e387fefe;si ze=20;c=vmc;lasttype=boolean;v iew=entry;lastview=thumbnail;s ubview=detail;cc=vmc;entryid=x -6177;viewid=6177;start=1;resn um=16 | ||
Elsuperbob Member Username: Elsuperbob Post Number: 32 Registered: 03-2007 |
Actually in looking at the photo beyond just the first glance it's a U.S. Navy Zeppelin so not the Graf. Maybe the Akron. (Message edited by elsuperbob on August 15, 2007) | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 1794 Registered: 10-2003 |
  Superbob found it, I just wanted to make sure everyone could see it because his link didn't work for me. | ||
Elsuperbob Member Username: Elsuperbob Post Number: 33 Registered: 03-2007 |
Thanks, John, that might be it. Here's the one I found that is mislabeled as the Graf Zeppelin.  | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 5109 Registered: 08-2004 |
Thanks John! Look how long the shadow the Graf Zeppelin casts in that 1st pic... several blocks long! | ||
Elsuperbob Member Username: Elsuperbob Post Number: 34 Registered: 03-2007 |
And here's another one that probably isn't the Graf Zeppelin although I can't make out the markings on it. The name appears too short to be Graf Zeppelin. Possibly the same Navy dirigible or a sister ship of the other I posted above.  | ||
Ookpik Member Username: Ookpik Post Number: 315 Registered: 01-2007 |
 Does anyone have any info on this blimp? Photo is from WSU Virtual Motor City - Taken May 23, 1947. Ookpik | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 1800 Registered: 10-2003 |
 Map of Ford Airport in Dearborn, 1943, showing a "Blimp Mooring" icon.  Army's RS-1 blimp, moored at Ford Airpot 1926 | ||
Sknutson Member Username: Sknutson Post Number: 921 Registered: 03-2004 |
And I thought this meant the NAAFA was going to have a convention in Detroit. | ||
Downtownguy Member Username: Downtownguy Post Number: 47 Registered: 07-2004 |
They're buzzing the downtown area at this moment. | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 1221 Registered: 10-2003 |
one just flew over woodbridge. | ||
Tkierpiec Member Username: Tkierpiec Post Number: 46 Registered: 03-2007 |
I snapped a picture from New Center just a bit ago but do not know how to show it here - I tried but it's not working. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 1804 Registered: 10-2003 |
it must be within 550 x 550 pixels and under 50kb. | ||
Tkierpiec Member Username: Tkierpiec Post Number: 47 Registered: 03-2007 |
apparently I am too stupid because I reduced it and it still isn't working. Oh well, some things just aren't meant to be.  | ||
Elsuperbob Member Username: Elsuperbob Post Number: 35 Registered: 03-2007 |
I passed by DPL and got some info from the News articles on the Graf Zeppelin visits. The first visit was on its around the world tour and arrived in Detroit on August 28, 1929. It was a night arrival and most people had no idea the giant airship was over them until they heard the droning of the engines. It had arrived in Los Angeles from Tokyo the day before and it was headed for Cleveland for the National Air Races via El Paso, Kansas City, St. Louis and Chicago before Cleveland and Lakehurst. It was to meet the U.S. Navy dirigible Los Angeles in Cleveland as well. Its Michigan route took it through Wakelee: 710pm Three Rivers: 725 Sturgis: 730 Then it picked up US 112 Coldwater: 750 Jonesville: 810 Moscow: 815 Michigan Center: 830 Chelsea: 902 Ann Arbor: 920 Detroit: 940 It sped down Grand River at 70mph before slowing down for the crowds filling Cadillac Square and Grand Circus Park and the throngs filling all the rooftops. It was lit by the spotlights atop the Guardian Building. The next visit was on October 26, 1933 on its way home from the Century of Progress Fair in Chicago. That time it arrived in Detroit just after noon. In mid October, 1926, the U.S. Navy dirigible Los Angeles visited the Detroit area, possibly landing in Dearborn. I didn't get to research that one in depth. | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 1814 Registered: 10-2003 |
Here's Tkierpiec's pic of the blimps passing by today! I took the liberty of enhancing the photo a bit. ;)  | ||
