Snoopy Airship Grounded In Dinwiddie By Weather
0 Comments | Progress – Index, The; Petersburg, Va., Aug 19, 2010 | by Patrick Kane
DINWIDDIE – Snoopy wasn’t chased out of the skies by his nemesis the Red Baron – rather, stormy weather. The Snoopy One airship spent Tuesday and Wednesday at the Dinwiddie County Airport because of bad weather conditions.
Bret Viets of The Lightship Group pilots the 132-foot long blimp, which is held aloft by 69,000 square feet of helium. Weather affects the slow-moving vehicle much more than even a small plane, the pilot said, meaning occasional stopovers for safety reasons.
“A lot of people think that once we have finished an event, that the airship gets deflated, packed away and transported by ground,” Viets said. “We fly them all across the country.”
The high-profile advertising tool for Metlife – the ship can even be lit up for night flight – also serves as an aerial camera rig for TV events.
The cabin is able to accommodate four people, but is typically set up with a pilot, camera operator and camera equipment.” We are on top of the golf course for the duration of TV coverage,” Viets explained. “We get word right to the ship about what holes they want covered, what golfers they want covered.”
An externally-mounted high-definition camera can get tight, unique shots.
“He can get the dimples on the golf ball if he needs too,” Viets said.
The Lightship Group is the world’s largest operator of airships, and Metlife is among their clients. Two Snoopy-decorated ships cruise North America during the entire year, with another one working about half a year.
As they attempt to leave today to cover the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C., they are also looking forward to helping children in need. They will be giving rides to children with Believe in Tomorrow.
“These are kids that have been or are critically ill. We’re looking forward to giving these kids a chance to ride,” Viets said.
A pilot for nearly 30 years, Viets was always interested in airships
blimps