Air service of the huge floating Zeppelin variety is now available to the public, in California at least. Airship ventures today launched airship passenger services over Silicone Valley for prices ranging from $495 to $975 for one to two hour flights respectively. The entire airship can be rented out for special occasions for up to 12 people at prices up to $6,100.
The Airship Ventures Zeppelin NT is 246 ft long — 15 feet longer than a Boeing 747, and weighs close to 18,000lbs. The airship will cruise at about 1,000 feet (its ceiling is about 9,300 ft.) and its three engines can get the airship to almost 80Mph (though it will typically cruise at about 45mph). It has a range of about 560 miles. Incombustible helium provides the required lift within the envelope that is made of high-strength multilayer laminate. Air bags inside the envelope, the so-called ballonets, keep the internal pressure constant in each flight situation and ensure highest safety, the company said. The airship will not fly in high winds or rain.
One of only three Zeppelins in the world, the Airship Ventures Zeppelin NT was manufactured in Germany by Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH and will be based at Moffett Field where NASA Ames Research Center is located. Moffett field was the home of the US Navy’s blimp fleet during the 1940’s. Moffett Field has three of only 12 airship hangars remaining in the US — one of which (Hangar 2) serves as the Zeppelin’s new home. The airship will also be used for a variety of technological and scientific research missions in partnership with NASA, the company said.
Airship itineraries showcase San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Sonoma/Napa wine regions, and the Monterey/Big Sur coastline. The company said it envisions expanding the Zeppelin service across the company but has not timeframe for such a rollout.
One of Airship Ventures chief backers is tech industry guru Esther Dyson who recently said she had signed on to fly into space via private space exploration company Space Adventures.
While Airship Ventures has opened the door for Zeppelin passenger service, the US military’s interest in airships continues. DARPA for example is still developing a massive airship known as Integrated Sensor is Structure (ISIS) that is three times as big as a Good Year blimp that could hover and guard a city.
Earlier this year French researcher said they were developing a massive, experimental airship that can carry 55 people at about 160mph. The 700ft, double-decked and aptly named Manned Cloud will cruise at 18,000ft., and include a 20-room hotel, restaurant, library, gym and a spa.
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