Volume XI
Issue 9
September 2008
Copyright
© 1998-2008
The Globe-Guardian
All Rights Reserved
ISSN: 1525-6316
Central United States
If you have seen a blimp or at least suspect that you have seen a blimp, add your report to this page by completing the report form and submitting it to the Globe-Guardian. Anyone who provides a report automatically becomes a member of the Blimp Spotters Brigade, earning advancement through the ranks with each incident sent.
DATE: August 27, 2008
TIME: 2:30 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Lewisburg, Tennessee, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Tammy
We had just finished a fantasy football draft with our patients at the local rehab center. Made a great game show.
DATE: August 21, 2008
TIME: 3:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Nashville, Tennessee, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter T-Man
Spotted the Goodyear blimp traveling over downtown Nashville.
DATE: August 20, 2008
TIME: 10:00 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Smyrna, Tennessee, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic T-Man
Spotted the Goodyear blimp traveling in the vicinity of Smyrna, along Highway I-24.
DATE: August 6, 2008
TIME: 1:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Chicago, Illinois, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Elizabeth
Again (previous report filed May 16) to the starboard side of my office just north of the Sears Tower, I have been observing a gray blimp moving about. I have been charting its coordinates.
DATE: May 29, 2008
TIME: 11:25 a.m. EDT
LOCATION: Clinton Township, Macomb County, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Sue
I work at a county building and watched a silver blimp with gold and white lettering that said Goodyear on it. Maybe it was going to Selfridge Air base, but it's hard to say. Very cool though!
DATE: May 18, 2008
TIME: 10:30 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: San Antonio, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Karen
I was at the San Fernando Cemetery II when a snowy white, unmarked blimp flew overhead at an altitude low enough to see the windows in the white gondola, but not low enough to see any people inside. The blimp came from the n0ortheast and went toward the southwest. I think it was a military or government blimp, since there was absolutely no advertising; and it seemed headed toward a local Air Force Base.
DATE: May 16, 2008
TIME: 10:00 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Chicago, Illinois, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Elizabeth
Sitting in my office just north of the Sears Tower, I observed an unidentified red blimp to my starboard side.
DATE: May 5, 2008
TIME: 7:00 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Detroit, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic C.D.
A navy and gray blimp was circling over mid- or downtown Detroit. Saw it south of the Lodge freeway and Ford freeway intersection. The writing was not clear, but appeared white. Could not find any mention of it in the news.
DATE: April 7, 2008
TIME: 8:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Pasadena (Houston area) Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Ronnie
Above east beltway 8 and heading south.
DATE: March 21, 2008
TIME: 11:30 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Arlington, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Jeff
Running with my family near Lake Arlington, and the blimp was just hovering around the lake. Unknown why, and I can't figure it out from their web site.
DATE: January 11, 2008
TIME: 5:24 p.m. CST
LOCATION: Hornbeck, Louisiana, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Rebecca
Driving; guessing that the blimp was about 2,000 feet high, traveling north; wasn't close enough to see markings; would like to know where it came from.
DATE: November 8, 2007
TIME: 4:15 p.m. EST
LOCATION: Columbus, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Tasha
No description submitted.
DATE: November 8, 2007
TIME: 1:34 p.m. EST
LOCATION: Dublin, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic David
Outback Steakhouse blimp.
DATE: November 8, 2007
TIME: 12:05 p.m. EST
LOCATION: Columbus, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Reagan
No description submitted.
DATE: November 2, 2007
TIME: 11:45 a.m. EST
LOCATION: East Lansing, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic JB
Airship spotted arriving early for tomorrow's Michigan State - Michigan game. Go Green.
DATE: November 1, 2007
TIME: 1:30 p.m. EST
LOCATION: Toledo, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Mike
I was driving on Airport, near Reynolds, in a good mood. There it was at approximately 500 feet altitude heading northwest. He appeared to be descending -- possibly a new driver in search of his or her destination.
DATE: October 28, 2007
TIME: 5:30 a.m. EDT
LOCATION: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Bootleg
Spotted in the early morning, dark sky over Ann Arbor. Approximately over the University of Michigan football stadium. Blimp hovering and maneuvering in a near-steady area for over 1.5 hours.
DATE: October 17, 2007
TIME: 3:30 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Powell, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Todd
The Outback Blimp flying very low in circles then headed east.
DATE: October 4, 2007
TIME: 3:00 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
Outback i
DATE: October 4, 2007
TIME: 12:15 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
SPOTTER: Blimp Spotter Basic Katie
The Outback Steakhouse blimp was flying over Purdue University.
DATE: September 28, 2007
TIME: 1:29 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Madison, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Blimp Spotter Basic Renee
An Outback Steakhouse blimp has been circling over the Madison area for the past week or so. We can watch it out of our window at work.
DATE: September 27, 2007
TIME: 2:15 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Madison, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Blimp Spotter Basic Pete
An Outback Steakhouse, cruising at 35 mph over downtown Madison. Carrying employees on tour of city.
DATE: September 27, 2007
TIME: 12:30 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Madison, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Blimp Spotter Basic Sharon
I was looking out the window of my building on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, and there was an Outback blimp circling around over campus. How many blimps does Outback have? Now, I want a steak.
DATE: September 26, 2007
TIME: 10:15 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Madison, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Blimp Spotter Basic Alex
An Outback Steakhouse blimp flew very low, directly over my house. I live Four miles south of the Middleton airport, and the blimp was traveling almost exactly south. I assume it has been at the airport since the the Iowa-Wisconsin football game on Saturday, September 22.
DATE: September 18, 2007
TIME: 7:10 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Middleton, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Blimp Spotter Basic Chris
O
DATE: September 17, 2007
TIME: 3:25 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Middleton, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Blimp Spotter Basic Michelle
Outback Steakhouse blimp going in circles.
DATE: September 17, 2007
TIME: 10:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Normal, Illinois, USA
SPOTTER: Blimp Spotter Basic Daniel
I spotted an Outback Steakhouse blimp over the Bone Student Center at Illinois State University. It was clearly visible from the quad. It appeared to be turning or maneuvering, maybe to park. It was only a few hundred feet above ground, and no one believes I saw a blimp.
DATE: September 16, 2007
TIME: 2:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Pearland, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Blimp Spotter Basic Jim
Lightship blimp N154ZP stopped for fuel at Pearland Regional Airport (KLVJ). Ground crew of 13. Came from San Antonio, Texas, headed for Jennings, Louisiana, tonight. Then home to Orlando. First landing attempt aborted due to variable winds, second landing very good. Talked with ground crew, a bunch of great guys. Good pictures too.
DATE: September 16, 2007
TIME: 4:30 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Bloomington, Illinois, USA
SPOTTER: Blimp Spotter Basic Jonathan
The b
DATE: September 13, 2007
TIME: 12:30 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Elk City, Oklahoma, USA
SPOTTER: Blimp Spotter Basic Eddie
Driving in the countryside, I saw a blimp off to the north, heading east over Elk City. It was moving pretty fast and seemed to move up and then down as it traveled.
DATE: September 13, 2007
TIME: 11:25 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Weatherford, Oklahoma, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
An Outback blimp was moving east paralleling Highway I-40. Unsure on elevation.
DATE: September 1, 2007
TIME: 2:30 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: South Bend, Indiana, USA
SPOTTER: Blimp Spotter Basic Bruce
A Goodyear blimp circled Notre Dame Stadium, possibly to distract us Irish fans from the game.
DATE: August 23, 2007
TIME: Afternoon
LOCATION: Between Depew and Iron Post, Oklahoma, USA
SPOTTER: Blimp Spotter Basic Nash
I live way out in the country with no neighbors for miles. I just happened to look out and see the Outback blimp large as day going south towards Dallas. I used to have the Goodyear blimp go overhead in Fort Lauderdale regularly, so this was a treat. Highway I-75 goes through Tulsa, which may have been it's initial route south, but it was a good 40 miles west of Tulsa and Highway I-40. As another observer wrote, the nose kept going up and down as it flew almost directly into the wind.
DATE: August 21, 2007
TIME: 5:30 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
SPOTTER: Blimp Spotter Basic Wanda
My mother just called to tell me she spotted the Outback blimp at the airfield near her house. Not sure why it's here, and the Outback web site didn't list an updated schedule. It's been a great month for blimps in Tulsa. We had the MetLife blimp here last week for the PGA golf championship! Wish they came around a little more often.
