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In 1930, a former German airship officer, Captain Anton Heinen, working in the US for the US Navy on its dirigible fleet, attempted to design and build a four-place blimp called the "family air yacht" for private fliers which the inventor claimed would be priced below $ 10,000 and easier to fly than
203:
Colloquially non-rigid airships always were referred to as "Blimps". Over the years several explanations have been advanced about the origin of this word. The most common is that in the military vernacular the Type B was referred to as "limp bag", which was simply abbreviated to "blimp". An
403:
said that "consensus is that there are about 25 blimps still in existence and only about half of them are still in use for advertising purposes". The
Airsign Airship Group is the owner and operator of 8 of these active ships, including the Hood Blimp, DirecTV blimp, and the MetLife blimp.
291:
166:
Modern blimps are launched somewhat heavier than air (overweight), in contrast to historic blimps. The missing lift is provided by lifting the nose and using engine power, or by angling the engine thrust. Some types also use steerable propellers or
222:, supports a British origin during the First World War when the British were experimenting with lighter-than-air craft. The initial non-rigid aircraft was called the A-limp; and a second version called the B-limp was deemed more satisfactory.
93:) inside the envelope and the strength of the envelope itself to maintain their shape. Blimps are known for their use in advertising, surveillance, and as observation platforms due to their maneuverability and steady flight capabilities.
212:, flicked the envelope of the airship SS.12 with his fingers during an inspection, which produced a sound that he mimicked and pronounced as "blimp"; and that the word then caught on as the nickname for all small non-rigid airships.
150:
Blimps are the most commonly built airships because they are relatively easy to build and easy to transport once deflated. However, because of their unstable hull, their size is limited. A blimp with too long a hull
294:
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297:
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267:
Dr. A. D. Topping researched the origins of the word and concluded that the
British had never had a "Type B, limp" designation, and that Cunningham's coinage appeared to be the correct explanation.
296:
358:
subsequently sought bids for 16 blimps from
American manufacturers. On 4 February 1917 the Secretary of the Navy directed that 16 nonrigid airships of Class B be procured. Ultimately
132:(air bags) to maintain the overpressure. Without sufficient overpressure, the blimp loses its ability to be steered and is slowed due to increased drag and distortion. The propeller
155:
when the overpressure is insufficient or when maneuvered too fast (this has also happened with semi-rigid airships with weak keels). This led to the development of
643:
424:
aircraft, typically as the active part of a system which includes a mooring platform, communications and information processing. Example systems include the U.S.
702:
1049:
295:
1156:
1101:
934:
828:
800:
844:
Goddard, Victor (1968). "Per Ardua—Peradventure: A Contemporary Review of
Innovations during the First Fifty Years of the Royal Air Force".
1024:
1126:
367:
128:
Volume changes of the lifting gas due to temperature changes or to changes of altitude are compensated for by pumping air into internal
421:
1199:
676:
315:
1130:
113:
Since blimps keep their shape with internal overpressure, typically the only solid parts are the passenger car (gondola) and the
1074:
125:
near the bow, which assist with higher forces there from a mooring attachment or from the greater aerodynamic pressures there).
1249:
429:
172:
580:
106:
147:
The engines driving the propellers are usually directly attached to the gondola, and in some models are partly steerable.
109:
provide thrust, limited direction control, and also serve to inflate the ballonets to maintain the necessary overpressure.
737:
192:
853:
440:
375:
263:, already noted for his very apt and original vocabulary, named it "Blimp", adding, "What else would you call it?"
199:
The origin of the word "blimp" has been the subject of some confusion. Lennart Ege notes two possible derivations:
117:. A non-rigid airship that uses heated air instead of a light gas (such as helium) as a lifting medium is called a
195:
showing a strengthened nose, ducted fans attached to the gondola under the hull, and cable-braced fins at the tail
1254:
574:
495:
287:
said that it was "an onomatopœic name invented by that genius for apposite nomenclature, the late Horace Short".
