Navy airship gets new colors
The only manned U.S. Navy airship is introduced to the public during ceremonies at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (U.S. Navy photo by Doug Abbotts)
Oct 28, 2011
NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. – The U.S. Navy MZ-3A manned airship advanced flying laboratory has new markings and colors. The new colors celebrate the Centennial of Naval Aviation.
Historic Hangar One at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., was the setting where Navy officials re-dedicated the only airship currently in Navy active flying service this week. Lakehurst was the site where the Navy’s old lighter-than air-program operated from 1921 to 1962.
The MZ-3A is used as a testbed for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) sensors requiring a stable and vibration free testing environment. The Navy used the MZ-3A to help during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill recovery operation from March, 2010 to July, 2010. The airship and crew operated out of Jack Edwards National Airport in Gulf Shores, Ala., transporting the U.S. Coast Guard investigating the waters over the Gulf of Mexico. Observers report excellent results when searching vast areas like the Gulf due to the slow travel speed of the airship.
“Airships also bring affordability to testing,” said Steve Huett, program manager for the MZ-3A. “You can operate an airship for 40 percent of the cost of fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters.”
The airship is assigned to Naval Research Laboratory Military Support Division Scientific Development Squadron ONE (VXS-1). The Navy Airship Program is managed by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division. Both organizations are at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md.
Integrated Systems Solutions, Inc. is the contractor responsible for maintaining and operating the airship in many locations throughout the country.
The MZ-3A is 178 feet long, capable of flying up to 9,500 feet and cruises at 45 knots. The ship is fitted with two Lycoming engines and has space for one pilot and nine passengers.
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Ken said
Anchors Away there it is fly Navy proud over northeast Maryland, Aberdeen, Edgewood area today at around 16:00 hours. Very Good looking airship serving its country as only the Best navy in the world can do. I took a few pictures of it to remember why I join the navy yrs ago, flying so proud as every navy ship does when underway on a mission. Hope to see it again sometime & would love to take a ride on her. Marked this 25 spring like day in the month of September during the Lords year of 2012.
September 25, 2012 at 7:37:45 PM EDT
BJ said
Pretty cool. I've seen this twice now in 2012. Once going up the coast in OCNJ in the spring and then in the summer going north over the Delaware River north of Trenton, NJ. Had no idea I was seeing the same airship....
September 22, 2012 at 9:37:17 PM EDT
Nicole Pearce said
It just passed over Easton, MD. These ships amaze me!
September 20, 2012 at 12:26:32 PM EDT
eddiott said
glad to see a rigid airship still exsists, but i have an idea, rebuild the uss los angeles and put vectoring engines on here and then you'll have a platform to celebrate the ships 100 anniversey of coming to america in 1927, remember that was the 1st craft to cross the atlantic by air, with dr echner onboard
September 18, 2012 at 4:59:20 PM EDT
A. L. S. said
I just saw it pass over the ocean at Barnegat Light, New Jersey!
July 3, 2012 at 4:42:54 PM EDT
Anonymous said
Just passed overhead, Ocean Beach NJ
June 11, 2012 at 11:58:37 AM EDT
Rick E said
Saw it over the middle Barnegat Bay on 6/8 AM. Impressed as go how quite the engines were.
June 9, 2012 at 6:31:29 PM EDT
John said
Along the coast in Atlantic City today.
June 8, 2012 at 9:52:11 PM EDT
Joseph Sinagoga said
Saw it over Long Beach Island today. It sort of did a loop over the island. Just an awesome sight. Yay for Naval Avation! Joseph Sinagoga
June 8, 2012 at 1:22:21 PM EDT
Anonymous said
Over the Delaware in Delanco NJ today
June 6, 2012 at 6:51:56 PM EDT
Daniel Ricketts said
I also saw the airship over Millville, NJ on the same day last month, but was strange to me is how erratically it was flying, with abrupt dips from time to time. I grew up in Tacoma, WA where we saw scores of airships over the years, and I NEVER saw one flying so up and down as that day.
May 1, 2012 at 8:19:19 PM EDT
Anonymous said
I saw it flying north, seaward of Ocean City,NJ, this morning. Which is the same town from where I first saw a blimp seventy years ago. Once you have seen one, you will never forget how grand they are. It was wonderful to see one again.
April 19, 2012 at 2:02:15 PM EDT
Rae Ann Gallegos said
Very impressive piece of machinery.
November 2, 2011 at 12:57:36 PM EDT