DATE: August 17, 2007
TIME: 5:50 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Joplin, Missouri, USA
SPOTTER: Blimp Spotter Basic Blake
I h
DATE: August 16, 2007
TIME: 11:50 a.m. EDT
LOCATION: Sandusky, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Blimp Spotter Basic Tobi
I was parked on the Jackson Street Pier during lunch and spotted not one, but two of the Goodyear blimps over Cedar Point, circling. Flying about 300 feet in the air, traveling northwest and circling around to the southeast and circling again and again. This happened until I left at 12:15 p.m. and, to the best of my knowledge, was still happening at the time I made this report No press releases or notification made to the public about the blimps being in area or for what reason.
DATE: August 11, 2007
TIME: 9:03 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
Sat in the MetLife blimp gondola with brother, Evan. The blimp was in Tulsa covering the PGA.
DATE: August 9, 2007
TIME: 7:15 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Russ
I saw MetLife's Snoopy One flying east leaving the PGA tournament this evening.
DATE: July 28, 2007
TIME: Noon EDT
LOCATION: Lima, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Ben
I was in the Sam's Club parking lot in Lima when I spotted an Outback Steakhouse Bloomin' Onion blimp heading south. I also followed it on the way home. It was following Highway I-75 south. The pilot must have been bored, because he kept dropping the nose and losing altitude and lifting the nose and gaining altitude. I don't know how high it was but probably 1,500 feet. I got on Outback's website and it said the blimp was headed to Cincinnati, Ohio.
DATE: July 25, 2007
TIME: 3:30 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Detroit, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Blimp Spotter Basic Antonio
I spotted the red and white Sanyo blimp here after getting back from the bar. I talked to my dad the next day and he spotted it at like midnight before I saw it. The blimp was in the skies over about a 2-mile radius till roughly 8:30 to 9a.m.
DATE: July 23, 2007
TIME: 4:10 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Newark, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Renee
I actually saw the blimp yesterday in Hebron, Ohio, heading south. Today it is also heading south.
DATE: July 22, 2007
TIME: 11:00 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Carrie
Goodyear blimp flying over Miller Park. It has been here since July 20, when I saw it headed for Timmerman Field about 2 p.m.
DATE: July 21, 2007
TIME: 1:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Kristy
See July 20 report below.
DATE: July 20, 2007
TIME: 12:15 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Kristy
One of the Goodyear blimps has been operating out of Milwaukee's Timmerman Field giving short rides to contest winners. The blimp is expected to head northwest in the next couple of days in the direction of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to make an appearance at the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) air show.
DATE: July 17, 2007
TIME: 6:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Crystal, Minnesota, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Timothy
Tethered at Crystal Airport, Minneapolis; it's been in the area since at least
DATE: July 15, 2007
TIME: 11:19 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Eric
The Outback Steakhouse blimp was flying over downtown Minneapolis today.
DATE: July 11, 2007
TIME: 2:15 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Waunakee, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
Outback Steakhouse blimp over northeast Madison, heading north.
DATE: July 11, 2007
TIME: 2:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Madison, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Ken
Blimp h
DATE: June 23, 2007
TIME: 3:00-5:45 a.m. EDT
LOCATION: Detroit, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Antonio
Got video and audio -- the same flight pattern. Crappy video -- one good still shot. It was the Sanyo blimp. Is it possible to find flight records?
DATE: June 22, 2007
TIME: 11:14 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Al
Blimp was over downtown Milwaukee at an altitude of approx. 400 feet traveling west.
DATE: June 22, 2007
TIME: 9:30 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic PB
Outback blimp flying over the Milwaukee lakefront at about 500 feet.
DATE: June 20, 2007
TIME: 8:00 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic John
Just buzzing around town -- wonder what event it is covering.
DATE: June 17, 2007
TIME: 12:40 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Mount Clemens, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Steve
Spotted the Sanyo blimp just south of the intersection of Cass Avenue and Groesbeck Highway in Mount Clemens, (Metro-Detroit area), moving north-northeast. It was probably at about 200 to 300 feet altitude and traveled a little over half a mile in about five minutes.
DATE: June 15-17, 2007
TIME: 11:30 a.m. EDT
LOCATION: Canton, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Cathi
The Sanyo blimp was seen numerous times over the last three days flying over the Ann Arbor Michigan area. It seemed to be traveling in a circle. We have been unable to determine why it was in the area.
DATE: June 15, 2007
TIME: 12:15 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Ken
We have seen the Sanyo blimp flying over Oakland County, north of Detroit, twice this week -- once on Tuesday and once on Friday. No events, so it must just be for the advertising.
DATE: June 14, 2007
TIME: 3:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Kansas City, Missouri, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Kyle
I have seen a white blimp with "Outback Steak House" on it. I have seen this blimp in the area all week.
DATE: June 13, 2007
TIME: 2:45 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Oakland County, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
Sanyo blimp traveling northeast; no erratic or suspicious maneuvering noted.
DATE: June 13, 2007
TIME: 2:40 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Kansas City, Missouri, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Dave
The Outback blimp was headed east from downtown Kansas City along Highway I-70. It then stopped and hovered over Kaufman Stadium where the KC Royals play. It turned to the south, then back to the east, and hovered there as long as I could see it.
DATE: June 13, 2007
TIME: 2:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Kansas City, Missouri, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
I spotted the Outback blimp over Kansas City on
DATE: June 13, 2007
TIME: 11:30 a.m. EDT
LOCATION: Detroit, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Joe
Saw the Sanyo blimp heading west away from Detroit along Highway I-96 in a west-northwest direction.
DATE: June 12, 2007
TIME: Noon and 4:30 pm. EDT
LOCATION: Roseville, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Jean
I saw the Sanyo Blimp circling over Roseville, Eastpointe and Warren (northern suburbs of Detroit) since noon today. Altitude was varying, as they were pointing the nose up and down as they were circling. Estimated altitude roughly 1,500 feet. I have no idea what event they are in town for.
DATE: June 11, 2007
TIME: 7:15 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Canton, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Karen
Flying low over south Canton, only a couple hundred feet off the ground; could see windows clearly on the passenger area; probably had just taken off from Willow Run Airport; was originally heading northeast and saw it turn to due east toward Detroit.
DATE: June 9, 2007
TIME: 7:00-10:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Westmont, Illinois, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Joe
The blimp has been circling just west of Westmont for several hours.
DATE: June 5, 2007
TIME: 2:15 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Chicago, Illinois, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
I'm on the 50th floor of the Chase Bank building. The Sanyo blimp and several fighter jets, were flying to the south of our building.
DATE: June 3, 2007
TIME: 9:30 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Waterloo, Illinois, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Mark
The Outback Steakhouse blimp kept circling my house and surrounding area for over two hours. I think it was taking photos of a baseball tourney nearby. I did take several photos, as the blimp hovered very low on various occasions.
DATE: May 25, 2007
TIME: 1:45 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Jackson, Tennessee, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Rachel
My friend and I were driving west down Highway I-40 and spotted a blimp to the right of us, also heading west. It was white with a blue stripe down its side. We are guessing it is the Goodyear blimp because it is Memorial Day weekend.
DATE: May 21, 2007
TIME: 11:00 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Crown Point, Indiana, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Debra
I saw the blimp with the Goodyear logo fly almost directly over my house, heading northwest. I then called my father to tell him to keep an eye out for it since he lives up that way, but he did not see it. I thought maybe that the blimp was here to video some sort of event that may have been taking place, then it just continued on its way. It was pretty low. It looked huge to the human eye from where I was. It was quite exciting!
DATE: May 18, 2007
TIME: 1:30 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Dallas, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Chris
The Sanyo blimp has been circling downtown Dallas in a counterclockwise direction this afternoon -- just as it did yesterday.
DATE: May 17, 2007
TIME: 12:10 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: McKinney, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
I was out in my garden when I spotted the Sanyo blimp going backward and forward, close to Lowry Crossing, McKinney.
DATE: May
14, 2007
TIME: 7:00 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Arlington, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic David
The Sanyo blimp has been at the Arlington airport since May 12. I have no idea what it is doing, but it was still there this morning.
