Snoopy Has Some Competition...

It isn't everyday we read of a reported breakthrough in the field of aerial advertising... and that's probably a good thing, when you think about it. But the latest news out of Clearwater, FL-based Hi-Tech Electronic Displays is too cool to ignore, and may even represent a departure from the traditional approach of using airships (like the Goodyear Blimps, for example, or MetLife's fleet of Snoopy's -- Snoopies -- Snoopi?) for marketing purposes.

That breakthrough is a 30' by 70' flexible high-definition LED screen, that is only one-and-a-half inches thick, offers full-color display, and weighs only 900 pounds. That's a lot less than the more conventional light-optic displays currently employed on some conventional airships... as is the pricetag, reportedly "substantially less" than $1 million.

The screen is already flying on a 178-foot blimp manufactured by American Blimp in Hillsboro, OR.

For visibility reasons, the screen only displays one color -- red -- during daytime hours. At night, however, the screen's full capabilities become apparent, showing full-color text images that can be read from two miles away. The screen can also display moving images -- and even real-time video -- visible within half a mile.

"What is does is change blimps from fairly passive instruments to an interactive mode," said Toby Page, marketing manager of Lightship Group, American Blimp's marketing subsidiary. Page made that comment to the Oregonian, during a recent unveiling to potential customers at a Hillsboro restaurant.

Page said he hopes the new sign will increase his company's business from Fortune 500 companies. The aforementioned MetLife is already a client of Lightship's, as is Sanyo... and even the Brazilian subsidiary of rival blimpmaker Goodyear.

FMI: www.lightships.com