So today I’m driving through rural Virginia near my home and as I come around a corner, the sky is FULL of a very low-flying white blimp. In years past the Goodyear blimp as well as the one from Met-Life have flown over, so while it was neat to see a blimp, it wasn’t the first time.
Anyway, I pulled over to take a closer look because this one was different. You could clearly see U.S. Navy markings but what really stuck out was that on top of the blimp, running its full length, was what appeared to be a cross-yagi antenna approximately equal to the inflated size of the blimp itself. This thing was HUGE!
Obviously it could have been anything, but it sure looked like an antenna to me. My iPhone would not have taken a picture with enough zoom to show any detail, but I got a good look through binoculars.
By chance has anyone seen this type of structure on a blimp or have any insight on its use? If you can imagine the inflated diameter of a full-size blimp, that was the length of the radials. As for length, as I mentioned it ran the full length of the spine of the blimp itself. Quite a site!
-Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA USA
On Tue, 14 Jun 2016 18:35:11 -0400, "Scott" scott23192@gmail.com wrote:
Anyway, I pulled over to take a closer look because this one was different. You could clearly see U.S. Navy markings but what really stuck out was that on top of the blimp, running its full length, was what appeared to be a cross-yagi antenna approximately equal to the inflated size of the blimp itself. This thing was HUGE!
"If I can't make it into AO-85 with *this*, I give up."
Was it this?
http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/jlens/
They lost one around MD last year (broke loose).
73, Bob, WB4SON
On Tue, Jun 14, 2016 at 6:43 PM, J. Boyd (JR2TTS) < the2belo@msd.biglobe.ne.jp> wrote:
On Tue, 14 Jun 2016 18:35:11 -0400, "Scott" scott23192@gmail.com wrote:
Anyway, I pulled over to take a closer look because this one was different. You could clearly see U.S. Navy markings but what really stuck out was that on top of the blimp, running its full length, was what appeared to be a cross-yagi antenna approximately equal to the inflated size of the blimp itself. This thing was HUGE!
"If I can't make it into AO-85 with *this*, I give up."
-- J. Boyd, JR2TTS/NI3B the2belo@msd.biglobe.ne.jp http://www.flickr.com/photos/the2belo/ http://www.qrz.com/db/JR2TTS Twitter: @Minus2_C
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
No, it was a regular manned blimp with the pilot house underneath and engines on the rear. Seemed to be doing a lot of nose-up / nose-down maneuvering, not unlike me trying to point an Arrow antenna where I imagine a satellite might be. Ok, perhaps their movement wasn't quite as much like someone swatting at a wasp as my Arrow handling is.
The visual was quite distinctive... if you were looking from the front or rear, it would be like a zero (the blimp) with the letter "X" (antenna?) riding on its back. I didn't count the elements, but my perception was perhaps 8 to 12.
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-----Original Message----- From: Bob Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2016 6:59 PM To: AMSAT-BB Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Largest cross-yagi ever?
Was it this?
http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/jlens/
They lost one around MD last year (broke loose).
73, Bob, WB4SON
On Tue, Jun 14, 2016 at 6:43 PM, J. Boyd (JR2TTS) < the2belo@msd.biglobe.ne.jp> wrote:
On Tue, 14 Jun 2016 18:35:11 -0400, "Scott" scott23192@gmail.com wrote:
Anyway, I pulled over to take a closer look because this one was different. You could clearly see U.S. Navy markings but what really stuck out was that on top of the blimp, running its full length, was what appeared to be a cross-yagi antenna approximately equal to the inflated size of the blimp itself. This thing was HUGE!
"If I can't make it into AO-85 with *this*, I give up."
-- J. Boyd, JR2TTS/NI3B the2belo@msd.biglobe.ne.jp http://www.flickr.com/photos/the2belo/ http://www.qrz.com/db/JR2TTS Twitter: @Minus2_C
Is this the blimp less the yagi?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Blimp_MZ-3#/media/File%3AHandlers_p...
Michael Vivona Sent from my iPad
On Jun 14, 2016, at 6:35 PM, Scott scott23192@gmail.com wrote:
So today I’m driving through rural Virginia near my home and as I come around a corner, the sky is FULL of a very low-flying white blimp. In years past the Goodyear blimp as well as the one from Met-Life have flown over, so while it was neat to see a blimp, it wasn’t the first time.
Anyway, I pulled over to take a closer look because this one was different. You could clearly see U.S. Navy markings but what really stuck out was that on top of the blimp, running its full length, was what appeared to be a cross-yagi antenna approximately equal to the inflated size of the blimp itself. This thing was HUGE!
Obviously it could have been anything, but it sure looked like an antenna to me. My iPhone would not have taken a picture with enough zoom to show any detail, but I got a good look through binoculars.
By chance has anyone seen this type of structure on a blimp or have any insight on its use? If you can imagine the inflated diameter of a full-size blimp, that was the length of the radials. As for length, as I mentioned it ran the full length of the spine of the blimp itself. Quite a site!
-Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA USA _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Is this the blimp less the yagi?
Looks about right, or very similar!
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-----Original Message----- From: Mvivona Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2016 12:07 PM To: Scott Cc: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Largest cross-yagi ever?
Is this the blimp less the yagi?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Blimp_MZ-3#/media/File%3AHandlers_p...
Michael Vivona Sent from my iPad
On Jun 14, 2016, at 6:35 PM, Scott scott23192@gmail.com wrote:
So today I’m driving through rural Virginia near my home and as I come around a corner, the sky is FULL of a very low-flying white blimp. In years past the Goodyear blimp as well as the one from Met-Life have flown over, so while it was neat to see a blimp, it wasn’t the first time.
Anyway, I pulled over to take a closer look because this one was different. You could clearly see U.S. Navy markings but what really stuck out was that on top of the blimp, running its full length, was what appeared to be a cross-yagi antenna approximately equal to the inflated size of the blimp itself. This thing was HUGE!
Obviously it could have been anything, but it sure looked like an antenna to me. My iPhone would not have taken a picture with enough zoom to show any detail, but I got a good look through binoculars.
By chance has anyone seen this type of structure on a blimp or have any insight on its use? If you can imagine the inflated diameter of a full-size blimp, that was the length of the radials. As for length, as I mentioned it ran the full length of the spine of the blimp itself. Quite a site!
-Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA USA
Forward from -Rupert, n2oto
I photographed it about a month ago. You can see some great pictures if you are interested at:
I believe it is used for US NAVY MARS ops.
Some countries use 27 MHz for maritime coms.
I bet it hears AO-7 very well.
http://www.nrl.navy.mil/media/news-releases/2013/navy-airship-to-conduct-ope...
On Wed, Jun 15, 2016 at 4:45 PM, Daniel Cussen dan@post.com wrote:
Forward from -Rupert, n2oto
I photographed it about a month ago. You can see some great pictures if you are interested at:
I believe it is used for US NAVY MARS ops.
Some countries use 27 MHz for maritime coms.
I bet it hears AO-7 very well. _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Scott, Found a picture of your blimp with antenna.
https://twitter.com/jhnord/status/703358728721063936
Michael Vivona Sent from my iPad
On Jun 14, 2016, at 6:35 PM, Scott scott23192@gmail.com wrote:
So today I’m driving through rural Virginia near my home and as I come around a corner, the sky is FULL of a very low-flying white blimp. In years past the Goodyear blimp as well as the one from Met-Life have flown over, so while it was neat to see a blimp, it wasn’t the first time.
Anyway, I pulled over to take a closer look because this one was different. You could clearly see U.S. Navy markings but what really stuck out was that on top of the blimp, running its full length, was what appeared to be a cross-yagi antenna approximately equal to the inflated size of the blimp itself. This thing was HUGE!
Obviously it could have been anything, but it sure looked like an antenna to me. My iPhone would not have taken a picture with enough zoom to show any detail, but I got a good look through binoculars.
By chance has anyone seen this type of structure on a blimp or have any insight on its use? If you can imagine the inflated diameter of a full-size blimp, that was the length of the radials. As for length, as I mentioned it ran the full length of the spine of the blimp itself. Quite a site!
-Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA USA _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Found a picture of your blimp with antenna
Thank you! I had searched online before posting my original message but could not find any similar images.
Honestly, that’s a good picture but it doesn’t do justice to how large the antenna radials actually were. It wasn’t until I got a clear look with binoculars that I realized how far the bottom radials extended down “around” the blimp, and how far up into the air the upper radials extended.
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From: Mvivona Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2016 12:22 PM To: Scott Cc: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Largest cross-yagi ever?
Scott, Found a picture of your blimp with antenna.
https://twitter.com/jhnord/status/703358728721063936
Michael Vivona Sent from my iPad
On Jun 14, 2016, at 6:35 PM, Scott scott23192@gmail.com wrote:
So today I’m driving through rural Virginia near my home and as I come around a corner, the sky is FULL of a very low-flying white blimp. In years past the Goodyear blimp as well as the one from Met-Life have flown over, so while it was neat to see a blimp, it wasn’t the first time.
Anyway, I pulled over to take a closer look because this one was different. You could clearly see U.S. Navy markings but what really stuck out was that on top of the blimp, running its full length, was what appeared to be a cross-yagi antenna approximately equal to the inflated size of the blimp itself. This thing was HUGE!
Obviously it could have been anything, but it sure looked like an antenna to me. My iPhone would not have taken a picture with enough zoom to show any detail, but I got a good look through binoculars.
By chance has anyone seen this type of structure on a blimp or have any insight on its use? If you can imagine the inflated diameter of a full-size blimp, that was the length of the radials. As for length, as I mentioned it ran the full length of the spine of the blimp itself. Quite a site!
-Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA USA
participants (5)
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Bob -
Daniel Cussen -
J. Boyd (JR2TTS) -
Mvivona -
Scott