The Goodyear Blimp, Steve, Dabo..and how bout those Tigers! | FerrariChat

The Goodyear Blimp, Steve, Dabo..and how bout those Tigers!

Discussion in 'Aviation Chat' started by Juan-Manuel Fantango, Sep 3, 2013.

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  1. Juan-Manuel Fantango

    Juan-Manuel Fantango F1 World Champ
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    #1 Juan-Manuel Fantango, Sep 3, 2013
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    So I have an office near the river in Columbia, SC and happen to step outside last Thursday for break. Since I had heard the Blimp was 110 miles away in Anderson at KAND for the upcoming ESPN Game Day, I was surprised to see it circling over the stadium for the USC/UNC game. Really cool indeed. The other thing that surprised me was that there was lightening in the area, and those who follow college football may recall two things. Clowny did not impress, and the game was delayed due to lightening! I kept waiting for a strike on the blimp but fortunately it did not occur. I assume that it would be a non issue anyway, otherwise they would not fly it in those conditions. I believe the days of volatile gas is long gone....
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  2. Tcar

    Tcar F1 Rookie

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    #2 Tcar, Sep 3, 2013
    Helium is not flammable...
     
  3. Juan-Manuel Fantango

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    #3 Juan-Manuel Fantango, Sep 3, 2013
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  4. Juan-Manuel Fantango

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    #4 Juan-Manuel Fantango, Sep 3, 2013
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    So...being like the old neighborhood yellow lab, I decide to mosey through town after working on the New Holland, and go by the airport, completely forgetting the Blimp was suppose to be there...much to my delight, there it is in all it's glory. With a wind storm gathering in the distance. I was surprised in this day and time that I was able to actually get right up and close to see this machine for myself. That was cool. I just hope "Black Sunday" is always just a bad novel.
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  5. Juan-Manuel Fantango

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    #5 Juan-Manuel Fantango, Sep 3, 2013
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  6. Juan-Manuel Fantango

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    #6 Juan-Manuel Fantango, Sep 3, 2013
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  7. Juan-Manuel Fantango

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    #7 Juan-Manuel Fantango, Sep 3, 2013
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  8. Juan-Manuel Fantango

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    #8 Juan-Manuel Fantango, Sep 3, 2013
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    Jeff said one of the toughest things about his job is taking those rams and driving in the steel spikes. These are over five feet long and the mooring system is designed to hold in up to 90 mph winds. He said the Blimp can stand on it's nose...although he does not like to see it that way.
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  9. Juan-Manuel Fantango

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    #9 Juan-Manuel Fantango, Sep 3, 2013
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  10. kylec

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    #10 kylec, Sep 3, 2013
    I was able to see their hanger in Pompano from my office. Very cool to see.
     
  11. Juan-Manuel Fantango

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    #11 Juan-Manuel Fantango, Sep 3, 2013
    Must be a big hanger; I think he said this one was 199 feet long, and there is a new one coming on line at about 250 and three engines.
     
  12. Juan-Manuel Fantango

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    #12 Juan-Manuel Fantango, Sep 3, 2013
    A few more game pics. There is nothing like Howard's Rock and the run down the Hill. Brent Musberger calls it the most exciting 25 seconds in College Football.

    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbvtdXHXaLU]Clemson's Dramatic Stadium Entrance Will Give You CHILLS - YouTube[/ame]

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=EbvtdXHXaLU
     
  13. hinton308

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    #13 hinton308, Sep 3, 2013
    David
    Go Tigers
    #4
    Don Hinton
    Class 83
     
  14. Juan-Manuel Fantango

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    #14 Juan-Manuel Fantango, Sep 3, 2013
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  15. Gatorrari

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    #15 Gatorrari, Sep 3, 2013
    Nice pics, of both the blimp and the game.

    Years ago, when we lived in Miami Beach and the blimp was based on Watson Island near the passenger ship terminal, we used to see it almost daily during the winter, when demand for it up north was minimal and it spent much of the day lazily cruising up and down the beach, to the extent that its appearance was so commonplace that nobody thought much about it. At the time they sold passenger rides, but that policy was eventually discontinued.

    Eventually they moved the Florida base north to Pompano Beach, but by that time I had returned to New York. The three U.S. bases - Pompano, Akron and Carson, CA - have not changed in many years.
     
  16. Juan-Manuel Fantango

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    #16 Juan-Manuel Fantango, Sep 3, 2013
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    Dabo leads his players down the hill after rubbing the Rock. You can see the tops of the buses with red tail lights in the first picture and thanks to the Jumbotron you can see the action. The technology is so amazing now vs the old days.
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  17. Juan-Manuel Fantango

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    #17 Juan-Manuel Fantango, Sep 3, 2013
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  18. Juan-Manuel Fantango

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    #18 Juan-Manuel Fantango, Sep 3, 2013
    Great to know you are a Tiger! I bet you spent some time at the ESSO Club...
     
  19. hinton308

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    #19 hinton308, Sep 3, 2013
    Yes, ESSO Club and knew Mac personally. Was in Miami for the championship game. What a road trip! Also TTT (Tiger Town Tavern) and Nicks ( owned by Melet's dad ) great times and memories.
    Don
     
  20. kylec

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    #20 kylec, Sep 3, 2013
  21. Jet-X

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    #21 Jet-X, Sep 4, 2013
    Sadly the blimp will be replaced with the Zeppelin NT next year. ,I think either Carsonor Pompano will get the first one and Akron will be last.

    It's a fun ride in the blimp (especially if your pilot is willing to do a high angle take off) and I will miss those take offs. I've been up a dozen times, what an experience.
     
  22. redhead

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    #22 redhead, Sep 4, 2013
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  23. Tcar

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    #23 Tcar, Sep 4, 2013
    Wow... that's way more guys running around in orange suits in an aviation forum than I ever wanted to see... bandwidth...

    Blimp posts are fantastic, though... at least thank you for that...
     
  24. Juan-Manuel Fantango

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    #24 Juan-Manuel Fantango, Sep 4, 2013
    Yes, I tend to get off topic sometimes...but it was all part of the show
     
  25. Jet-X

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    #25 Jet-X, Apr 23, 2015
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    Rather than start a new thread, thought I'd post this - its underneath the envelope just in front of the gondola.

    Took it yesterday, this ship will be retired in the fall.
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