Do you see blimps ( airships, dirigibles) very often?

15 years ago

I was sitting at the kitchen table next to the bay window on Friday morning and noticed a huge shadow darkening my yard. When I went outside I saw a blimp flying fairly low overhead. It was probably heading to one of the air strips in our area. Maybe it was coming to Philadelphia for the Army/Navy game. They're not an unusual sight around here and I probably see 12 to 15 a year.

I was wondering if many of you get to see them very often.

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Comments (31)

kathy813
15 years ago
We have a Goodyear plant here and theirs comes fairly often. Last time a couple that works at the plant got married on it. It still startles me when I see it in the air though.
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western_pa_luann
15 years ago
Never.

We DO see hot air balloons a few times a year, though!
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Linda Wayman
15 years ago
Years ago I used to see them fairly often, but it's been over 20 years since I've seen one.

Linda
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jannie
15 years ago
I last saw one about 20 years ago. I saw one on TV during football, maybe the Super Bowl?
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mrs.micki
15 years ago
Nope can't say that I have.But I am waiting for one maybe than I can get a vacation.
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sushipup1
15 years ago
Yes, they fly between San Francisco and LA just in from the coast, and we get one here for the golf tournament in late Jan/early Feb.

And next week, I get to meet a crew member of the Met Life Snoopy Two, who is coming to a party in the Bay Area. while he is in town.
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azzalea
15 years ago
Oh, I wasn't home Friday--so I missed it. Living about 10 minutes from the stadium complex, we see them now and again when something 'big' is going on, Not on a regular basis, of course, but it's not a big "Oh Wow" moment, either.

Now, one morning, years ago, we were in bed and heard a very strange whoooshing sound. Got up and looked out the window--nothing to be seen. Then I realized that the sound was coming from above. Sure enough, there was a hot air balloon going right over our house. We quickly dressed and went out. Apparently, the wind currents were just right that day--a whole flock of them floated over our house, some very low. We could clearly see the folks in them. There was a lot of waving back and forth. McM--you know the area--they were being launced from a festival at Cooper River Park. Dozens of them. We went over the next day to watch the launching. Now, THAT weekend was unusual. Don't see a lot of hot air balloons around here at all.
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mcmann
Original Author
15 years ago
Azzalea- How neat to have them fly over your home and then seeing them at the Cooper park. I missed hearing about that. Every now and then I'll see some hot air balloons flying over what used to be the farmlands here in M'twn - not it's just another Toll development. But I do see them over the fields in Mount Laurel every now and then. I'd love to be in the Poconos when Shawnee has their huge festival.
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susan_on
15 years ago
I've never seen a blimp.
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clubm
15 years ago
Yes,living across the water from Manhatten we see them often.
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tami_ohio
15 years ago
Yes, there is one from Met Life that lands at a regional airport not far away.
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sheilajoyce_gw
15 years ago
Yes, we see the Goodyear blimp docking site along the freeway as we drive to LA, and sometimes they are in the process of docking as we drive by. And of course sometimes they are in the air around here somewhere.
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heather_on
15 years ago
I've only seen them a couple of times.
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vicki_lv_nv
15 years ago
On a daily basis. We have one that floats around with advertisements flashing on the sides. They seem prehistoric to me. I would love to ride in one. Or a hot air balloon would be cool too.
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pattico_gw
15 years ago
Seems like we used to see them a lot....but I haven't seen them for years...

The last time I remember seeing one was when my kids were real small...The Good Year blimp was in our area for some special occasion. It was tethered at the Airport. Denny and I took our kids and the neighbor kids over to see it.

We took pictures of the kids touching it.

patti
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Jodi_SoCal
15 years ago
Also living in Southern California, I've seen the Goodyear blimp many times moored next to the 405 freeway. Seen it many times in the air along with the Fuji blimp.

I live three miles from the Lighter Than Air (LTA) base where blimps of all sorts were brought there for maintenance and repairs. The based closed a few years ago and in it's place is a large shopping area called The District but, you can still see the two enormous wooden hangers in the background. They are still standing because they have been registered as National Historic landmarks.

In 1975 I worked about a half mile from the LTA base and watched the filming of the movie The Hindenburg. Around the same time Malcom Forbes took off from the base in an attempt to reach Europe in a balloon.

Jodi-

Here is a link that might be useful: Wikipedia LTA Base
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sushipup1
15 years ago
You can ride in one!

This just moved to Moffatt Field and will be taking tours of the Bay Area and Monterey Bay.

Here is a link that might be useful: Airship Ventures
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Jodi_SoCal
15 years ago
Oh yeah, forgot about Moffett Field! I grew up in the San Jose area and my step-father was a retired Naval chief. We went to Moffett often and it was there I saw my first blimp and hanger.