273:
412:
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252:
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achieved lift with very inexpensive hydrogen, which could be vented without concern to decrease altitude).
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31:
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328:
218:
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567:(the "Nan ship"), used for anti-submarine and as a radar early-warning platform during the 1950s
399:
463:
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at lift-off and also avoids the need to lose costly helium lifting gas on landing (most of the
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Manufacturers in many countries have built blimps in many designs. Some examples include:
256:
204:
alternative explanation is that on 5 December 1915, Commander A. D. Cunningham,
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In
February 1915 the need for anti-submarine patrol airships became urgent, and the
187:
707:
540:
383:
370:
built the gondolas for all of those 14 ships. Connecticut
Aircraft contracted with
136:
can be used to inflate the ballonets and so the hull. In some models, such as the
625:, an airship built and flown in 1975 by students at the University of Connecticut
619:
489:
371:
332:
137:
82:
1025:"Flying high: How sponsors, networks and fans make the business of blimps soar"
277:
notes its use in print in 1916: "Visited the Blimps ... this afternoon at
923:
These Are the
Voyages: A History of the Ships, Aircraft, and Spacecraft Named
861:
600:
278:
209:
205:
168:
133:
101:
1050:"Military blimp escapes, causes power outages before landing in Pennsylvania"
869:
770:
631:, airship for aerial advertising manufactured and used by WDL Group, Germany
603:, an airship manufactured by the Shanghai Vantage Airship Manufacture Co in
355:
114:
39:
814:
812:
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343:
was asked to develop a theory of airship design. This was followed by then-
747:
436:
244:
176:
129:
90:
78:
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69:(dirigible) without an internal structural framework or a keel. Unlike
66:
1229:"How The First Sea-Air Rescue Was Made", October 1944, Popular Science
17:
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448:
241:
122:
86:
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a fixed-wing aircraft if placed in production. It was unsuccessful.
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425:
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354:, returning from Europe having inspected British designs, and the
314:
304:
289:
186:
100:
38:
950:
609:
379:
336:
171:. Operating in a state heavier than air avoids the need to dump
573:, a fleet of blimps operated for advertising purposes and as a
351:
1225:
detailed article on antisubmarine blimps during World War II
339:
fiasco. The result was the very successful B-type airships.
378:
for its gondolas. The
Curtiss-built gondolas were modified
140:, differential ballonet inflation can provide a measure of
1102:"Aerostats Rise Through the Ranks in Surveillance Service"
319:
Advertising blimp landing at local airport in New Jersey
997:. Vol. 54, no. 6. December 1930. p. 967.
552:, US anti-submarine blimps operated during World War II
225:
Yet a third derivation is given by Barnes and James in
1231:
first air-to-sea rescue without aircraft landing first
612:
and TC-7, two US Army Corps non-rigid blimps used for
439:
have been used extensively in the Middle East by the
795:. Translated by Munson, Kenneth. London: Blandford.
240:type was quickly improvised by hanging an obsolete
561:, an Australian blimp, in use during the mid-1970s
386:. The Connecticut Aircraft blimps were powered by
793:Balloons and Airships, and Dirigibles 1783–1973
583:, a private blimp used by advertising companies
259:, and on seeing the result for the first time,
234:
201:
957:(2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. 1989.
539:, US training blimps built by Goodyear during
1075:"Military Blimp Gets Loose, Cuts Power Lines"
977:. Vol. 16, no. 18. 3 November 1930.
823:. London: William Kimber and Co. p. 32.
703:List of current airships in the United States
529:, convoy escort blimps used by the UK in WW I
466:, the largest lightship ever manufactured by
8:
907:
989:"Dirigible Air Yacht Has Automobile Cabin"
470:, the only blimp manufacturing company in
1010:"Here's Why You Don't See Blimps Anymore"
746:. Oxford University Press. Archived from
589:, an experimental aerostatic/aerodynamic
335:. The Navy learned a great deal from the
720:, a type of blimp using hot air for lift
771:"Difference Between Blimp Or Zeppelin?"