DATE: May 13, 2007
TIME: 4:20 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Terre Haute, Indiana, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
While washing my car, I heard an unusual engine drone from the west. I looked up and saw the MetLife Snoopy Two. I turned on my air band radio, jumped in the truck and went to the airport because it looked like Snoopy Two was making a "dive" for it. It took me only five minutes to get to the airport, but the blimp had already landed and was being held down by the crew. Not sure what they did, but they did it in about five minutes (not even a stop for a run to the restroom for the crew.) Even the tower controller commented "You guys are as quick as an Indy pit stop"! He asked if they were going to be in Indy for May (Indy-500 month) but the pilot said, no, they were headed to the Preakness after only a night in Indy. When he took off, he shot up to make altitude, but then, in what looked like a stall in a conventional airplane, he leveled off to a less radical climb angle.
DATE: May 4, 2007
TIME: 1:00 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Louisville, Kentucky, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Marc
The Outback blimp is in Louisville for the Kentucky Derby. The blimp was spotted at Bowman Field (Louisville's historical airport). She was tethered at the time.
DATE: May 2, 2007
TIME: 3:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Cumby, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic "Rogue"
MetLife blimp spotted circling around -- probably fighting the wind. Seemed pretty low to the ground -- perhaps 2,500 to 5,000 feet.
DATE: May 1, 2007
TIME: 3:20 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Shepherdsville, Kentucky, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic "Special Forces"
Spotted Outback blimp, traveling northeast along I-65, across Shepherdsville. The blimp was bobbing spastically and was seemingly out of control. Observers were sure it was going to crash.
DATE: April 16, 2007
TIME: 6:35 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Karla
Coming into the city over the Lake Pontchartrain toll way, I spotted what I thought was a blimp near the New Orleans sky line -- near the water. This was at 4 p.m. Later, as we were waiting for dinner at Morton's, we walked to the River Walk, and the blimp was coming quite low -- following the water line. It read MetLife. I can only imagine the purpose.
DATE: April 12, 2007
TIME: 10:30 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Dallas, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Randall
I saw the Outback blimp outside of my office earlier today. It looked like it was flying at about 1,500 feet, and it did this sweet 360-degree turn and kept on flying. I think it's in town for the race this weekend.
DATE: April 11, 2007
TIME: 3:40 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Arlington, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Timothy
Outback's Bloomin' Onion 1 blimp is here in Dallas-Forth Worth for the next four days. It has made two flights today over the ballpark in Arlington and Six Flags. I believe that they are giving blimp rides to contest winners.
DATE: October 29, 2006
TIME: 3:55 p.m. CST
LOCATION: Houston, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Michael
I've been seeing the Sanyo blimp hovering over the downtown Houston skyline around sunset off and on for the last several weeks when I was out walking the dogs. This was the earliest time I've seen the blimp out.
DATE: October 23, 2006
TIME: 12:10 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Cleveland, Tennessee, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Doug
I spotted an Outback blimp headed south over Highway I-75. It was having trouble flying in a straight line, probably due to high winds.
DATE: October 21, 2006
TIME: 8:00 a.m. EDT
LOCATION: Findlay, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Bill
Outback blimp parked at the Findlay Airport overnight.
DATE: October 20, 2006
TIME: 6:30 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Kendallville, Indiana, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Joshua
A Goodyear blimp, probably the Spirit of Goodyear, the one based in Ohio, was heading west, directly over my house at a very low altitude, about 300 feet. Mom started screaming "a dirigible," and I had no idea what she meant. Now, I do.
DATE: October 20, 2006
TIME: 4:15 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Oxford, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Dave
I was traveling east from Oxford when I noticed the Outback blimp traveling north across Stillwell Beckett Road along Highway 177. The blimp was a few hundred feet in air. I was interested in how fast a blimp can travel.
DATE: October 19, 2006
TIME: 9:03 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Nashville, Tennessee, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic John
I am currently looking at the Outback blimp outside of my office window. It's on the ground at a small airport in Nashville. Any ideas why?
DATE: October 9, 2006
TIME: 4:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: League City, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Stephanie
Actually, I have seen the blimp daily since about Wednesday last week, including today at 9 a.m. I believe it is mooring at Ellington Air Force Base and cruises directly over my office in south Houston (Clear Lake City) heading over Clear Lake. I've seen it both days this past weekend. Yesterday, it followed me home, apparently doing attitude exercises, as low as 100 meters above me (100-200 meters distance) and directly above at approximately 500 meters as I drove Highway 146.
DATE: October 6, 2006
TIME: 5:30 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Tullahoma, Tennessee, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic William
It was an Outback Steakhouse blimp, about 150 yards high, going north to Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
DATE: October 5, 2006
TIME: 4:23 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Karen
I saw the Outback blimp over Indianapolis Airport. It was several feet in the air, and I don't know how the planes missed it. It didn't seem to be going anywhere.
DATE: October 5, 2006
TIME: 1:10 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Crawfordsville, Indiana, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
The Outback blimp was headed in a southeast direction at 2,000 feet. A strong northwest wind was having its way with the blimp. Looked like the operator of the blimp was trying to let the wind push it by placing the left side of the blimp directly into the wind's path.
DATE: October 3, 2006
TIME: 6:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Houston, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Leonard
Sanyo brand blimp over downtown.
DATE: October 3, 2006
TIME: 2:44 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Houston, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Amanda
The Sanyo blimp is, once again, hovering over downtown. Altitude appears slightly above skyscrapers. Maneuvers are inconsistent. Appears to be meandering. Concern is growing.
DATE: October 2, 2006
TIME: 5:30 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Houston, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Brian
Sanyo blimp has been flying between downtown Houston and the medical center for about five days now. Will be keeping a close eye on it...
DATE: October 2, 2006
TIME: 2:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Houston, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Amanda
The Sanyo blimp is currently circling downtown Houston -- intentions unknown!
DATE: October 2, 2006
TIME: 2:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Houston, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Mick
I spotted the Sanyo blimp out of my office window over the Upper Kirby district of Houston. It was headed south until it cruised over Westheimer Road. The blimp then made an about-face and went back north. It continued north until it was out of view of my office window. As far as I know, there are no events large enough going on right now to warrant the Sanyo blimp. Any thoughts?
DATE: October 1, 2006
TIME: 8:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Galveston, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Bob
Sanyo blimp, flying about 500 feet, over Galveston Island near the causeway. The blimp seemed to be coming from the Houston area.
DATE: October 1, 2006
TIME: 8:30 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Friendswood, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Adam
Saw the Sanyo blimp two nights in a row. Headed south for Galveston. Flying quite low, very illuminated.
DATE: October 1, 2006
TIME: 6:16 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Houston, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Kevin
Observed N101lG flying at approximately 1,500 feet at 35 kilometers per hour airspeed, paralleling I-45, southbound.
DATE: September 29, 2006
TIME: 4:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Houston, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Bob
Sanyo blimp, Flying at approximately 1,000 feet, traveling west to east over the Galleria, heading toward downtown.
DATE: September 25, 2006
TIME: 9:50 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Normal, Illinois, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Angie
Walking around the library I work at, I looked out the big windows facing onto our university quad, and there was the Goodyear blimp floating by headed west. It was so low, it looked like it was practically grazing the tree-tops. I've never seen a blimp before in my life, so this was quite an experience!
DATE: September 22, 2006
TIME: 3:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Terrell, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic David
The Sanyo blimp was moored at the Terrell airport (outside of Dallas).
DATE: September 21, 2006
TIME: 12:15 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Benjamin
Saw the Outback Bloomin' Onion Airship blimp today in the skies over Fort Wayne. According to their schedule, they are headed to the Notre Dame-Michigan State football game.
DATE: September 20, 2006
TIME: 3:30 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Irving, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Mike
The Sanyo blimp was traveling South over Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. It stopped momentarily, then performed a 360-degree turn before heading back south. I surmise that the circle was for airport traffic. I would guess the blimp was at 500 feet altitude.
DATE: September 14, 2006
TIME: 12:30 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Richmond, Indiana, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Barry
The Met Life blimp was following Interstate Highway 70, heading east about 60 mph, 200 feet up or so., The blimp's nose was bobbing up and down a little.
DATE: September 8, 2006
TIME: All Day
LOCATION: Austin, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Not reported
The Outback blimp is in town for the Longhorn-Buckeyes football game.
DATE: September 7, 2006
TIME:1:30 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Ridgeville Corners, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Chris
The Goodyear Blimp flew directly over my house. I got wonderful pictures of it if you'd like to see them.
