Good Year Blimp?

[350DRIVER]

Saw a special tonight starting way back when this project was just on paper to all the way through to where we are today. Noticed a nice size (small) pax cabin that the general public can/does ride in. Anyone ever want to do this and if you did what was the experience in your opinion.? Also, how long is the current wait list to be able to do this?. I would imagine quite long after watching this program but they didn't really elaborate on it.

any experiences from anyone?


3 5 0

 

[English]

I took my entire family on the one in Carson. The pilot let me fly, gave me some instruction and even endorsed my logbook.

It was a very memorable experience.

 

[350DRIVER]

I took my entire family on the one in Carson. The pilot let me fly, gave me some instruction and even endorsed my logbook.

It was a very memorable experience.

sounds like it was "fun".

I really never had the desire to go up in one of those since when I was flying 135 I was CAK based and saw them on a regular basis. I am curious how to go about getting people on that "list" though since at 52 and 57 my parents are getting older and would like to get them up in one if it is at all possible. I know the chief pilot for Good Year at CAK and was thinking about giving him a call, but both departments are run completely separately I believe.


anyone else?

3 5 0

 

[FracCapt]

I didn't know there was any "list" to fly on them....I just happened to meet one of the pilots and take him up for a ride in a Pitts...and after the flight, he told me he flew the Goodyear blimp, and I went up with him a couple of times out of Boca. Pretty cool, actually. When you're used to flying high and fast, flying at 200' and 20kts is pretty cool. We had no pax, just 4 of us(myself and 3 LTA pilots, all taking turns at the controls, in addition to my "stick" time).

 

[350DRIVER]

I didn't know there was any "list" to fly on them....I just happened to meet one of the pilots and take him up for a ride in a Pitts...and after the flight, he told me he flew the Goodyear blimp, and I went up with him a couple of times out of Boca. Pretty cool, actually. When you're used to flying high and fast, flying at 200' and 20kts is pretty cool. We had no pax, just 4 of us(myself and 3 LTA pilots, all taking turns at the controls, in addition to my "stick" time).

Interesting indeed.... I am sure that had to have been quite an experience. I never knew there was a "list" either until watching this special tonight so that is where the questions came from. I always assumed it was on a first come first serve basis if you didn't know anyone. Hopefully the Good Year chief pilot can maybe get me a shortcut- lol who knows. May call him tom.

thought the top speed was around 80mph?

3 5 0

 

[Flyin Tony]

I also got to ride in the one in Carson also, got to sit in the right seat. It was kinda fun. My Dad put some new tires on his car and he put his name into win and he did. It was about 45mins.

 

[FracCapt]

thought the top speed was around 80mph?

3 5 0

I seriously doubt it. I can't say for sure, but we cruised around a stadium for several hours once, and the other time was just a "currency/training" flight, as he called it....and we never got past about 40KIAS. IIRC, the engines were at almost max power at that point. I may be wrong, though. When covering a game, of course they don't want to be going too fast....and I thought it was pretty cool how they could bring the engines to idle, and we almost hung there with no groundspeed. Of course, there was something they were doing with the air bladders/gas bags, but I didn't pay much attention to that.

The department at CAK and AKR are run separately, but they all know each other. If you know the Fixed Wing CP at CAK well enough, he should be able to hook you up with some rides for you and/or your parents. If you see Chris S.(Challenger Capt, former FLOPS Hawker program manager), smack him upside the head and tell him a FLOPS Hawker guy says HI, and hope things are going well for him!

 

[350DRIVER]

Yeah, I kind of thought that was pretty fast for a blimp when I heard that on the show.

I will smack Chris for you , he flies with Chris Kostiuk quite a bit I assume?


3 5 0

 

[350DRIVER]

by the way hit Phil Griffith hard for me and tell him it is from one of the former Ultimate Jet captains.

he is on the Beechjet

 

[350DRIVER]

double post- ignore

3 5 0

 

[Publishers]

Ride

Was fortunate to take my entire family for a ride one day. It was a kick. Seemed to take 15 minutes to turn around and head the other way. My leg was getting tired holding rudder.

The best part is being able to open the windows and waive at people on the beach, the bad part, getting my wife's elderly parents in and out.

This was my second time. The first was back when they were doing an Ohio State game. We were out flying and they decided we should do an ILS. Took about 20 minutes between the markers.

They do not let anyone on the blimp at random so usually you need a good friend or Goodyear customer