729:
639:
652:Airship, Model A-170LS Video Lightsign
81:), blimps rely on the pressure of the
484:, non-rigid airships manufactured by
327:were patrol airships operated by the
7:
1190:Barnes, C. H.; James, D. N. (1989).
1100:Pocock, Chris (12 November 2011).
920:van Beverhoudt, Arnold E. (2013).
422:airborne early warning and control
25:
1023:Broughton, David (23 June 2014).
769:Smith, Jessica (9 January 2024).
1131:Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
675:
666:
657:
642:
1008:Cutolo, Morgan (3 April 2021).
891:"Origin of 'Blimp' Explained".
430:Aeronautics Defense Skystar 300
416:A TCOM 17M Aerostat and Trailer
374:for its two envelopes and with
251:envelope; this was done by the
216:A 1943 etymology, published in
210:Capel-Le-Ferne Air Ship Station
507:UK coastal blimps used in WW I
455:Examples of non-rigid airships
382:fuselages and were powered by
1:
435:Surveillance blimps known as
821:My Airship Flights 1915–1930
1127:"FAQs – Business of blimps"
193:Airship Management Services
105:Steerable ducted fans on a
1271:
1192:Shorts Aircraft since 1900
854:Royal Aeronautical Society
29:
955:Oxford English Dictionary
929:. Lulu.com. p. 119.
862:10.1017/S0001924000085237
496:British Army airship Beta
331:during and shortly after
274:Oxford English Dictionary
1222:"Gas Bags Go On Patrol"
969:"Aeronautics: Air Yacht"
846:The Aeronautical Journal
420:This blimp is a type of
1029:Sports Business Journal
908:Barnes & James 1989
819:Meager, George (1970).
284:Illustrated London News
1250:Airship configurations
1163:. 2009. Archived from
441:United States military
417:
320:
307:
265:
214:
196:
153:may kink in the middle
110:
50:
44:The Spirit of Goodyear
32:Blimp (disambiguation)
791:Ege, Lennart (1973).
616:trials during 1923–24
501:Coastal class airship
415:
318:
302:
190:
121:(sometimes there are
104:
42:
482:Astra-Torres airship
445:United Arab Emirates
191:A modern blimp from
46:, one of the iconic
30:For other uses, see
1167:on 19 December 2009
1157:"The MetLife Blimp"
362:built 9 envelopes,
341:Dr. Jerome Hunsaker
230:Aircraft since 1900
1194:. London: Putnam.
894:The New York Times
477:AVIC AS700 Airship
418:
408:Surveillance blimp
388:Hall-Scott engines
329:United States Navy
321:
308:
219:The New York Times
197:
111:
51:
1218:Popular Mechanics
1081:. 28 October 2015
1054:Stars and Stripes
994:Popular Mechanics
936:978-0-557-17825-4
897:. 3 January 1943.