DATE: September 6, 2006
TIME: 7:00 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Napoleon, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Chris
My husband and I saw the Sanyo blimp flying over Napoleon while we were heading into church at St Paul's Lutheran (Napoleon Township).
DATE: September 3, 2006
TIME: 5:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Bossier City, Louisiana, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Kelley
It was the Outback blimp, traveling west along Interstate 20 in Bossier City.
DATE: August 30, 2006
TIME: 6:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Champaign, Illinois, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Michael
A Sanyo blimp was at 1,000 feet, heading west. I was wishing I was flying with them. It sure was cool. It was my first time to see a blimp in person, and I loved it. Keep it up, Sanyo. I have always enjoyed your products. Thanks.
DATE: August 30, 2006
TIME: 2:45 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Wilmington, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Ed
The Outback Steakhouse airship passed by Wilmington today. I believe it was coming from Akron, OH, from a golf tournament this past weekend. Do not know where the next destination is. Passed by DHL Air Park at roughly 1,500 feet.
DATE: August 30, 2006
TIME: 2:07 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Columbus, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Bobby
Saw the Outback blimp just south of Columbus, over Highway I-71, traveling south.
DATE: August 20, 2006
TIME: 2:30 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Dexter, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Eric
Sanyo blimp heading south-southeast. Altitude was relatively low -- like you'd expect for a blimp over a football game.
DATE: August 16, 2006
TIME: 10:08 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Westland, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Dan
Saw the Sanyo blimp fly pretty much along Highway I-96 in Livonia at around 10 p.m. It was flying due east toward Detroit from Ann Arbor. Talking to my uncle, it looks like the base of this Sanyo blimp is Willow Run airport near Ann Arbor. Caught it out of the backyard looking west, waited for it to pass, it was all lit up. Could slightly hear the hum of the engines. It couldn't have been much higher that 1,000 feet.
DATE: August 16, 2006
TIME: 3:30 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: South Haven, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Enoch
The blimp arrived from the west over Lake Michigan from the direction of the Chicago area. It came to the Michigan shoreline and turned south, seeming to follow the coastline along southwest Michigan.
DATE: August 15, 2006
TIME: Twilight, CDT
LOCATION: Madison, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Sarah
I was in the parking lot of Olbrich Botanical Gardens, and the blimp was off to the southeast. It had two rows of white lights, one above and one below, a central row of red lights. The lights went on and off. It was very beautiful and I sort of hoped it was a UFO and not a UFO that turned out to be a blimp. I thought it was a blimp, because it seemed to glide and float and did not have any of the characteristics you read about with UFOs. As I watched, it turned and faced south and I saw the tail end, which was comparatively much smaller, which also made sense for a blimp. It kept turning to its left and went away heading northeast. Fabulous, beautiful.
DATE: August 15, 2006
TIME: 9:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Madison, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Alex
A Sanyo blimp was heading in a northwesterly direction. The airship seemed to be hovering over the Perkins Restaurant on the south side of Madison. Its pilots may have been looking for a late night meal.
DATE: August 15, 2006
TIME: 9:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Monona, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER:
Dan and Marilee
The Sanyo lightship approached from the southeast at 1,500 feet, following dusk. Upon reaching a point directly above our house, the blimp executed a turn to the southwest, receding quickly before a light northerly wind. We believe that our steadfast presence in the yard forced the blimp to retreat.
DATE: August 15, 2006
TIME: 8:30 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Madison, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Terry
The Sanyo blimp was traveling north over Madison. It appeared to be in the landing glide path of Dane County Regional Airport. It took a dip downward, rather sharply, probably making sure it was not going to miss its landing zone. About an hour later, I saw the blimp over what appeared to be Camp Randall Stadium, home of the University of Wisconsin Badgers football team. The next day, around 10:30 a.m., the blimp was traveling due east over Sun Prairie, apparently heading toward Milwaukee. I would think that it was headed to Medina, Illinois, for the 2006 PGA Championship.
DATE: August 15, 2006
TIME: 8:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Madison, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic
"Anonymouse"
The Lightship Sanyo was traveling south-southeast at three to five knots at approximately 1,000 feet altitude over the near west side isthmus neighborhood of Madison at 7:45 p.m. At 7:55 p.m., the lightship executed a clockwise 180º turn over the western edge of Lake Monona, descended to approximately 500 feet and began to travel north-northwest back over the downtown isthmus. Sanyo equipment is being used to provide Wi-Fi for most of the City of Madison, which was inaugurated on July 7. The lightship's appearance may coincide with the annual "Moving Day" for University of Wisconsin-Madison students to welcome incoming students and to introduce them to the new Wi-Fi servic, but this is speculation at this point since I have been unable to find a reliable source to determine the true purpose of the lightship's visit to our fair city. I have ordered three tin foil hats (the double shiny side ones), to protect my self and my two cats from broadband microwaves that may be streaming from the lightship's onboard projectors which are disguised as airspeed sensors on the exterior of the gondola.
UPDATE!
This just in from an anonymous source hidden in an underground bunker at an undisclosed location. The Lightship Sanyo may have come to Madison to abduct out politically correct Mayor Cheesewizz and certain members of the Kommon Kouncil who insist on turning Madison into a liberal paradise where the nanny state giveth to and taketh from all, as the whims of the intelligentsia dictate.
DATE: August 15, 2006
TIME: 7:45 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Madison, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Garry
A Sanyo blimp passed over our house moving surprisingly quickly. It seemed fairly low.
DATE: August 15, 2006
TIME: 12:45 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Chicago, Illinois, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Don
Snoopy One spotted along Chicago's lakefront today in town for the PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club.
DATE: August 7, 2006
TIME: 4:21 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Little Falls, Minnesota, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Buddy
I was getting ready for a bike ride when I heard a quiet motor above my house. To my surprise when I looked up, there it was-the Sanyo blimp! It was just above the trees. I had never seen a blimp in flight before. I was in awe. Some of the neighbors spotted it too, and the pilot came back to give us all another look. He then headed north out of town. I assumed his destination was the National Hot Rod Association Drag Races in Brainerd, just 40 miles up the road.
DATE: August 7, 2006
TIME: 2:30 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
Outback blimp traveling west-southwest toward Lake Michigan. Appeared unarmed and harmless.
DATE: August 3, 2006
TIME: 4:15 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Lyndon Station, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Sarah
Driving along County Highway HH. Saw Sanyo blimp. Seemed to be free floating directly west. Temperature around 85.
DATE: August 3, 2006
TIME: 12:10 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Eau Claire, Wisconsin , USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Jay
I was west of Eau Claire, and the blimp must have been over Highway I-94 around Wisconsin exit 59. My son-in-law called to ask if we saw a UFO. Got out my glasses and could read "Sanyo" on the side. Probably 5 miles away or so.
DATE: August 3, 2006
TIME: 11:35 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Pingree Grove, Illinois, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Larry
Sanyo blimp spotted traveling in light rain headed north at 1,000-1,500 feet altitude.
DATE: July 31, 2006
TIME: 4:20 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Kalamazoo County, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Scott
Outback Steakhouse blimp; eastbound traveling along Highway I-94. Looks to be having difficulty flying in a straight line. Temperature approximately 98 degrees with 100 percent humidity outside. Estimated 2,500-4,000 feet altitude.
DATE: July 28, 2006
TIME: 4:00 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Bridgman, Michigan , USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
Sanyo blimp heading south, parallel to lake shore, around 2,000 feet.
DATE: July 21, 2006
TIME: 2:45 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Sterling Heights, Michigan , USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Jason
Spotted the Sanyo blimp over the Sterling Heights area this afternoon heading northwest.
DATE: July 16, 2006
TIME: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Ann Arbor, Michigan , USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Steve
A blue Goodyear blimp was moored at the Ann Arbor airport this morning. A white Sanyo blimp was spotted in the afternoon in the skies between Ann Arbor and Toledo along US Hwy. 23.
DATE: July 15, 2006
TIME: 5:30 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Toledo, Ohio , USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Gregg
The Sanyo blimp appeared to be flying around the LPGA Jamie Farr Owens Corning Golf Tournament.
DATE: July 13, 2006
TIME: 2:00 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Grosse Ile, Michigan , USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
Spotted Outback blimp while crossing the Trenton Channel of the Detroit River on the bridge. The blimp was traveling north. For a short while it was going at a fast speed and then slowed down.
