Goodyear Blimp Ride

Thanks to a "connection" I made earlier this summer, I was able to arrange for a ride in Airship N2A - AKA the "Goodyear Blimp Spirit of Innovation". When this ultra rare opportunity presented itself, I couldn't pass it up. Having been a private pilot for nearly 17 years, I have had some very unique "aviation" opportunities. I have gone for rides in open cockpit vintage bi-planes, been part of a 10 member 1940 J-3 Cub Club, flown a couple different twin engine planes, taken a ride in EAA's Ford Tri-Motor, and even sat at the controls of a Space Shuttle Simulator at Johnson Space Center. Well, I must say, flying at a slow 16 knots at 500 feet in a gas filled balloon that is 5 stories high and 200 feet long trumps them all. WOW.

CAPTAIN CORKY BELLANGER

The opportunity began when I met the long time girlfriend of Blimp Captain Corky Bellanger at a Ford Training Meeting. Sherry Marquis was my training "coach" at a Ford Training meeting earlier this summer and we struck up a friendship. When I learned her long time boyfriend was a Blimp Driver, I didn't hesitate to ask if I could get a ride. She said "sure" - send me an email. Well, come to find out, there are only 3 ways to get a ride in the Goodyear Blimp. 1. Be a Goodyear Executive or a friend of a Goodyear Exec. 2. Pay $4,000 a seat that goes to a charity. 3. Know one of the 6 pilots - BINGO!

DRIVING THE BLIMP

Unfortunately, we had to leave Marco at home - just too little. We had room for 6 passengers, so we took a long time friend of the family Don Palinkas - one of Belinda's college buddies dads, to fill his spot. So, Belinda, myself, Diego, Antonio, Brianna, Don, and our Captain, Corky, went for a 1 hour ride. Goodyear has 3 Blimps - one based in Ohio, one in California, and one here in Florida at Pompano Beach Airpark. It's amazing the amount of people it takes to get this somewhat crude flying machine into the air. It's an army of people. Once the ground crew has the blimp "sort of "stable, the passengers are allowed to jump inside. Corky gave it the thumbs up, pushed the throttles forward bringing to life the 6-cylinder Continental aviation engines, and we were off. It's kind of funny actually. The windows are open, so, the engines are just screaming loud. However, the large airship is barely moving. The blimp has only a large wheel next to the pilots right side for elevator control, and traditional rudder pedals - no ailerons. The avionics were basically like that of a light airplane - the traditional 6-pack of instruments. N2A has a nice avionics stack that included a Garmin GPS. The ship has a very high angle of attack on climb out - just to 1,000 feet msl. Corky leveled off, and cut the throttles - looked at me and pointed to the GPS ground speed reading with a funny grin - 16 knots - that's it. Basically, floating. Corky headed out over the intercoastal waterway and Pompano Beach - once he cleared the coast line, he push the nose about 35 degrees over - dropped 500 feet of altitude, and we were just coasting along at 500 Feet over the Atlantic coastline - windows open, engines idling, - man - what a day. The blimp is so big that you really don't feel any turbulence at all - it just sort of floats around.

GEEK WITH HIS QUESTIONS

OK - I am an airplane geek - I admit it. I had to understand better how this thing flew. So, for the next 30 minutes, Corky and I shot the breeze about flying the blimp. He was a good sport and tolerated all my stupid questions that I am sure he has answered a thousand times before. I asked Corky how he got into this form of aviation, and he told me he was "born into" the job. His father was a Goodyear Blimp pilot. Apparently, you either have to be a relative, or know somebody really high up in Goodyear to even get considered for the job. Corky had to go through all the typical aviation training however, to become qualified for the job even before he started Airship Certification. So, he is a fixed wing pilot as well with instrument and commercial ratings.

While gliding along, the other passengers just sat there in amazement that we were riding in the Goodyear Blimp. Brianna loved the beautiful blue water, Diego loved the large Yachts docked along some of the wealthiest waterways in the United States in the Fort Lauderdale area. Belinda took some video, and Don took some fantastic pictures. We flew south just inside Fort Lauderdales Airspace - floated above the city for about 10 minutes, then headed back North - this time at 36 knots as we had a tailwind.

BRINGING THE BIRD HOME

OK - All I can say about landing the Goodyear Blimp is - it's a work of art. Corky was pulling levers, working the rudder pedals, fussing with the elevator wheel, fidgeting with the throttles, it was just amazing. Then, as we touched down, about 15 people came running towards the blimp, grabbing the gondola, grabbing external lines - it was like a well rehearsed dance routine.

WHAT A RIDE

If there is one thing I took away from the flight, it was this. One of man's greatest accomplishments is powered flight. It's been 4 years since I have personally piloted a light airplane. This lazy ride at 500 feet made me remember why I got into flying in the first place. It also reminded me of those short 3 years I was flying Cub N25WF around Minnesota - low and slow with the windows open. I realize that I miss it deeply. There is just something about conquering gravity that is so seductive. The Blimp is truly an American Icon, and Goodyear, like Ford, is one of those all American Brands. I am so thankful to Sherry Marquis, and her Boyfriend Captain Corky Bellanger for sharing it with us.