Blimp

Posted at 6:58 PM on June 28, 2008 by Bob Collins (9 Comments)

Here's the thing about blimps: They're about the only aircraft left that people will talk about, as in "hey, did you see the blimp?" There's a B-25 based out of South St. Paul that flies around these parts and, so far, I'm the only one I know who says, "hey did you see the B-25?"

But a blimp -- airship as they're officially called -- is still a mysterious beast.

At Crystal Airport on Saturday, its Orlando-based crew tethered it (only the nose is tied down, that way it can swing 360 degrees like a weathervane) and then sat out the storms before resuming flights over the various activities of the Twin Cities this weekend.

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Comments (9)

My 8-year-old daughter saw this: big thrill. U.S. Open appearance, we guessed. The News Cut ad was subliminal.

Posted by David Brauer | June 28, 2008 7:53 PM

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My guess is the U.S. Women's Open, too. I remember the Goodyear Blimp was in town for the U.S. Open in 1991, and it moored at Crystal Airport. My family lived a few miles away from the airport, so needless to say, it was an exciting time for this grade-school-age little boy. The Goodyear Blimp was actually pretty loud; we could hear its dull whir even though it was several hundred feet up (what altitude do they usually fly?). As it flew over our house at night, it would light up and different designs would run up and down the sides. I had no interest in the U.S. Open at the time (all I knew was that Payne Stewart eventually won in an 18-hole playoff) but the Goodyear Blimp being in town is one of my fondest childhood memories.

Our close proximity to Crystal Airport came in handy to my parents. Whenever I was restless, they knew they could just drive 5 minutes to the airport and watch planes landing for an hour or so.

Posted by Mac Wilson | June 29, 2008 12:59 AM

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Was the add on the other side "MPR - Every listener, any amount"?

Posted by Alison | June 29, 2008 7:21 AM

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Speaking of the Goodyear blimp, I had the opportunity to see it at Oshkosh last July. I'd never seen a blimp moor before and it's really big; much bigger than the Met Life blimp.

Here's some pictures of it on one of my personal blogs.

And, yes, the U.S. Open makes perfect sense for the reason for the blimp's appearance.

Posted by Bob Collins | June 29, 2008 8:30 AM

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Wow you have your News Cuts on the side of a blimp!!! and you have another blog(s)?! You sure are Paper Man!

Posted by c | June 29, 2008 8:41 AM

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I also live next to Crystal Airport (in what the city calls the Airport Neighborhood, so you know I'm close). It is such a thrill to have my 2 year old yell Bimp Bimp (or in non-2year old Blimp Blimp), my 5 year old daughter takes it in stride, as this is the 3 or so Blimp she has seen at the Airport.

Posted by Brian Hanf | June 30, 2008 8:34 AM

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The blimp sighting provided welcome amusement during a conference call on Friday afternoon.

Had a b-25 gone by, I'd have had my nose pressed against the glass.

Posted by bsimon | June 30, 2008 10:45 AM

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// It is such a thrill to have my 2 year old yell Bimp Bimp (or in non-2year old Blimp Blimp),

I had a 2 year old like that. Except he yelled when a "fire truck" went by. I won't bother writing what it sounded like when he tried to say fire truck, though. Got kind of embarrassing in public. A well-timed blimp would've made life much easier.

Posted by Bob Collins | June 30, 2008 11:18 AM

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Crystal must the the official blimp dock of the Twin Cities. The Goodyear blimp stayed there when it was here for the PGA in 2002. I imagine it will be there again next year. And it is loud, you can hear it on the golf course and sometimes even when you're watching it on television.

Had enough blimp talk yet?

Posted by Kevin from Minneapolis | June 30, 2008 8:35 PM

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