Iris Rides in the Outback "Bloomin' Onion 1" blimp!
Since it's been over a month since I took the "Bloomin' Onion 1" blimp ride, I figured that I should put something up other than the "coming soon" banner.
On July 3, 2008 I got to take the most amazing ride in the Outback "Bloomin' Onion 1" from the Molina airstrip to the Willamette, then up the river to the city, over Forest Park, to Hillsboro, then to Tualatin where we buzzed my neighborhood and then back to the airstrip. It was so much fun! The day was clear and beautiful, not too hot, no clouds and from what I now understand, that is the way to ride in a blimp.
I learned many things that day. One is that a huge amount of blimps in the world are built right in Hillsboro, Oregon! I had no idea. Even the one I was riding in was built there. Just for the record “Blimps” are called airships and fall in two classes; rigid and semi-rigid. There are more than 30 airships currently operating around the world. American Blimp Corporation in Hillsboro, Oregon is the big builder or most active, building several airships a year that are shipped all over the world. Their airships are about half the size of the Goodyear Airship, which currently only 3 remain from early 40’s. Its interesting to know Goodyear use American Blimps for advertisement of Goodyear tires because they do not build airships anymore, but maintain their own. See, learning is fun.
Flying is so much fun, and even better in a blimp. The pace suits me well. Lots of time to just cruise over the land and check things out. I've been in all kinds of planes and helicopters too, but this has to be my favorite air travel for just tooling around.
The crew of the blimp are constantly on the road because it is of course used for promotion, so they're always moving. When I asked the pilot how this works with family life, he said that if you are on the crew for an airship like this one, you are either single, or will be soon. They also use the blimp for sporting events, like golf tournaments and such things. They take out the seat next to the pilot and install the camera for those cool event shots that you see on TV.
The steering of the airship was unlike anything I've ever seen. They use their feet! Now that's something interesting to watch.
We also buzzed the Hillsboro airport. They were so cool. I guess everyone gets a kick out of seeing a blimp fly by. I loved listening to the communications between the pilot and the tower.
Portland is so beautiful, and from the air, it's so green! Who wouldn't want to live here? I'm truly in love with this city. Oh yeah, the blimp....
It takes about 10 people to land this sucker. As we were approaching the Molina airstrip, the pilot told me that it would look like we were heading straight down. It was much smoother than that really, but as I was preparing for the "big landing" I scratched the outside of my nose and it started bleeding. A LOT! So, we're heading into this field with guys running toward us grabbing for the ropes, and I'm holding a tissue on my nose. Injured in a blimp. How embarrassing. I wanted to tell the crew how much I loved the whole experience and give hugs, and all I could do was say thanks through a tissue. Oh well.
This was one of the most amazing journeys ever. I can't wait until it comes back and I can beg for another ride. If you're ever offered a flight in a blimp....GO!
The steering of the airship was unlike anything I've ever seen. They use their feet! Now that's something interesting to watch. 
It takes about 10 people to land this sucker. As we were approaching the Molina airstrip, the pilot told me that it would look like we were heading straight down. It was much smoother than that really, but as I was preparing for the "big landing" I scratched the outside of my nose and it started bleeding. A LOT! So, we're heading into this field with guys running toward us grabbing for the ropes, and I'm holding a tissue on my nose. Injured in a blimp. How embarrassing. I wanted to tell the crew how much I loved the whole experience and give hugs, and all I could do was say thanks through a tissue. Oh well.
