Thu, Sep 16, 2004
Saturn Lightship Crew Breaks Blimp Endurance Record
The Saturn Relay Lightship established a new world class flight
duration record for Class B non rigid helium airships with volumes
from 3000 cubic meters to more than 100,000 cubic meters when it
flew for 24 hours, 40 minutes, and 55 seconds, landing at 11:10:40
pm tonight at the Long Beach Airport. The previous record of 14
hours and 9 minutes was established in 1998 in White Plains
(NY).
The record attempt highlighted Saturn National Donor Day, held
each February, the largest one-day donation drive in the
US. On that day, Saturn encourages blood, marrow and tissue
donation and creates awareness of the importance of a signed and
witnessed donor registration card.
This demonstration of long endurance emphasizes the ability of
the airships to fulfill a number of roles including persistent
airborne surveillance. Counter insurgency, pipeline protection,
border patrol, ports and harbor security, airborne law enforcement
and protection of key facilities can greatly benefit from the
ability of the airship to remain on station for extended periods of
time. On occasion, the Saturn Lightship has assisted government
agencies with security efforts.
The Saturn Relay Lightship was piloted by Carl Harbuck and
Douglas McFadden of The Lightship Group of Orlando, (FL), and spent
the entire flight in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area. The
Lightship was manufactured by The American Blimp Corporation of
Hillsboro (OR), which has a long-term contract with the Saturn
Corporation.
On board the flight was a barograph which established that the
airship did not land, in accordance with the Federation
Aeronautique International (FAI) which establishes the rules for
world records. The National Aeronautic Association is the US
representative to the FAI and will certify this new record.
Saturn uses the Relay Lightship to provide aerial marketing for
its vehicles. Branded the Saturn Relay for its new 2005 Saturn
Relay crossover sport van, the Lightship is also used to provide
aerial footage for televised sporting cultural and community
events.
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