PM Local
Flight - Readington,
NJ to Whitehouse Station, NJ - 8/8/03
Attacked by a blimp!
As we drove onto the launch
field at Solberg airport, we were strafed by the Saturn ION Blimp, which was
practicing approaches, landings, weigh-offs, and the like while waiting for
their ground crew to erect the mooring mast. So, with the low drone of the
Lightship overhead, we set up Keith's 105 for a pleasure flight and were in
the air in a quick 15 minutes.
After liftoff, we climbed to
airship altitude and were engaged in blimp ballet as the ION captains circled
us for a great photo opportunity. After breaking off from formation, they went
on to land and we continued to fly on before finally landing in a nicely
groomed backyard on Ridge Road. All the neighbors showed up, so we tethered
everyone before packing away and heading to dinner.
While we were off flying, the
Horizon and Metlife Lightships both returned to the airport, to bring the
blimp count up to three for the day. Not bad!
In all, a great break from the
wet, messy weather we've been experiencing lately!
Hi-res
versions of these photos are available to the blimp crew
