Did you ever wonder the about the history of blimps and the advertising they do?

By David McClelland

During many sporting events, we see aerial shots from overhead blimps with advertising on them. Years ago, we saw only the Goodyear blimp, but today we see many new blimps and advertisers. Lets first look at the history of blimps.

The history of blimps dates back to 1783 when the Montgolfier brothers of Annonay, France sent the first hot air balloon aloft. Ever since, balloon inventers have been trying to design better airships, dirigibles and blimps. The first blimp consisted of taking a balloon and stretching it at both ends to form and egg shape. Those early blimps maintained their shape by internal gas pressure and are referred to as the non-rigid blimp design. The problem was that this type of blimp would buckle (bend) under the strain of heavy loads or rough weather. This problem was overcome by giving blimps a semi-rigid design. This was done by adding weight to the frame along the bottom of the blimp, which made it possible to build even larger air ships.

The "Father of the blimp" was Jean Baptist Marie Meusnier who created his first blimp in
1784. In 1851, Dr. William Bland was the first to fit his blimp with a steam engine and he called his blimp, "The Atomic Airship."

The difference between a balloon and a blimp is that balloons can't be steered and must go where the winds take them. I have had two hot air balloon rides and loved the experience. During each flight, we were in two-way communication with the "chase" car so that, when we landed, we would have transport back to our vehicles. After the first flight, we celebrated with the French tradition of enjoying a glass of champaign.

The blimp is a steerable airship which allows them to be used for the aerial photography for sporting events such a golf tournaments, football games, etc.

Blimps have four main components: envelope, gondola, power plant and controls.
The envelope is the skin that holds the contents together. The gondola is the cabin under the blimp where the pilot and passengers ride. The power plant or engines is another example of the progress made in blimp development. When Dr. Bland installed a small steam engine in his blimp, it could travel at 5 miles an hour against the wind. Today, Airship Industries Sky Ship 500 XL uses two Porsche 930 Engines to push 15,000 pounds of blimp through the air at 45 knots. Each engine is inside the gondola in a fire- proof box. The engines can turn a tail rotor propeller or two main, five-blade variable pitch propellers for thrust. The pilot can turn the propellers in the direction he wishes to go, whether to hover over the 16th hole at Pebble Beach or above Michigan Stadium.

The Goodyear blimps have been flying and advertising since 1925. Today, Goodyear operates three airships in the United States. "The Spirit of America" based in the City of Carson, California, "The Spirit of Goodyear" based in Akron, Ohio and "The Spirit of Innovation" based in Pompano Beach, Florida.

Today, Arnold Aerial Advertising of New York is the only company that offers all varieties of advertising on blimps. They do so above beaches, concerts, all sporting events and even rush hour traffic. Now, you know a little more about blimps.