August 21, 2003
Early this month the American Blimp Corporation fleet of airships accumulated more than 150,000 flight hours. It might have been an A-60+ flying in Japan, an A-150 in Brazil, or A-60+ providing "blimp" shots of a golf tournament in New York, as it is not known which specific airship notched the fleet mark past 150,000. The first new A-60+ has now accumulated more than 15,000 flight hours since commissioning in November 1992. Three other A-60+ blimps have passed the 10,000-hour mark as well. Nearly 14 years ago, in November 1989 the A-60 Lightship -01 had its first flight. Since then 17 additional A-60 series airships have been built, plus 7 of the 10 seat A-150 Lightships. The fleet is flying approximately 15,000 hours per year.
During these past 14 years ABC airships have accomplished a number of "firsts": first airships to fly in Mexico City and Denver Colorado, first commercial blimp to fly an extended overwater mission Florida to Puerto Rico, and the first to achieve FAA IFR certification, which in the case of ABC airships is approved with a single pilot.
In addition to amusing and amazing onlookers while floating overhead as the camera platform for Olympic Games, Super Bowls, and World Cup events, ABC airships have more recently provided airborne surveillance associated with Homeland Security in a number of venues here in the USA.
Excluding the pre-W.W.II rigid airships, the ABC fleet has been the first in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Malaysia, Poland, Slovakia, South Africa, and Turkey. The fleet has operated on every continent except Antarctica.
American Blimp Corporation, a privately held company, celebrated its 16th anniversary this year. Since its founding in 1987, it has become the pre-eminent company engaged in the design of airships, and is the only airship manufacturer in the world delivering on a scheduled production basis. Its headquarters are in Hillsboro, Oregon where the airships are designed and constructed in a 25,000 sq. ft facility. The final assembly and flight test is accomplished at an appropriate site near the customeršs location. A marketing office for airship applications in government missions and civil aid is located in Severna Park, MD, near Washington, DC. Today the ABC airships in operation total more than those of all other manufacturers combined. ABC flight operations affiliate The Lightship Group (TLG), operates sixteen of these airships around the world. TLG headquarters are in Orlando, Florida, with offices in the UK, Brazil and Singapore.For additional information please contact:
E. Judson Brandreth, Jr.
Vice President, Marketing
American Blimp Corporation
302 Ritchie Highway
Severna Park, MD 21146-1910
Phone: (410) 544-6507
Fax: (410) 544-6509
Home Page: www.americanblimp.com
E-Mail: Jud4Blimps@aol.com
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