Jodi-
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chisue
15 years ago
A family friend worked for the company that made the electric message boards on blimps (International Totalizer, I think?) When I was about ten he arranged for us to go up in a blimp over Miami. It was wonderful -- closest you can get to living that childhood dream where you are flying! When they cut the engines, we were just floating up there in silence. We could see for miles. I remember watching big fish swimming near the shore. (Now you know this was a long time ago because I don't think there are big fish in the ocean right off Miami anymore.)

When the blimp had events along the Chicago lakefront it would tie up at O'Hare, near our home. O'Hare was just an air force field then. When the blimp crew would come over they'd 'buzz' our house and we'd wave up at them. I was the envy of the neighborhood. LOL

If you have a chance to take a ride, don't pass it up!
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golfergrrl
15 years ago
Yes, we see them often.
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adellabedella_usa
15 years ago
I've seen several blimps over the years. We see hot air balloons and a few other floaty things once in a while too. When I lived in New Mexico, I saw a few weather balloons. One 'disappeared' up into the atmosphere one day and that was pretty cool.
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sheilajoyce_gw
15 years ago
I love seeing hot air balloons in the air. They have events in southern California every now and then, not for quite awhile actually, and it is so pretty to see them floating along.
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deemarie5500
15 years ago
Frequently see them...we live within 20 miles of midtown Manhattan. There is always something going on---recently there were many balloons flying over Macy's (Thanksgiving Day!) LOL!!!
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gwanny2three
15 years ago
Funny you should ask! We see them at least once a week over our backyard. Like Jodi says we live close to where it is docked and stationed, it's about 15 minutes from my house. Everytime Ricky hears it he runs outside to take pictures of it with my old camera I let him have. Sometimes it is very low and the kids get so excited to see it. I remember as a little girl watching it go over our house. Here's one of Ricky's pictures....it's a big deal to him!

{{!gwi}}
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redcurls
15 years ago
We live in two places....in Maryland, it is rare...maybe if we're in the World Series or some other sporting event.

In Ft Lauderdale, I see them regularly. There's one particular one I love seeing in the evening sky when we're at one of the g'kids ball games...it looks like a flag waving in the breeze and is lit up with the red, white and blue lights so beautifully....
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wantoretire_did
15 years ago
When we lived in north San Diego County, there was lots of aerial activity. Dog always barked briefly at helicopters and jets from Camp Pendleton, but when the Snoopy blimp hovered around La Costa for the golf tournament, he went nuts!!

We are in upstate NY now and see mostly C-130s from the local base that services Antarctica, and corporate jets during the Saratoga racing season. Even saw a C-5 from Stewart last year!!! Both DSs were in the ANG there and worked on the C-5. Awesome airplane.

(Bestlawn - I hope you are reading this)
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lisa_fla
15 years ago
I see them every 4 months or so here in Orlando.
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jemdandy
15 years ago
I used to see a blimp one to two times a year 15 yrs ago, but haven't seen one in the past 5 years. The last time was when the Milwaukee Circus Parade was broadcast nationwide. The blimp pilots must use care not to spook the horses and circus animals.

When the Goodyear Blimp is in town, it often moors at Tinnerman Field, a small airstrip in NW Milwaukee, WI. Wind conditions have prevented it from flying at times when it was here.

Hot air balloons - see those every summer. Probably average 2 to 3 sightings a week. A couple of balloonists offer balloon rides for a fee. This increases the number of sightings. Giving a balloon ride for a 60th birthday or 40th wedding anniversary is popular. One guy took his date for a balloon ride so he could propose marriage. When asked why, he said, "She could not easily run away". He was joking, but then, I'm not sure.
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Cherryfizz
15 years ago
Any time there is a big sports event in Detroit like the Grand Prix the Goodyear Blimp flies over the house. Kind of cool to see.

When I lived in Calgary I lived in an area where hot air balloons took off and landed and sometimes I could see them from the office tower I worked at.

My Mom remember seeing the Hindenburg when it flew over this area way back when. LOL

Anne
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mad_about_mickey
15 years ago
When we lived in NJ we saw hot air balloons all the time. There were launches from the fairgrounds every year at fair time and there was a huge festival in the fall too.

We used to see the blimps when they came to cover the race at Nazareth Speedway or when it was going to the race in Delaware ? maybe?

We never see hot air balloons in NC where we live but just last week we saw a blimp ! Our first one since we've been here.

Are hot air balloons a regional thing or is the air current better in some areas?
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roseluver
15 years ago
I saw a Goodyear blimp last week, I haven't a clue where it had been or where it was headed. I was on I-55.
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Do you see blimps ( airships, dirigibles) very often?

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Do you see blimps ( airships, dirigibles) very often?

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