830:978-0-7183-0331-0
802:978-0-7137-0568-3
575:television camera
527:NS class airships
468:Airship do Brasil
300:
63:non-rigid airship
27:Non-rigid airship
16:(Redirected from
1262:
1255:Industrial gases
1205:
1177:
1176:
1174:
1172:
1153:
1147:
1146:
1144:
1142:
1133:. Archived from
1123:
1117:
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1114:
1112:
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1088:
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1071:
1065:
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1040:
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1035:
1020:
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999:
998:
985:
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947:
941:
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905:
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841:
835:
834:
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782:
781:
779:
777:
766:
760:
759:
757:
755:
734:
679:
670:
661:
646:
635:Willows airships
614:parasite fighter
505:C* class airship
492:by France and UK
303:Blimp flying in
301:
281:". In 1918, the
21:
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1137:on 2 March 2010
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818:
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790:
789:
785:
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773:
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767:
763:
753:
751:
750:on 29 July 2020
736:
735:
731:
727:
718:Thermal airship
694:
687:
680:
671:
662:
653:
647:
595:Lockheed-Martin
571:Goodyear Blimps
457:
410:
400:Reader's Digest
366:built five and
313:
290:
238:Submarine Scout
185:
119:hot-air airship
99:
48:Goodyear Blimps
35:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1268:
1266:
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1211:External links
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698:Airship hangar
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682:An A-60+, the
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409:
406:
348:John H. Towers
325:B-class blimps
312:
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161:rigid airships
98:
95:
89:, rather than
75:rigid airships
26:
24:
14:
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1220:, June 1943,
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1201:0-85177-819-4
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650:DIRECTV blimp
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593:developed by
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569:
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565:N class blimp
563:
560:
559:
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550:M class blimp
547:
546:K class blimp
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537:L class blimp
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533:G class blimp
531:
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1191:
1169:. Retrieved
1165:the original
1151:
1139:. Retrieved
1135:the original
1121:
1109:. Retrieved
1105:
1095:
1083:. Retrieved
1078:
1069:
1057:. Retrieved
1053:
1044:
1032:. Retrieved
1028:
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992:
983:
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954:
945:
926:
922:
915:
903:
892:
886:
849:
845:
839:
820:
792:
786:
774:. Retrieved
764:
752:. Retrieved
748:the original
741:
732:
708:Mooring mast
621:
557:
541:World War II
488:and used in
458:
434:
428:and Israeli
419:
398:
396:
392:
384:OX-5 engines
322:
282:
272:
270:
266:
261:Horace Short
235:
226:
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217:
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165:
149:
146:
127:
112:
62:
54:
52:
43:
36:
1171:13 December
1141:13 December
754:24 November
597:corporation
581:Skyship 600
490:World War I
372:U.S. Rubber
333:World War I
169:ducted fans
157:semi-rigids
138:Skyship 600
107:Skyship 600
83:lifting gas
1239:Categories
1183:References
1085:30 October
1059:30 October
1034:1 November
925:Enterprise
776:5 February
686:Snoopy Two
601:SVAM CA-80
556:Mantainer
345:Lieutenant
257:Kingsnorth
142:pitch trim
134:air stream
71:semi-rigid
878:115595814
870:0001-9240
464:ADB-3-X01
437:aerostats
397:In 2021,
356:U.S. Navy
208:, of the
183:Etymology
177:Zeppelins
144:control.
130:ballonets
115:tail fins
97:Principle
85:(usually
79:Zeppelins
1245:Airships
692:See also
577:platform
364:Goodrich
360:Goodyear
253:R.N.A.S.
245:fuselage
91:hydrogen
65:, is an
1161:MetLife
951:"blimp"
856:: 857.
852:(694).
738:"blimp"
684:MetLife
368:Curtiss
249:Willows
173:ballast
123:battens
67:airship
59:/blɪmp/
1198:
1111:20 May
933:
876:
868:
827:
799:
743:Lexico
620:UConn
558:Ardath
449:Kuwait
443:, the
242:B.E.2c
228:Shorts
87:helium
77:(e.g.
61:), or
18:Blimps
1079:AVweb
874:S2CID
725:Notes
629:WDL 2
622:Lumpy
605:China
587:P-791
426:JLENS
305:Japan
279:Capel
55:blimp
1196:ISBN
1173:2009
1143:2009
1113:2022
1087:2015
1061:2015
1036:2015
974:Time
931:ISBN
866:ISSN
825:ISBN
797:ISBN
778:2024
756:2020
610:TC-3
548:and
535:and
525:and
447:and
380:JN-4
337:DN-1
323:The
271:The
206:R.N.
159:and
73:and
858:doi
523:SSZ
519:SST
515:SSP
352:USN
311:Use
255:at
1241::
1159:.
1129:.
1104:.
1077:.
1052:.
1027:.
991:.
971:.
953:.
872:.
864:.
850:72
848:.
811:^
740:.
521:,
517:,
513:,
511:SS
503:,
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