San Fran Zeppelin

We’ve often thought our Cessna 172 is the perfect machine for scenic flights, but how about a zeppelin?

Airship Ventures is now offering the first zeppelin flights in North America since 1937. This is a genuine zeppelin from the German Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik company, an offshoot of the original 20th century zeppelin manufacturers. Specifically, the modern version is a Zeppelin NT for New Technology, and it’s filled with helium, not that scary hydrogen stuff.

A one-hour flight around the San Francisco Bay area is $495 per person, or $5750 if you want to rent all 12 seats in the gondola.

Airship Ventures’ website is packed with info and a history of how this unique service evolved…and don’t miss the videos.

It’s hard to imagine the original Zeppelins sailing across the skies in the 1930’s. They were larger than any flying machine that anyone alive has ever witnessed. This website shows the comparative lengths of a modern Boeing 747 (231 feet) and the Hindenburg (804 feet). The Hindenburg was over three times longer than a Boeing 747! Airship Ventures’ Zeppelin NT is 246 feet long.

At the time of the Hindenburg disaster, zeppelins had a far better safety record than airplanes. Indeed, zeppelins far surpassed airplanes of the 1930’s in terms of lifting power, range, endurance and speed. But the newsreel images of the Hindenburg engulfed in flames spelled the end of the zeppelin dynasty. It is one of the most recognized film clips in history. One can wonder if the zeppelins would have endured if the Hindenburg accident hadn’t been caught on film.

Here’s an account of the first media flight with Airship Ventures.

Plaza Flights – Fun Scenic Flights for Everyone

Over 200 people have enjoyed scenic flights over the glittering lights of the KC Country Club Plaza and are pictured in the online Plaza Flights Hall of Fame. Plaza Flights are a wonderful Christmas tradition – you almost expect to see Rudolph and Santa flying across the evening sky. Intrepid aviators-to-be board a Cessna 172 at the KC Downtown Airport and are soon soaring over the lights of the city spanning from horizon to horizon.

Once airborne, the search lights from Power and Light District and the Sprint Center come into view as well as various downtown buildings lit up with cheery holiday lights. You can spot the rotating restaurant, Skies – it’s the thing that looks like a flying saucer on top of the Hyatt Hotel. From there, look just to the South for Crown Center and the Mayor’s Christmas Tree.

Soon you will be over the Country Club Plaza. Each building is outlined in sparkling Christmas lights. You can see the individual restaurants, shops and cars all illuminated by millions of little lights. You can also spot available parking spaces that are normally so elusive when you’re in your car. Don’t forget to view the Nelson Art Gallery, the new Bloch buildings are brilliantly lit from the inside out.
At this time, the airplane is going 100 miles per hour, but seems to orbit the Plaza at a leisurely pace. If a fellow is planning to pop the question to his sweet-heart, this is the time to do it. It’s happened three times so far on previous flights.

2008 Plaza Flights Hall of Fame
2007 Plaza Flights Hall of Fame
2006 Plaza Flights Hall of Fame
2005 Plaza Flights Hall of Fame
2004 Plaza Flights Hall of Fame

Out of the 200+ people pictured in the online Plaza Flights Hall of Fame, over 95% have never been in a small private plane before. This is indeed a discovery flight, where Plaza Flyers see that airplanes are a lot different than cars. Pilots steer with their feet on the rudder pedals while on the ground, and there is no gas pedal, only a throttle knob. Small airplanes are indeed small, or rather, cozy. They’re narrow so there’s less wind resistance.

After the flight, passengers receive a commemorative Plaza Flight pin or button, a completion certificate, and if they desire, their picture is proudly added to the Hall of Fame.

Plaza Flights are provided by Roger Dodger Aviation and KCplazaflights.com.