Announcements 2010


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2010jul01
Thanks to RZita

Blimp to be added to arsenal in fight against Gulf oil spill
By Barbara Starr, CNN Pentagon Correspondent , July 1, 2010 9:28 a.m. EDT (CNN)

Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

Residents of the oil-spill-stricken Gulf coast might be asking themselves those questions soon when a large silver blimp begins floating over the region, the latest tool in the effort to track and clean up the slick.

At the request of the Coast Guard, the Navy is sending the MZ-3A airship to the Gulf coast, where it will fly slowly over the area to monitor where the oil is flowing and track where and how it's coming ashore.

The blimp is on its way from Arizona Thursday, according to Navy spokesman Lt. Tommy Buck.

The airship, which can carry a crew of up to 10, will be mainly used to direct oil skimming operations. Still being considered is whether the blimp will be fitted with additional sensors to help locate oil-impacted areas and quickly direct skimming operations to those sites.

The Navy says the advantage of the blimp over current helicopter surveillance operations is that it can stay aloft longer, with lower fuel costs, and can survey a wider area.

2010mar24
Thanks to Paul

We are pretty proud to announce that ZEPPELIN NT07, D-LZZF, has only just landed after a endurance and distance test.

The Zeppelin departed on March 23 at 10:20 local time and landed 24th at 11:00 local time.  Total flight time: 24 hours 40 minutes.

The crew of three flew a total of 783 NM (1450 km) at an average ground speed of 31.3 Knots (58 km/h), using an average of 30 kg/hour of fuel.

The Zeppelin departed with 1140 kgs of fuel and landed with a remaining fuel of 450 kgs on board. (This would have supposed additional 10 hours of flight AND remaining fuel of 150 kgs.)

The Zeppelin had fitted inside the gondola our long distance kit with extra fuel tanks. During the flight test refueling from extra tanks to the main fuel tanks was successfully tested and proved safe and effective. The extra fuel inside the gondola was NOT necessary for the duration of that flight.

Unlike previous endurance tests, the Zeppelin did not stay local and/or nearby the home base, but effectively flew through Germany, visiting several cities at altitudes between 3000 and 4000 ft MSL.

The Zeppelin started with 600 kgs of heaviness and landed approximately 250 lighter than air.

During the flight and for the landing it was NOT necessary to release any Helium since the Zeppelin´s capacities of vectored thrust were enough to land the Airship without any additional than normal ground crew assistance (only loading ballast after touch down). Zeppelin did touch down and hold position on the ground by its own means.

The result of this very test showed not only the extraordinary capabilities of the ZEPPELIN NT, but also is one additional step to our future goals of achieving long distance tasks.

Another milestone for DZR.

Kind regards,

Paul from Zeppelin 

2010jan04
Thanks to Maribeth Keane

An Interview with Smithsonian National Postal Museum Curator and Zeppelin Stamps Expert Cheryl Ganz

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Last update: 24 March 2010