Pictures from the First Blimp Flight

Assembly

Team members are excitedly waiting for the envelope to fill as Vito Sabella (left) attaches a sandbag to a mooring cable.

Chris Hoess (left) and Joel Rice (right) attach the blimp fins to the hull.

Mike Bruni (left) attaches a sandbag, while Ben Tang and Chris (left and right center), Joel (background), and Sean Cusack (right) begin inserting reinforcing rods at the gondola attachment point.

Team members grapple to bring the blimp onto an even keel as they insert the rods.

Shaun closing the nose of the blimp after helium filling.

Final inspection of the engines occurs before they are attached to the envelope.

Mike (left) and Ben (right) confer over a clipboard.

Ben (center) and Dan Levin (right) pull the envelope forward to be topped off with helium.

Ben (right) signals Joel (center) to disconnect the helium, as Paul Vernanza (left) takes a picture.

Ben begins mooring the stern as the helium is rolled away.

The helium tube has now been disconnected.

Another shot of Ben tying down the inflated envelope.

Joel (left) holding down lines to allow Chris (right) to attach the bottom fin.

Ben (right) is attaching a control cable to the bottom fin servo, while Joel (left) looks on.

Ben is attaching a control cable to the port fin.

Ben is opening up the nose, while Mike prepares to attach the hose and top off with helium.

The right engine of the tethered blimp is examined before launch.

Flights

Blimp Pictures

The blimp begins to lift off, with handlers on the fore and aft tethers.

The flying blimp from below, with engines at forward thrust.

The blimp as viewed from the fifth floor landing of Kings Court, engines set to full upward thrust. Note the photographers on the ramp at right, and curious spectators at English House windows.

The blimp from below, about level with the Rooftop Lounge of English House.

Blimp handlers tow the blimp forward and away from obstacles, as the starboard engine stops and the blimp is brought to earth.

Handlers race to steady the blimp as the starboard engine stops and the blimp skews.

The blimp comes in for a gentle landing and restart of engines.

A picture of the blimp from below shows the truss framework of the fins.

The blimp lifts off of its stand for another flight.

The starboard engine stall causes the blimp to lean to the right.

Blimp handlers let out line as the blimp rises.

Team Pictures

Back row, from left: Sean Cusack, Wendelin Michel, Joel Rice.
Middle row: Dan Levin, Paul Vernanza, Chris Hoess, Will Lovas.
Front row: Vito Sabella, Ben Tang, Mike Bruni, Lauren Bylsma, Michael Mehle.
Elan Ruskin (photographer) in background.

Another shot of the team holding the blimp aloft.

The team arrayed along the length of the blimp.