DATE: July 8, 2006
TIME: 6:40 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Avon, Ohio , USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Marty
Skies were clear blue. We saw the Sanyo blimp. Blimp approached from northeast, perhaps flying over Cleveland. We waved. It turned to due west (probably to avoid the Cleveland (Hopkins International Airport) air space and then later turned to head southwest. I was taking my Mom, 80 years old, for an evening ride in her wheelchair. Mom enjoyed it immensely. But nobody in her nursing home believes us (that Sanyo has a blimp) but we saw it. At least, we think we did.
DATE: July 5, 2006
TIME: 3:00 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Twinsburg, Ohio , USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Beth
I was at the pool working at the front desk with my friend when we saw this blimp flying all over the place in random circles. It was hard to read the writing on it at first but it definitely said "Outback." This must have been some advertising thing.
DATE: May 31, 2006
TIME: 5:45 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Eureka Springs, Arkansas , USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Polly
Heading west.
DATE: May 29, 2006
TIME: 2:00 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Joplin, Missouri, , USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotters Basic Bill and Brenda
At Joplin Regional Airport, 300 to 500 feet, Snoopy 1 made several passes by the control tower for awesome pictures. Winds were at 140 degrees at 5 to 10 knots. The pilot was pleased to have so many onlookers. Nice landing!
DATE: May 28, 2006
TIME: 4:35 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Eaton (Preble County), Ohio, , USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Raymond
At 4:30 p.m. I was trying to take a quick nap, when I was bothered by the loud "lawnmower" noise outside. It seemed to be slowly going directly overhead and in the same direction, which did not make sense. Then I realized it sounded very much like a World War I zeppelin I have seen in films and read about. Finally, I went outside to confirm, and sure enough, I caught sight of the tail end of it disappearing beyond the trees. I did not get the name, but it was headed west by southwest, or roughly 250 degrees, at roughly 600 to 800 feet. It appeared to be light gray underneath. I called my wife out to look, and she caught only a brief glimpse of it. Then I tried to go back to my nap, but could not sleep, even after a good day of yard work. I wish I could have seen it from the beginning, instead of just at the end of it's visit. It's the first I've ever heard one that close. Fairly loud, but not bad.
DATE: May 25, 2006
TIME: 5:30 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Chuck
MetLife
DATE: May 23, 2006
TIME: 1:55 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: South Bend, Indiana, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Carrie
I am sitting at my office desk and happened to look out the window just in time to see the Sanyo Blimp.
DATE: May 20, 2006
TIME: 3:20 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma , USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Oley
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DATE: April 26, 2006
TIME: 7:30 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Austin, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Jeff
Sanyo blimp -- circling over south Austin.
DATE: Jan. 9, 2006
TIME: 1:30 p.m. EST
LOCATION: Iowa, Louisiana, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Brian
The blimp's altitude was about 750 feet, cruising in a westerly direction. Some questions of mine were where the blimp was coming from, and where was it going?
DATE: Oct. 17, 2005
TIME: 11:15 a.m. EDT
LOCATION: Brooklyn, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Jon
Vehicle traveling approximately 1,200 ft. at 45 mph in a westerly direction. Probably en route from covering Michigan-Penn State football game on Oct. 15.
DATE: Oct. 5, 2005
TIME: 12:41 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Warrensville Heights/Cuyahoga, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Pat
I was driving west on Harvard Road from Route 271, west of Richmond Road, approaching the top of the hill. The blimp was seen moving in southeast direction. It was difficult to read the name; appeared to be "Ameriquest." The blimp was flying very low.
DATE: Oct. 4, 2005
TIME: 1:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Topeka, Indiana, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Sharon
I was working in my garden when I heard this strange noise from the west. I'm not good at guessing altitude, but it was close. I could see two strings hanging from the nose of the blimp. I could not see inside, because it flew directly over me. It was heading due east. I like to think they were taking pictures to be used on the internet.
DATE: Oct. 4 2005
TIME: 12:45 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Northville, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Dennis
I spotted the Outback Steakhouse Blimp at approximately 1,500 feet. It was following I-275 north of 8mile Road.
DATE: Oct. 3, 2005
TIME: 3:00 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Jon
Outback blimp meandering (Do blimps do much else?) over Ypsilanti area, seemingly headed for Ann Arbor, Michigan, airport, where blimps often rest during visits to the area.
DATE: Oct. 3, 2005
TIME: 2:45 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Livonia, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Doug
I believe the blimp was heading south-southwest, maybe about 600 feet; just a guess.
DATE: Sept. 27, 2005
TIME: 12:25 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Fremont, Indiana, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Andy
I spotted the Ameriquest blimp north of the Indiana Toll Road 80/90 Interstate Highway 69 exchange. The blimp was heading west. There must been some upper air wind. It was pretty calm on the ground, but the blimp seem to be having a hard time going about 1,200 feet up.
DATE: Sept. 27, 2005
TIME: 3:30 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: White Pigeon, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Bob
The Ameriquest blimp was flying west at a few hundred feet. The blimp seems to have been following U.S. Highway 12 or the Indiana Toll Road.
DATE: Sept. 23, 2005
TIME: 3:15 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Chicago, Illinois, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Mike
Surprise return of Met Life blimp to Chicago! I observed the blimp providing aerial coverage of the Cubs/Astros game at Wrigley Field. It was circling the field, counter-clockwise at an altitude of approximnately 1,500 feet. Aquisition was made while I was driving north on Lake Shore Drive.
The Ameriquest "Freedom" airship was anticipated to return to Chicago for a White Sox/ Twins game on Sunday, but monitoring the Lansing Airport proved that it hasn't arrived yet, perhaps due to weather. I figured this was the Ameriquest arriving straight to Chicago before landing at the Lansing Airport, but closer observation proved that this was actually Met Life (Snoopy I or II?).
This is , I believe the first return of a Met Life blimp to Chicago in three years, as the Outback blimp has taken over much of the PGA aerial coverage. If it wasn't for the BSB reports, I would think they were decommissioned.
If reports of the Sanyo blimp in Chicago in June or July are true (according to Sanyo's web site; I didn't spot it), this would be the fourth blimp over Chicago this season, assuming the outback Bloomin' Onion never made it this far north.
It's been a "good year" for airships in Chicago, but less than the 1990's. There has been a blimp draught here, as I mentioned in a previous report, since 9/11 (thanks Mayor Daley!). The Met Life blimp often stays in Lansing , Illinois, 20 miles south of downtown Chicago, where Ameriquest was moored in August and September 2005. I will check.
More reports to come, as there has been plenty of "blimp action" in the Chicagoland area in September '05!
DATE: Sept. 12, 2005
TIME: 4:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Champaign, Illinois, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
I was southbound on first street in Champaign and spotted the Outback blimp heading toward the Willard Airport appeared to be descending for fuel, I am guessing.
DATE: Aug. 26, 2005
TIME: 4:55 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Chicago, Illinois, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter
Basic Dennis
The Ameriquest blimp came off of Lake Michigan going west and turned to the north quite close to the Sears tower. It continued it's U-turn and proceeded west, back over the lake. I had a view from the 40th floor of the Xerox Building
DATE: August 19 2005
TIME: 11:50 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter
Basic Vincent
The blimp was at an altitude of 500 to 700 feet, traveling east to west following Highway 102 and the Kankakee River, passing over Olivet University, where the Chicago Bears have summer camp. It was partly cloudy with unlimited view -- first time that I saw this airship in this area.
DATE: August 12 2005
TIME: 7:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Decatur, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter
Basic Shawn
Saw the Sanyo Blimp landing at the Decatur Municipal Airport. I was at work about a quarter of a mile south of the airport, when I saw the blimp coming in. It has been parked there at the airport all night long. You can see it as you drive along Highway 380.
DATE: August 12 2005
TIME: 1:10 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Dyer, Indiana, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter
Basic Josiah
I was in the house when my 7 year old son ran in. "I see a blimp," he shouted. I was surprised, but I believed him, because this kid is something else. Very accurate and quite a smart cookie I might add.
So, I ran outside to see what I expected to be a large balloon in the shape of a blimp. But no -- this was a LARGE blimp. It was red and had a section of blue with white stars along the top. There was a picture of a brass bell with "Ameriquest" written beside it. I heard the whirring of the engine and saw the passenger area as well. I think the driver must have seen us gawking at it because he came right over our house and then headed northwest. I came in the house once it passed and grabbed my camera, but only managed to get a faraway shot of it. Then I came inside, looked it up in Google and found you all.
