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Aviation News, September 22, 1994
A New Fashion for the Blimp
A new type of blimp is currently undergoing flight testing in the skies just north of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The airship, built by 21st Century Airships Incs. Is distinctive in being of spherical shape. Only the landing gear and two stubwings, which carry the engines, are protruding from the otherwise completely globular airship.
The pilot and passenger are seated inside the envelope in a spacious cabin enhanced with 13 large tinted windows, giving excellent visibility and contributing to its UFO looking appearance. The spherical blimp was built as a proof-of-concept demonstrator and model for a ten passenger sightseeing/advertising airship presently being developed.
Among the new shape's many advantages over traditional designs is the need of only two group crew personnel to assist with take-offs and landings - traditional blimps usually require approximately 20 people. This factor alone has greatly reduced operational costs. The pilot controls the airship's direction and altitude with varied and deflected thrust from its two engines and propellers.
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