NEAM's K-28 Airship Update

[wls3]

Hi Jerry,

Thanks for the update, here is a look from my last visit back in 2004.


Was lucky enough, (and old enough) to see the end of the Blimp program.
Photo taken not far from Lakehurst with an old Brownie Bullet camera.
Think it is a N class blimp.
Can't believe it will be 50 years ago come July.
Tempus sure do Fugit.

Bill

[PropsRule]

I didn't know that the U.S. Navy used blimps so extensively, and in combat. What a fascinating piece of history. I was fortunate enough to visit the New England Air Museum a couple years ago, shortly before the Caravelle was scrapped. This gondola was one of my favourite exhibits.

With respect, I believe the wooden frames used to shape the metal parts are called "bucks".

Thank you for posting the photos. It's good to see the progress being made.

[Jerry O'Neill]

Great shot Bill! they have since rotated the gondola 180 degrees, so the turret end is now where there rear is in your photo.

PropsRule; thanks for the correction on the "buck". I couldn't remember what it was called!
Jerry

[kscessnadriver]

Welcome aboard! Always glad to have new members! It's neat that you are currently flying airships. I think you are the first one on WIX with that distinction. Love to hear some "Blimp" stories!

The NEAM K-28 became the Goodyear "Puritan" advertising Blimp after the war. It was stripped of it's military items and flown for many years in the Goodyear Blue and Yellow scheme. They stored it for many years and eventually donated it to NEAM in the early 1980's. It arrived with it's original paint. Hard part was finding the military stuff to put back on the airship. I even donated a complete Aldus Lamp for the project. Cant wait until it's finished.
Jerry

I'm new to the airship world, just started earlier this year. Lots of fun to fly, but has to be the slowest thing out there. Its always nice to see former military aircraft flying around. I'm lucky enough to have about an hour of warbird time, in an L-16A.

My late friend Clair was in a Navy squadron after WWII that had a few blimps. He had some cool stories. kcessnadriver, have been by Elkhart in the last summer. We had one of your blimps through our airspace

I was in Indianapolis a few months back for a football game. In the last 9 months, I've been to probably close to 30 states, so really most places in the country.

Was lucky enough, (and old enough) to see the end of the Blimp program.
Photo taken not far from Lakehurst with an old Brownie Bullet camera.
Think it is a N class blimp.
Can't believe it will be 50 years ago come July.
Tempus sure do Fugit.

Sure does look like an N class (ZPG, as they were later called). I'm not sure if you are aware, but the Navy currently has a blimp flying again, the MZ-3A. It's a commercially available blimp, actually the same model I'm flying now.