DATE: August 10, 2005
TIME: 12:12 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Lansing, Illinois, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter
Basic Karla
For the past two days, the Ameriquest Airship Freedom has been "parked" at the Lansing Municipal Airport. Lansing is a suburb south of Chicago on the Illinois-Indiana border. I don't know why the blimp is in this area. It's fun to ride by and see it -- it's so big!
DATE: August 9, 2005
TIME: 10:30 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Gary, Indiana, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter
Basic Mike
I have been spotting blimps for years. The red/white/blue blimp is using the Gary airport for docking/ maintenance and refueling while supporting the Lake County, Indiana County Fair over Crown Pointe, Indiana. This is the first blimp seen in the Chicago area this year, as I believe Mayor Daley has kicked them all out claiming security reasons. He bulldozed the downtown Meigs Field airport. Daley just doesn't like those things! The last time I saw a blimp using the Gary/Chicago airport was the old Blockbuster blimp in the mid '90s.It was practicing take-offs/landings, as there is plenty of room there.
Thanks for this site. Although the conspiratorial nature surely is tongue-in-cheek, there is nowhere else I can keep track of these airships, being a blimpophile and all. I would have never known about the second Ameriquest blimp (children's charity) and that the Sanyo, Outback and Metlife blimps are all alive and well. Even the Budweiser Blimp (bud-1 or Budweiser.com Airship) has been decommissioned since 2001. Blimp schedules are kept private.
Addendum: I failed to mention in my BSB report that, in fact, it is the Ameriquest Blimp on the ground at the Gary/Chicago airport in Gary, Indiana.
DATE: August 7, 2005
TIME: 11:00 a.m. EDT
LOCATION: Toledo, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter
Basic Rick
Ameriquest Blimp spotted heading West along Ohio Turnpike as we were headed east.
DATE: August 1, 2005
TIME: 1:10 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Madison, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter
Basic Robin
It was headed east (I think) and seemed to be flying pretty low.
DATE: June
17-29, 2005
TIME: All Day
LOCATION: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Not reported
 The Ameriquest Airship Freedom was at the All-Star Game in Detroit, then spent the last two weeks in Cleveland, Ohio. Freedom was stationed at the east edge of Cleveland's Burke Lakefront Airport. (Photo submitted by Airship Spotter Basic Bob) |
DATE: June 30, 2005
TIME: 4:00 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Grand Blanc, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Not reported
 Outback Steakhouse Blimp at the Buick Open in Grand Blanc. Seen nationally on CBS television. (Photo submitted by Airship Spotter Bob) |
DATE: June 27, 2005
TIME: 11:45 a.m. EDT
LOCATION: Detroit, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter
Basic Mike
The Ameriquest red blimp flew over a 24-story building I work at here in downtown Detroit. It is a very hazy day already in the nineties, I hope they have air conditioning!
DATE: June 26, 2005
TIME: 12:30 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Vermilion, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter
Basic Adam
I live on Lake Erie about 20 miles from Sandusky, Ohio, home of Amusement Park Cedar Point. I looked out my back door to the lake, and there was an Ameriquest Blimp cruising along the shoreline. It was different, and my kids got a kick out of it.
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Numerous sharp-eyed blimp spotters of the realm filed reports with the BSB (see below), but some took it upon themselves to not only report, but to investigate and solve the mystery. To all who participated, Gen. Abnes Carthen, founder and supreme commander of the Blimp Spotters Brigade, extends a hearty "well done." |
DATE: June 5, 2005
TIME: 8:15 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Big Spring, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter
Basic Steve
Spotted the Ameriquest blimp coming over town at approximately 500 feet , heading east to west. She skirted the southern edge of town, tacking into the normal west Texas "breeze," and turned toward the north. Once over our airport, she turned south on final approach. The blimp touched down and was anchored at 8:28 a.m. I was informed by a friend that she took off at 9:08 a.m., once again heading west along Highway I-20.
DATE: June 2, 2005
TIME: 1:05 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Sweetwater, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter
Basic Mary
I spotted the blimp as it was landing at our airport. We see blimps at this airport all the time. (It is a small airport with large runways; lots of blimps use it.) I have never seen a blimp with so much color. It is beautiful!
DATE: May 31, 2005
TIME: 2:45 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Fort Worth, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter
Basic Brian
The multi colored blimp was very low, flying east, then it turned southwest and flew directly over my house at about 1,000 feet up!
DATE: May 31, 2005
TIME: 3:30 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Fort Worth, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter
Basic Zachariah
I spotted this blimp a few days earlier over Fort Worth. Thinking it crazy to see a blimp in fort worth I dismissed this sighting. Today however I have no doubt. Moving low and very fast, (for a blimp); very bright, with geometric shapes and no logos.
DATE: May 30- 31, 2005
TIME: All Day
LOCATION: Keller, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Beth
I found it! It is the Ameriquest Soaring Dreams blimp.
Check it out here :) http://www.soaringdreams.org/
DATE: May 30-31, 2005
TIME: All Day
LOCATION: Keller, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Beth
We've been watching this blimp today and yesterday. I concur with the other posts of about 300 to 350 ft. We saw it travel all different directions, make turns, just normal stuff I suppose.
We're wondering whose it is. It is a lovely funky-looking beast, and my children want to know who it belongs to! All sorts of bright colors and designs. The kids say it reminds them of the Hallmark Kaleidoscope traveling art experience thing they went to last year.
DATE: May 31, 2005
TIME: 1:19 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Fort Worth, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter "CPA"
The blimp spotted today circling Fort Worth is the Ameriquest Dream Ship, according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram. Website. www.soaringdreams.org
DATE: May 31, 2005
TIME: 1:04 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Fort Worth, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic "CPA"
Same blimp as prior report. Very odd that one can't tell who the corporate sponsor might be--how can it advertise a product (surely its purpose) if one can't read any of the markings? Could it have a non-commercial purpose?
DATE: May 31, 2005
TIME: 1:40 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Fort Worth, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Mike
We spotted the blimp above our neighborhood, which is west of Highway 377. It was traveling in a northwest direction. Our entire family went out on the yard to wave hello. The blimp subsequently came closer to our house and circled around before heading back on its path to the southeast. It was approx. 300 feet in the air at the time. With a video camera zoomed in 700x, we could see people waving!
DATE: May 24-29, 2005
TIME: All Day CDT
LOCATION: Fort Worth, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Not Reported
I saw the new multi-colored blimp moored at Alliance, Ft. Worth, on May 24 and flying over Ameriquest Field in Arlington, Texas, during a Texas Rangers game on May 25. In the Star-Telegram newspaper, it stated that the blimp was supposed to be around for a week.
DATE: May 29 2005
TIME: 7:45 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Kathy
I was driving past the Mount Comfort Airport, and the blimp was stationed there for the night. It had just recently landed after giving views from the air over the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, during the Indianapolis 500.
DATE: May 19 2005
TIME: 12:55 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Austin, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Mark
Saw the multicolor, psychedelic blimp in the skies of south Austin. It was north of Ben White, at about Congress Avenue, and at approximately 2,000 ft., moving slow. It was only seen for less than a minute, as I went to my destination.
DATE: May 19 2005
TIME: 6:31 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Austin, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Roberto
The very same blimp described in the April 22, Long Beach report, is now flying over Austin (purple mostly with colorful abstract markings). Our local conspiracy guru Alex Jones has been keeping track of the sightings, and some of his TV broadcast callers swear it's some surveillance platform. It has passed over my neighborhood in east Austin several times every afternoon for the last few days, at about 300-350 feet altitude, running north to south and back again, flying very conspicuously over the whole of central Austin. It has no logo like the Sanyo Blimp that I saw here last month.
Does anyone know what this multi-colored Zeppelin is all about? Who is the sponsor or creator of this flying art, if that is what it's supposed to be?
DATE: May 2, 2005
TIME: 1-5:30 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Austin, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Mark
FUJI corporate blimp -- white with red logo. I spotted it approximately 5 miles west of Austin, running a circuit from the airport over to the west/southwest side of downtown Austin, and back to the airport. I went to an appointment and emerged, back outside, about 1 mile west of Austin, and observed it land there, and take off back directly west, and proceed approximately 8 miles, never leaving my site. Then it returned to the Austin airport, achieving altitude of maybe 4,000, maximum speed of perhaps 25 mph in about a 45-minute circuit time.
