Airship Makes Historic Return to L.A. Skies Memorial Day Weekend

There are going to be some serious double-takes as folks from Los Angeles gaze skyward during the Memorial Day holiday. No strangers to weirdness, we're not quite sure, though, that they're ready to see the majestic grace of a Zeppelin cruising the clear blue skies of Southern California... for the first time in decades.

The last Zeppelin to visit the City of Angels was the Graf Zeppelin that moored at Mines Field (now LAX) on its record-breaking round-the-world trip in August 1929. The Airship Ventures' Zeppelin Eureka will land at Long Beach Airport Wednesday, May 20th in the evening and will offer spectacular "flightseeing" experiences for the public Friday, May 22nd through Monday, May 25TH, heading home to the SF Bay Area after Memorial Day. A graceful and spectacular craft, Eureka is the largest airship in the world, at 246 feet in length, which is 15 feet longer than a Boeing 747, and dwarfs the largest blimp currently flying by more than 50 feet.

The airship's trip to Long Beach marks its First passenger operation in the Los Angeles area. One and two hour passenger flights will be offered Friday, May 22nd through Monday, May 25th. The airship will be departing from the FBO AirFlite terminal at 3250 AirFlite Way, Long Beach, CA 90807.

Flights from Long Beach Airport will showcase an aerial view of the fantastic California coastline, the famous Queen Mary, spectacular sights of the Pacific Coast over Palos Verdes, Huntington Beach and as far north as Santa Monica. They will also offer evening flights over Los Angeles.

Traveling at around 1,000 feet above the ground, passengers are treated to a bird's eye view of famous landmarks, and the opportunity to walk around the cabin, and take pictures of spectacular 360 degree views. The Zeppelin's spacious cabin accommodates one pilot, one flight attendant, and 12 passengers with luxury features including oversized panoramic windows, an onboard restroom with window, and a 180-degree rear observation window and "love seat" that wraps the entire aft of the cabin.

One of only three Zeppelins in the world, Eureka is permanently based in the San Francisco Bay Area, where Airship Ventures operates the only airship passenger flight service in North America. Since October 2008, the company has offered scenic "flightseeing" tours from Moffett Field in Mountain View, Oakland International Airport, and on a rotational basis, Monterey Peninsula Airport. Itineraries showcase San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and the Bay Area coastline.

Ticket prices vary based on itinerary, duration and special promotions starting at $375 plus taxes per person. Group, corporate and special charter packages are also available. All flights will be conducted as weather permits.

The Zeppelin NT ("New Technology") was manufactured in Germany by Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH. Modern engines, state-of-the-art avionics, and fly-by-wire flight controls enable the airship to perform maneuvers similar to those performed by helicopters, including vertical takeoffs and landings. The Zeppelin NT uses non-flammable helium, features a tear-proof outer envelope, and has carried more than 80,000 passengers since August 2001 without a single incident.

FMI: www.airshipventures.com