Comments on: U.S. Navy Blimps Learn New Role for Sea Rescues http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/08/23/us-navy-blimps-learn-new-role-for-sea-rescues/ Yesterday's tomorrow, today. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:33:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Stannous http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/08/23/us-navy-blimps-learn-new-role-for-sea-rescues/#comment-8362 Stannous Thu, 24 Aug 2006 00:43:13 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/08/23/us-navy-blimps-learn-new-role-for-sea-rescues/#comment-8362 Pre-helicopter days, the only airship that could hover. Faster to the scene than a boat (about 50 knots) and able to carry quite a few victims. I grew up near Lakehurst, NJ across the street from the wide Toms River where Navy rescue blimps practiced water rescue. Every member of the crew, including the pilot, would be dropped into the water (even in cool weather), the blimp would make a large loop and come back heading into the wind to pick them back up. Pre-helicopter days, the only airship that could hover. Faster to the scene than a boat (about 50 knots) and able to carry quite a few victims.

I grew up near Lakehurst, NJ across the street from the wide Toms River where Navy rescue blimps practiced water rescue.
Every member of the crew, including the pilot, would be dropped into the water (even in cool weather), the blimp would make a large loop and come back heading into the wind to pick them back up.

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