I did not observe passengers on the ground or in the air as it rose westbound over me, but it had a passenger gondola. It did have two ropes hanging free from the nose, of about a third of the ship's length.
DATE: January 16, 2005
TIME: 2:00 p.m. CST
LOCATION: Karnes County, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Joseph
Spotted the Ameriquest blimp flying from east to west at about 1,500 feet altitude. It appeared the blimp operator was lost.
DATE: January 13, 2005
TIME: 4:30 p.m. CST
LOCATION: Nederland, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Aubry
The blimp was en route from Dallas to Jennings, Louisiana, and was forced to land, due to bad weather, at Jefferson County Airport in Nederland. I actually got to talk to the ground crew and tour the blimp for 45 minutes. Impressive!
DATE: January 10, 2005
TIME: 3:25 p.m. CST
LOCATION: Harris County (Houston), Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Anonymous
I observed Ameriquest blimp headed north, parallel to Interstate 45, on the west side of the interstate. I am on the 7th floor of a 14-story building, and the blimp passed overhead.
DATE: January 8, 2005
TIME: 10:45 a.m. CST
LOCATION: Woodlands (Houston), Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Ken
I spotted the Ameriquest blimp flying south at approximately 500 feet (we could hear the engines) just west of Interstate Highway 45 in far north Houston, Texas, and the intersection is IH-45 and the Woodlands Parkway. The weather was clear and a cool.
DATE: December 16, 2004
TIME: 1:15 p.m. CST
LOCATION: Downtown Dallas, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Greg
The Ameriquest blimp scared the crap of of my friend's guide dog!
DATE: December 16, 2004
TIME: 12:00 p.m. CST
LOCATION: McKinney, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic PK
Ameriquest blimp right over McKinney, headed west/southwest. Perhaps headed to a bowl game for coverage?
DATE: December 11, 2004
TIME: 10:10 a.m. CST
LOCATION: Forth Worth, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter David
Ameriquest blimp again spotted, this time, flying south at approximately 500 feet (we could hear the engines) just east of Interstate 35W in far north Fort Worth, just north of loop 820 (about 8 miles north of downtown Fort Worth.) The weather was clear and a chilly 47 degrees; northwest breeze, about 10 mph.
DATE: December 1, 2004
TIME: 3:10 p.m. CST
LOCATION: Marshall, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Lydia
I was coming home from town. and saw the blimp heading southeast going very slowly in the high wind that afternoon. It looked to be only about 400 feet in the air. I slowed down to a crawl to get a better look. It was so low that trees blocked the view. Luckily, it was passing over a pasture.
DATE: November 20, 2004
TIME: 1:30 p.m. CST
LOCATION: Forth Worth, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic David
Our Church, Arlington Heights United Methodist Church, on the west side of Fort Worth was having a crafts sale, and we were just leaving to return home on the north side of Fort Worth (Summerfields.) Our car, a 2004 Chevy Malibu, has a sun roof, and we had it open. We were driving east on University Drive toward North Henderson when we spotted the blimp above downtown Fort Worth, about 2 miles southeast of us.
It was flying in a gigantic circle north then west then south then east and then finally north all at an altitude of approximately 500 feet. The weather was mostly cloudy with a slight southerly breeze at about 68 degrees. Thunderstorms were expected later in the afternoon.
We drove south on Henderson to get just under the blimp. Finally, just southwest of downtown, as the blimp had made a turn to the east, we got behind it and followed. At almost 2 miles due south of downtown, as we both traveled east going about 40 miles per hour, we got directly under the blimp. We heard the engines.
The flag on the tail was clearly visible as were the tow lines trailing from the front. We peeled off to the south to look at some homes off of Evans Avenue. We then entered Interstate 35 northbound toward home. The blimp had headed north just west of the Interstate and seemed to be headed toward Alliance Airport 20 miles north of downtown Fort Worth.
We drove 60 miles per hour on the Interstate and finally caught up with the blimp just north of Loop 820 ,as it seemed to make a corrective turn toward the east to get into the landing pattern for Alliance.
We drove on home and lost sight of the blimp. Total time elapsed -- about 30 minutes.
DATE: November 19, 2004
TIME: 11:00 a.m. CST
LOCATION: Odessa, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Jim
I was flying a small plane from Sweetwater, Texas, to Van Horn, Texas, when I passed the Ameriquest blimp heading east near Odessa. I took a photo of it from the plane, and would be happy to upload it if you have a way to do that.
(Sure, Airship Spotter Basic Jim. Just attach the photo to an e-mail and send it to the editor. You can get the e-mail address by clicking on the "Contact" button in the left margin of this page. The Blimp Spotters Brigade Aerial Intelligence Analysis Division looks forward to receiving it.)
DATE: October 27, 2004
TIME: 5 p.m. CDST
LOCATION: San Leon, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Red
I saw it from my yard on Galveston Bay. The blimp was flying at around 1,000 feet, from north to south, and crossing over the Houston Ship Channel! Spying on the ships!
DATE:
October 3, 2004
TIME: 5 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Joplin, Missouri USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Justin
The Outback Blimp was over Joplin, hovering around town waiting to moor for the evening on its way from Columbia to Tulsa. Nice PR flight around town for the company. Got right underneath it, probably 300 foot above me. Awesome.
DATE:
October 3, 2004
TIME: 4:15 p.m. CDST
LOCATION: Carthage, Missouri USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Wendell
While playing football with my kids in the church yard next door to our house, the Outback blimp was traveling west, southwest. It was probably going from the Missouri-Colorado game to the Texas-Oklahoma game.
DATE: September 19, 2004
TIME: 2 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Bill
Caught
numerous photos of the Ameriquest Blimp on approach to Davis Field Airport.
Interesting to see the ground crew erect the portable mooring.
DATE:
September 13, 2004
TIME: 5 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Arcanum Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Charlie
Ameriquest blimp was observed flying eastbound at approx 1000 feet. Low altitude possibly due to low cloud cover.
DATE: August 15, 2004
TIME: 12:05 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Kohler, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Staff Sgt. Richard
We
were on the return leg of a trip to Sturgeon Bay when the blimp loomed large on the
horizon.
I had anticipated this happenstance, as the PGA championship was in its final minutes on the nearby Whistling Straights golf course. Thus, I had my trusty camera at the ready.
As I aimed and clicked, I felt a surge of confidence in the pattern I had begun to discern in the appearances of these mechanical monstrosities -- a pattern increasingly reinforced by the reports of other sharp-eyed members of the Blimp Spotters Brigade. More often than not, some type of professional sports event was taking place in the areas visited by the blimps. At other times, the airships could be spotted heading in the general direction of a scheduled event.
This could very well be the explanation that had so long eluded me.
DATE: August 5, 2004
TIME: 5:15 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Mogadore, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Chris
I was driving in my car on my way home from work and I looked up and saw the Outback Steakhouse Blimp and I was so surprised....didn't even know it existed!
DATE: July 4, 2004
TIME: 9:30 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Houston, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Staff Sergeant Timothy
The Ameriquest Airship (SKYSHIP 600) was hovering over downtown Houston, it was there for the Fourth of July fireworks ceremony. The airship will also cover the baseball All-Star game.
DATE: June 20, 2004
TIME: 2:48 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Port Washington, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Senior Airship Spotter Richard
Our
vehicle was northbound on Interstate Highway 43, when we spotted the unmarked
blimp overhead.
Curiously, the airship did not appear to be moving, almost as if it was tethered to the car dealership almost directly below its position. Even more curiously, the gasbag was seemingly unmanned and without any visual means of propulsion.
What purpose, then, might this wart on the fluffy blue skies of southeastern Wisconsin have served? Was it meant to draw our attention to the overpriced vehicles below, or was its mission something more sinister? Surveillance of innocent Father's Day travelers, perhaps? We must be ever more vigilant.
DATE: May 18, 2004
TIME: 3:00 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: South Bend, Indiana, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Mark
Traveling due west over the campus of the University of Notre Dame. About 1,000 feet. Going to ? in Chicago?
DATE: April 23, 2004
TIME: 6:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Conroe, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Senior Airship Spotter Timothy
I saw the Outback Steakhouse Blimp at Lone Star Executive Airport (Montgomery County Airport). The blimp was at its mast, so I walked across the runway out to the field to see it. I spoke with a ground crewman for a good while. The Outback Blimp is in town covering the Shell Houston Open.
