Airship Ventures Invites Pilots-For-A-Day
Click for more photosFor pilots, just going for a sightseeing flight along the California coast in Airship Ventures’ new Zeppelin NT is nice enough — but wouldn’t it be even better if you could take a turn flying it, and learn about how all the systems work? Pilots kept asking for a chance to sit in the cockpit, says Airship Ventures’ spokeswoman Elaine Jumes, but they couldn’t allow that while other passengers were on board. So, as AVweb reported last month the company now offers a special day of flying just for pilots, when each one gets a chance not only to maneuver the ship in flight but also to shoot a couple of touch-and-goes. The day-long course starts with a four-hour ground school where experienced pilots explain all the unique systems that make the airship fly, from ballonets to control the pressure inside the gas bag to the three swiveling engines that provide propulsion and control. The airship, which was built at the Zeppelin factory in Germany, has an inner structure built of carbon fiber, fly-by-wire flight systems, and a full electronic panel with sidestick controllers — and no rudder pedals. Last Friday, Airship Ventures invited AVweb along for the pilot experience. Click here for a photo gallery and more details about the program – and watch for a video of our Zeppelin adventure, coming your way soon.

For pilots, just going for a sightseeing flight along the California coast in Airship Ventures' new Zeppelin NT is nice enough -- but wouldn't it be even better if you could take a turn flying it, and learn about how all the systems work? Pilots kept asking for a chance to sit in the cockpit, says Airship Ventures' spokeswoman Elaine Jumes, but they couldn't allow that while other passengers were on board. So, as AVweb reported last month the company now offers a special day of flying just for pilots, when each one gets a chance not only to maneuver the ship in flight but also to shoot a couple of touch-and-goes. The day-long course starts with a four-hour ground school where experienced pilots explain all the unique systems that make the airship fly, from ballonets to control the pressure inside the gas bag to the three swiveling engines that provide propulsion and control. The airship, which was built at the Zeppelin factory in Germany, has an inner structure built of carbon fiber, fly-by-wire flight systems, and a full electronic panel with sidestick controllers -- and no rudder pedals. Last Friday, Airship Ventures invited AVweb along for the pilot experience.
The pilot course is offered at both Airship Ventures sites, in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and costs $2,950. Each participant must have at least a private pilot certificate and a current FAA medical certificate. The next date is not yet scheduled, but contact them now and they will put you on the list. Meanwhile, Airship Ventures continues to offer sightseeing flights to the general public -- they are the only airship outfit in the U.S. that does. They will be back at their home base at Moffett Field near San Francisco later this week, and plan to do more traveling to various sites in the western U.S. in 2010.
Watch for a video of our Zeppelin adventure, coming your way soon.
