Blimp

Blimp is a type of aircraft that uses a pressurized envelope of gas to provide lift and drag. Blimps are lighter-than-air (LTA) vehicles that do not have an internal frame or structure to support their shape. Instead, blimps rely on the pressure of the gas inside the envelope to maintain their shape. This makes blimps very flexible, which is why they are often used for advertising and as observation platforms.

Blimps were first developed in the early 1800s by Henri Giffard, who used them for lifting passengers and cargo. However, it wasn’t until 1915 that Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company began using blimps for advertising purposes. Today, there are only two companies in the world that manufacture blimps: Goodyear and Airship Ventures.

Goodyear’s fleet of 12 blimps operate in North America, Europe and Asia and can be seen at major sporting events such as the Super Bowl and The Open Championship golf tournament. The company also offers rides in its “flying circus” – a group of three smaller blimps that tour North America giving people a chance to experience flight aboard a LTA vehicle.

Airship Ventures operates one Zeppelin NT airship in California which offers sightseeing tours over Silicon Valley, San Francisco Bay Area and wine country. The company also provides charter services for special events such as weddings or corporate functions.

Blimps are typically powered by gasoline or diesel engines located in gondolas suspended below the envelope. These engines drive propellers that move the craft forward through the air. Blimps can reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour) but typically cruise at around 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour).

Because they rely on gas for buoyancy, blimps must be filled with a lifting gas that is lighter than air such as helium or hydrogen . Helium is much safer than hydrogen due to its lack of flammability; however, it is also more expensive. For this reason, most modern blimps use a mix of helium and another lifting gas called nitrogen .

Nitrogen makes up about 80% of the mixture while helium comprises the remaining 20%. This ratio allows for some flexibility in operating costs while still providing adequate lift . In addition , using nitrogen reduces wear on materials inside the envelope since it is not as corrosive as pure helium .