Public Will Have An Opportunity To Purchase Flights On Zeppelin
NT
The largest flying airship in the world – the Farmers
Airship, a Zeppelin NT owned and operated by Airship Ventures
– is headed to EAA AirVenture 2011, where it will offer
45-minute scenic flights over the AirVenture grounds and
Winnebagoland.
Airship Ventures, based out at Silicon Valley’s Moffett
Field in California, is touring the Farmers Airship throughout the
country this summer for the first time in partnership with Farmers
Insurance. Flying since 2001, Zeppelin NTs have carried more than
80,000 passengers. The Farmers Airship is the fourth and most
recent Zeppelin NT to be built and has been offering scenic
“flightseeing” tours above California since 2008.
“Crossing the country with our partners Farmers Insurance
we’ve brought the joy of the Zeppelin experience to dozens of
communities and events, but I am not sure we’ve ever
experienced one quite like AirVenture,” said Alexandra Hall,
Airship Ventures CEO. “We’re thrilled to be bringing
the first Zeppelin to sail the U.S. skies in more than 70 years to
Oshkosh and celebrate aviation alongside so many enthusiasts and
fans.”
At 246 feet in length, the airship is 15 feet longer than a
standard Boeing 747, and 50 feet longer than the largest blimp
currently operating. The gondola accommodates one pilot, one flight
attendant, and up to 12 passengers, with luxury features including
huge panoramic windows, onboard restroom with window, and a
180-degree rear observation window.
“No matter how many times you’ve been to AirVenture,
there is always something new to see and experience,” said
Tom Poberezny, EAA and AirVenture chairman. “We are delighted
to welcome Airship Ventures and the Farmers Airship to the one
place in the world where all forms of aviation come
together.”
With a top speed of 77 miles per hour and maximum flight range
of 500 nautical miles, the Zeppelin NT is able to land, exchange
passengers, and take off again in under five minutes – all
within a 600-foot diameter landing area. The ship’s
maneuverability is due in large part to its innovative propulsion
system, utilizing three 200-horsepower, variable pitch, vectoring
engines manufactured by Lycoming. Able to work independently of
each other, two engines are mounted on the side of the hull, with
the third mounted at the rear – powering two propellers, one
for lift and one for thrust.
The engines are mounted to a light yet rigid framework, composed
of triangular carbon-fiber frames, and three aluminum lengthwise
beams braced by polymer cables. This distinguishes a Zeppelin from
“blimps,” which maintain their shape entirely due to
the internal pressure from contained lifting gas. Like blimps, the
Zeppelin NT uses non-flammable helium for lift, contained in a
tear-proof outer envelope composed of high strength multi-layer
fabric – manufactured by ILC Dover, the same company that
creates the fabric for NASA space suits.
The Farmers Airship will be based at Pioneer Airport during
AirVenture. Public tours aboard the Farmers Airship will be offered
for $399/person July 22-31; tour duration is 45 minutes.
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