gen3flygirl Posted June 13, 2011 Report Share Posted June 13, 2011 This is a very tragic accident and a great loss to the company. RIP pilot.http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/06/13/6847608-pilot-dies-passengers-leap-to-safety-as-blimp-bursts-into-flames Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevysoldier Posted June 13, 2011 Report Share Posted June 13, 2011 Wow. So sad. RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Likwid Posted June 13, 2011 Report Share Posted June 13, 2011 "The airship immediately shot upwards, gaining up to fifty meters in height, possibly due to the sudden loss of weight."I wonder if the pilot TOLD them to jump off? Either way it's a tragedy, but if they just jumped and, basically, killed the pilot they are dumb asses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gen3flygirl Posted June 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2011 I doubt the people jumping off would have that big of an impact. My theory is the engine fought fire and spread to the main external structure burning a hole in it. The difference in air pressure would cause the air inside to try and equalize with the air outside kind of like a blown up ballon that was released. I am very curious to see what the official report says. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kawi kid Posted June 13, 2011 Report Share Posted June 13, 2011 Yeah people jumping out the side wouldn't have that much of an effect unless it was a hundred or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReconRat Posted June 13, 2011 Report Share Posted June 13, 2011 (edited) The change in weight combined with the heat of the air in the remaining structure probably caused it to rise. It did rise. This was a Lightship Europe blimp chartered by Goodyear. Not sure who manufactured it, but probably Goodyear to Euro specs. The Goodyear airships in the USA are a different design, according to Goodyear.edit: nope, it's not a Goodyear blimp, they only chartered it.Built by American Blimp Corporation. A-60 model. Hillsboro, Oregon facility. Sold to Lightship Europe. Part of The Lightship Group, a merger between Virgin Airships and Lightship America. Edited June 13, 2011 by ReconRat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carwhore Posted June 15, 2011 Report Share Posted June 15, 2011 RIPIf i were him i would of jumped out and chanced it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scruit Posted June 15, 2011 Report Share Posted June 15, 2011 Dunno if he even could jump. Depends on the orientation of the cabin under the blimp - did it tilt/shift or move in a way that made it impossible for him to get out.I wouldn't expect the passengers to know that the pilot must account for their weight by adjusting ballast. The pilot would though. Would be interested to know if he told them jump. If he did he he must have know the blimp would rise after they jumped. If he did, then God bless him.I'm not surprised that the airship rose after losing that weight. It would depend on what % of the total weight theose 3 passenger accounted for. And I wouldn't trust adjectives like "shot up" because to some people that means launched like a rocket, to others that might mean "climbed faster than it did when we were on board". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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