Editing Blimp (section)

==Use==
[[File:Blimp making practice landing runs at local NJ airport.JPG|thumb|Advertising blimp landing at local airport in New Jersey]]

The [[B-class blimp]]s were patrol airships operated by the [[United States Navy]] during and shortly after [[World War I]]. The Navy learned a great deal from the [[DN-1]] fiasco. The result was the very successful B-type airships. [[Jerome Clarke Hunsaker|Dr. Jerome Hunsaker]] was asked to develop a theory of airship design. This was followed by then-[[Lieutenant (navy)|Lieutenant]] [[John H. Towers]], [[USN]], returning from Europe having inspected British designs, and the [[U.S. Navy]] subsequently sought bids for 16 blimps from American manufacturers. On 4 February 1917 the Secretary of the Navy directed that 16 nonrigid airships of Class B be procured. Ultimately [[Goodyear Blimp|Goodyear]] built 9 envelopes, [[Goodrich Corporation|Goodrich]] built five and [[Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company|Curtiss]] built the gondolas for all of those 14 ships. Connecticut Aircraft contracted with [[U.S. Rubber]] for its two envelopes and with [[Albree Pigeon-Fraser Scout|Pigeon Fraser]] for its gondolas. The Curtiss-built gondolas were modified [[JN-4]] fuselages and were powered by [[OX-5 engines]]. The Connecticut Aircraft blimps were powered by [[Hall-Scott engines]].

In 1930, a former German airship officer, Captain Anton Heinen, working in the US for the US Navy on its dirigible fleet, attempted to design and build a four-place blimp called the "family air yacht" for private fliers which the inventor claimed would be priced below $10,000 and easier to fly than a fixed-wing aircraft if placed in production. It was unsuccessful.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,882391,00.html |title=Aeronautics: Air Yacht |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=November 3, 1930 |volume=16 |number=18}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qOIDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA967 |title=Dirigible Air Yacht Has Automobile Cabin |magazine=[[Popular Mechanics]] |date=December 1930 |page=967 |volume=54 |number=6}}</ref>

In 2021, ''[[Reader's Digest]]'' said that "consensus is that there are about 25 blimps still in existence and only about half of them are still in use for advertising purposes".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rd.com/article/why-you-dont-see-blimps-anymore/ | title=Here's Why You Don't See Blimps Anymore | first1=Morgan | last1=Cutolo | date=April 3, 2021}}</ref> The Airsign Airship Group is the owner and operator of 8 of these active ships, including the Hood Blimp, DirecTV blimp, and the MetLife blimp.<ref name="Broughton">{{cite web |url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2014/06/23/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Blimp-main.aspx |title=Flying high: How sponsors, networks and fans make the business of blimps soar |first1=David |last1=Broughton |date=June 23, 2014|work=Sports Business Journal |access-date=November 1, 2015}}</ref>

=== Surveillance blimp ===
[[File:Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment System.jpg|thumbnail|A TCOM 17M Aerostat and Trailer]]

This blimp is a type of [[airborne early warning and control]] aircraft, typically as the active part of a system which includes a mooring platform, communications and information processing. Example systems include the U.S. [[JLENS]] and Israeli [[Aeronautics Defense Skystar 300]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stripes.com/news/military-blimp-escapes-causes-power-outages-before-landing-in-pennsylvania-1.375825|title=Military blimp escapes, causes power outages before landing in Pennsylvania|work=Stars and Stripes|accessdate=30 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Military-Blimp-Gets-Loose-Cuts-Power-Lines-225087-1.html|title=Military Blimp Gets Loose, Cuts Power Lines|work=AVweb|date=28 October 2015 |accessdate=30 October 2015}}</ref>

Surveillance blimps known as [[aerostat]]s have been used extensively in the Middle East by the [[United States Armed Forces|United States military]], the [[United Arab Emirates]] and [[Kuwait]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2011-11-12/aerostats-rise-through-ranks-surveillance-service |title=Aerostats Rise Through the Ranks in Surveillance Service |last=Pocock |first=Chris |date=November 12, 2011 |website=ainonline.com |access-date=May 20, 2022}}</ref>