Goodyear blimp crash lands

[Submariner]

I bet the pilot needed a change of underwear after this flight yesterday.




By Jon Burstein, Akilah Johnson, Kevin Smith & Brian Haas
Sun-Sentinel
Posted June 17 2005

The Goodyear blimp Stars & Stripes crashed Thursday night during a spectacular summer lightning storm, slamming into a Coral Springs storage building after struggling to stay afloat as fierce rain whipped around it.

The blimp's two pilots walked away from the crash unharmed, with no injuries reported on the ground and minimal structural damage to Coral Springs Mini Storage, 12001 NW 35th St., authorities said. The downed blimp hit a concrete utility pole during its descent, causing about 1,400 homes near Sample Road and Coral Ridge Drive to lose electricity.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-cblimp17jun17,0,6498765.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

[merwin]

1. Very ironic that the patriot stars and stripes crashes and burns

[wakeme2008]

2. I second the thought of change of underwear :) YIPES... nt

[wtmusic]

3. That pic looks way photoshopped n/t

[Ready4Change]

4. Here's a better one. Remarkable shot.

Blimps, dirigibles and other lighter than air craft are nifty. But they don't mix well with high/ turbulent winds and close proximity to the ground.

[wtmusic]

5. Wow

They might want to heed the weather forecasts more closely next time.

Shee-ite.

[Ready4Change]

6. As a pilot (of fixed wing, heavier than air craft) I agree.

However, I fly for fun, and can more easily choose to not fly if the weather is "iffy" at all.

Pilots who fly for pay face a lot of pressure to fly in non-ideal weather conditions. That's the main reason I haven't pursued a commercial license.

However, I hesitate to second guess these pilots when I don't know all the circumstances. Weather reports aren't 100% accurate, and in some areas thunderstorms can arise very quickly. I've flown near the Chesapeake Bay, where storms can pop up out of seemingly clear skies, and I've seen how things can go wrong.

Mostly glad no one was hurt.