DATE: April 12, 2004
TIME: 2:00 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Mountain Home, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotters Basic Dave and Virginia
My wife and I spotted the Saturn Ion blimp traveling west fighting the wind, going up and down with the tie rope hanging below; and I took a picture of the blimp.
DATE: January 31, 2004
TIME: 5:24 p.m. CST
LOCATION: Somers, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Steve
As I was driving westbound on Highway E in Somers, Wisconsin (Kenosha County), I was disturbed when I saw a slow-moving craft in the sky. It was dusk. It could not have been swamp gas because everything was frozen. I have also ruled out that it could be a helicopter because it did not make the appropriate noise. It was traveling northbound.
DATE: January 30, 2004
TIME: 5:30 p.m. CST
LOCATION: Houston, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter First Class Timothy
It was an overcast day on Friday when I went to Ellington Field, south of Houston. I went there to take photos of all kinds of aircraft arriving for the Super Bowl. In the distance, I saw the Goodyear Blimp moored at its mast on the side of the runway.
DATE: January 19, 2004
TIME: 1:15 p.m. CST
LOCATION: Spring, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Timothy
Today, I saw the Saturn ION blimp fly over my neighborhood! It was a beautiful day, and the skies were clear, perfect for flying! The Saturn blimp was heading in a northeastern direction. About two hours later, my sister called to tell me that the blimp was flying over Houston. The Super Bowl is being hosted here on February 1, and I expect to see plenty of other blimps soon. I can't wait!
DATE: July 23, 2003
TIME: 4:30 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Akron, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Andrew
I was coming from my friend's house around the corner, when all of a sudden, I saw a white blimp. The side of the blimp read "Sanyo."
DATE: Aug. 23, 2003
TIME: 4:30 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Akron, Ohio, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Andrew
I and my family were driving in downtown Akron. We had just turned the corner, and about one mile away from us, we saw two "Met Life" blimps.
DATE: June 25, 2003
TIME: 3:15 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Spring, Texas, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Timothy
It was a partly cloudy day, and I was in my back yard. I heard an odd noise that was getting closer and closer. It was loud and sounded like it was coming from a very low altitude. I realized it was coming from the west and I looked in that direction, only a few trees were obstructing my view.
After a minute or so a blimp emerged from the trees flying almost overhead. It was the Goodyear Airship - Stars and Stripes, and it was heading east towards interstate 45 about two miles from where I live. It was flying low enough that I could see the pilot's white shirt in the blimp's car compartment window. I watched for it for about 10 minutes until it vanished behind some more trees. Those darn trees!
Goodyear used to have one of its blimps based here in Spring, and Goodyear closed the base about 11 years ago. Seeing it again was like a blast from the past! The blimp was on its way to Houston about 30 miles away.
DATE: Oct. 12, 2002
TIME: 6:52 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Racine, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Staff Sgt. Steve
I was at a Racine Raider Semi-Pro football game when something ungodly caught my eye. As I looked up, there it was. At first, I thought it was swamp gas. It was dusk, and I was in the midst of an evening of heavy drinking, so I was confused. However, the 1,976 people in the stands confirmed my vision. It was a blimp! Turns out that it was a bogus blimp which escaped the rope of a near-by car dealership which was having a sale. Whew! What a relief!
DATE: Aug. 23, 2002
TIME: 2 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Dearborn, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Frank
The obese, slovenly, bagel-eating dirigible was drifting aimlessly heading in the direction of the Pontiac Silverdome.
DATE: Aug. 8, 2002
TIME: 3:19 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Nelson, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter First Class Richard
We
were proceeding south on the "Great River Road," State Highway 35,
when I spotted the blimp to starboard. There she was, on a west, northwest
heading, high over the Mighty Mississippi. Fortunately, I was in possession of
my trusty Olympus IS-1 ZLR. I ran her zoom lens out to its maximum 135mm, yet I
was unable to read its markings. I snapped a series of photos, however, for BSB
scrutiny and analysis.
DATE: June 2, 2002
TIME: 12:25 p.m. EDT
LOCATION: Detroit, Michigan, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Hoss
ABC A-150 "Saturn Vue." Orbiting Comerica Park Baseball Stadium during Tigers game. Altitude approximately 1,500 feet.
DATE: July 15, 2001
TIME: 2:03 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Bay Shore, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Richard
I was calmly proceeding north on Interstate Highway 43, about to leave the metropolitan Milwaukee area when I spotted it to my west. Blimp! This white and blue behemoth was too far distant to resolve the writing on its side, yet it dominated my left horizon.
The blimp appeared to be maintaining a stationary position. Even as I made this observation, it turned to port and took what appeared to be an intercept course to my position. Good heavenly gasbags! Could the occupants have been aware of my intense scrutiny, earning angry honks from fellow motorists as I deviated slightly from my lane while attempting to keep the airship in sight? I breathed a sigh of relief as it again turned and resumed its previous station.
What nefarious deeds could this apparition be contemplating? I was later informed that the ship I had spotted was the Met Life Blimp covering the Greater Milwaukee Open Golf Tournament. Ha! I'm sure that is what the operators would like everyone to believe, yet how well could a golf tournament, tough enough to follow with cameras at ground level, be covered from such an altitude? I remained clueless as the blimp's true purpose.
DATE: June 11, 2001
TIME: 9:57 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Coon Lake Beach, Minnesota, USA
SPOTTER: 1st Lt. Michaelman
On a cooler Minnesota night, the locals were out feeding the bugs, a normal evening. The darkened sky suddenly but ever so slightly trembled as a cacophony broke the din. A low hum. It was our second blimp spotting on the peninsula this summer! The great airship hid the starting stars with its gray tube mass. A side sign flashed some mention of car tires, maybe Firestones. Several of our group with Explorers ran for their guns, the remainder called for cameras. Then it happened. The belly of the beast opened up and began to dump manure on a rusting Toyota parked in Fleshmen’s Field. We fled, and no photos were taken.
DATE: May 20, 2001
TIME: 2:38 a.m. CDT
LOCATION: Coon Lake Beach, Minnesota, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Michaelman
Last night joined our neighbors scanning the sky. Sounds like cattle dying called us from our simple huts. With extreme trepidation, we scanned the skies, and there it was, the “Demon Blimp!” Length, 423 meters, speed 7.48923 knots. It was flying low over the peninsula, dragging a captured cow, advertising on its side, “drink beet juice.” Several hours after the sighting, the strange effects became apparent. All the toilets here started to flush, Jesse Ventura supporters put down their beers and started to drink tea. It just got ugly!
DATE: April 25, 2001
TIME: 7:07 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
SPOTTER: Senior Airship Spotter Steve
As a lover of blimps, I wish to report some alarming news. A blimp was flying over the new Miller Park, prior to a Milwaukee Brewers' home game. Well, as the temperature plummeted, Brewer management decided to close the retractable dome, thus negating the sight of the blimp. How can the blimp take shots of the action on the field with the roof closed? Brewer management should have build a glass retractable dome to allow for blimps!
DATE: Jan. 18, 2001
TIME: Unreported
LOCATION: Marquette, MI, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter First Class Steve
I was doing the radio broadcast at the Berry Events Center when I saw a horrific sight. Never mind the fact that the University of Wisconsin-Parkside was losing, but the blimp which circles the arena on the campus of Northern Michigan University crashed. No lie. I told the listeners on WLIP 1050 AM exactly what happened. Must have been a rookie on the remote control. The blimp is designed to circle the crowd and drop prizes on the fans below. Thankfully, no one was hurt.
DATE: Sept. 14, 2000
TIME: 12:15 p.m. CDT
LOCATION: Burlington, WI, USA
SPOTTER: Airship Spotter Basic Richard
Conditions here are calm, but suspicious. I believed I had spotted, not your average, everyday, run-of-the-mill blimp, but an honest-to-goodness zeppelin! Egad, the thing was HUGE! I anxiously tracked it from east to west for several minutes, preparing to alert BSB headquarter about what it might be looming in western skies within a few short days. False alarm.
My suspected zeppelin turned out to be no more than a suggestive cloud formation, a fact that was revealed when an upper air current proceeded to dissect and dismember my quarry. Still, many of the scattered remains did strongly resemble the biplanes these nefarious sky ships of evil were known to carry and release to wreak havoc upon unsuspecting citizens. I shall maintain my vigilance.