Rick Fortune makes a client's dream come true!
"...The blimp ride was fantastic. I’m still smiling when I think about it, and I tell anyone who will listen all the details. Susie had a great time, too. My son and his wife brought our three grandchildren out to watch us take off, and he and the two boys were still there when we got back, having carried on an hour and a half conversation with the ground crew. They had almost as much fun as we did. We had a ball. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we are both very grateful that you (Rick) could set it up for us. We can’t thank you enough. Below are some pictures we took." -Bob & Susie
The Gondola is not very big. Only seats three plus the pilot
Takeoff. No ground roll like an airplane, just full power and up elevator.
Susie was thoroughly enjoying the ride.
The View of Bridgewater, NJ
Charley still looks like Edward Norton. He is great at answering my questions, pilot to pilot.
The instrument panel. The most interesting thing to me as a pilot is the presence of a turn coordinator instrument, since blimps can’t make coordinated turns.
I get a chance to drive. Charley says they usually let pilots have a chance at the controls.
Refueling while the crew secures it in the wind. They don’t bother to lock it to the mast, since the pilots are taking off again to head toward NYC.
Flying is imprecise and unstable.
It’s very different from flying an airplane. The primary flight controls are conventional rudder pedals, and a large elevator “trim” wheel beside the seat. There is no control yoke, because there are no ailerons.
Variations in the wind move the nose all over the place, and because of the 5,000 pounds of equivalent mass (even though its weight is offset by the helium in the envelope – it doesn’t weigh anything), once it gets moving, it takes work and anticipation to get it back on course, and just when you do, off it goes again.