Tkierpiec Member Username: Tkierpiec Post Number: 48 Registered: 03-2007 |
haha - that does look better with some blue in the sky. Pic taken from the 4th floor of my loft building. That's the new casino addition to the right of the photo. Thanks, JL. | ||
Pmb Member Username: Pmb Post Number: 6 Registered: 07-2007 |
They just flew over my head in Corktown!!! They are louder than I thought. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2941 Registered: 12-2005 |
I knew a guy once that piloted a blimp in the Navy. He was too modest. I got all excited about it but he just shrugged and said it was just a job! Go figure. I vaguely remember something weird about the controls. I think there's something like a really big steering wheel on either side of the pilot. Does anyone know how that works? Ah! Maybe it tells here: http://travel.howstuffworks.com/blimp.htm. (Message edited by Jimaz on August 15, 2007) | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1902 Registered: 11-2003 |
Jimaz--The Navy has had a tough time with their "blimps", or "dirgibles". Not the best safety record. 3 crashes that I can recall. The Shenandoah went down over land, whereas the Macon and the Akron were both lost at sea. Tough duty, I'd say. | ||
Elsuperbob Member Username: Elsuperbob Post Number: 36 Registered: 03-2007 |
Actually, Rock, you're right in that the navy had a bad time with the dirigibles but the blimps were a great success. Thousands of them were used in the Pacific during WWII and afterward with excellent results. | ||
Billk Member Username: Billk Post Number: 92 Registered: 09-2005 |
Why is the blimp going to the Dream Cruise? Usually the blimps go to sporting events that are on network tv. Is some network going to be covering the Dream Cruise? | ||
Rsa Member Username: Rsa Post Number: 1223 Registered: 10-2003 |
tires go on cars. goodyear makes tires. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2942 Registered: 12-2005 |
Check out the video on this page: http://www.personalblimp.com/. | ||
Kid_dynamite Member Username: Kid_dynamite Post Number: 181 Registered: 06-2007 |
I hooked up with a blimp in college once. Damn jaeger. | ||
Elsuperbob Member Username: Elsuperbob Post Number: 37 Registered: 03-2007 |
Like Rsa said, Billk, and I think channel 7 does have some cruise coverage. So we get to look down on all those old convertibles from way above. | ||
Jimaz Member Username: Jimaz Post Number: 2944 Registered: 12-2005 |
It would be a waste to fly a blimp over a cruise without a camera. | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 5114 Registered: 08-2004 |
Ironically during the late 20's/early 30's the US Postal Service issued some commemorative stamps with the Graf Zeppelin on them. They are among the most valuable of all 20th Century USA postage stamps... but nowhere near as valuable as the error "Inverted Jenny" biplane stamps. | ||
Sailor_rick Member Username: Sailor_rick Post Number: 190 Registered: 02-2004 |
When heard that distinctive sputter of those twin props overhead this afternoon in Ferndale, I yelled for the woman to break out the Springfield 'cause the Hienies are tryin' another spy mission like in '33. Before I could draw a bead on its silver bulk, seein' that foot with the wing on it like the tires on my Oakland Roadster, saved all of us from a calamitous misunderstanding. | ||
Gannon Member Username: Gannon Post Number: 9852 Registered: 12-2003 |
Like I said before, Target will never advertise this way. | ||
Flybydon Member Username: Flybydon Post Number: 163 Registered: 01-2005 |
Lowell was correct. The Good Year Airship, Spirt of Innovation, N2A, will tie down at Detroit City Airport.(CAY) KDET      (Message edited by flybydon on August 16, 2007) | ||
Mackinaw Member Username: Mackinaw Post Number: 3593 Registered: 02-2005 |
One of them cruised over downtown Ann Arbor at around 1,000 feet this morning, going right over my head at the corner I was at (Thompson St./William St.). I could have had an awesome photo of it in context with the Tower Plaza condo building if I had my camera. |
