You were overflying my birthday party

You where overflying my birthday party this July 4th and it was my favorite present by far.

We live in San Pedro and are often visited by the Goodyear Blimp at rather close quarters, and have flown on it two years ago.
The pilot said that they often use our very tall date palm as a mark. We love our Blimp but we hope to cruise with you the next time you come south.

Rigid Lighter-Than-Air lives again and we couldn't be more excited!

Thank you,
Jonn and Maureen Retsek

She moved toward the Santa Cruz Mountains

Saturday, July 11, 2009, over my house in the foothills of Los Gatos. The blimp then moved toward the Santa Cruz mountains. I could not get a picture as I was looking directly into the sun.

-- Sue Cooney

"Honey, I think it wants to pass us."

"Honey, I think it wants to pass us."

As they say, "location, location, location": Sunday 12 July 2009 12:47pm, taken from the viewing area at the San Francisco Ferry Building.

-- Ned Deily

Cruised across Santa Barbara County

The Airship Ventures Zeppelin N704LZ Eureka cruised across Santa Barbara County on its way from Long Beach to its home base at Moffett Field on Wednesday, July 8, 2009. It passed over UCSB and Isla Vista at 1:22 PM PDT. It was cruising at an altitude of 2,800 feet and a speed of 37 knots. It passed so quietly that most bystanders failed to notice it.

-- Brian Lockett

Looked very good from Surfside beach

Looked very good from Surfside beach 7/4/09.

Great to see an Airship again.

-- jack pursell

The Airship Ventures Zeppelin in London

The Airship Ventures Zeppelin in London before departure to San Francisco.

-- Terry McManus

Needless to say, I was thrilled!

I was in San Francisco with my family in early January and unexpectedly saw your ship over the bay; needless to say I was thrilled; my son wanted to take pictures of me with the ship in the background, but I did not want to miss the chance to watch the ship by posing for pictures, as you can see in these snapshots!

-- Dan Grossman
http://www.airships.net

Heading down Pacific Coast highway, hope to see it again July 4!

5/25/2009 - (Sorry this is almost a month late, but I just saw your "submit pics" link)

Heading down Pacific Coast highway, home from spending the afternoon with my spouse's mom and grandma, and followed the Eureka from Long Beach to Huntington Beach, where it made a U-turn. We opened our sunroof so the kids could see it better while driving, and we pulled over at the Dog Beach bluffs so I could take a few pictures. You don't get to see an actual zeppelin every day.

Hope to see it again when it's down here over the weekend of the 4th; come fly over HB's parade!

-- Leeanne Laughin

Thanks for adding a new highlight to Vertical Challenge

As always, it was exciting and impressive to see the Eureka come in to land during the air show at San Carlos airport today. The pilots made a valiant effort to land in the windy conditions but when I saw the ground crew pack up the "Stairway to Heaven" I knew that they decided to yield to safety and make the landing elsewhere. Thanks for adding a new highlight to Vertical Challenge.

-- Chris Humphrey

Arleigh's Zeppelin Ride

I took an incredible ride on the Eureka on 19 April. I have posted online all 350+- of the photos of my trip.

-- Arleigh Movitz

7... Up?

Saw the "up" blimp over Oakland again. I keep thinking they should lease ad space to the left of "up", where a big "7" could be placed!

-- Dan Wood

A 2nd Ship?

I've read in OC REGISTER through the Airship Times at Zimbio that there is an interest of AV in purchasing a second ship for which it seeks a name. Is there a contest related to that?

-- Komaniotis Tryfon

The Zeppelin appeared over Gaviota Pass

The Airship Ventures Zeppelin is on its way from Long Beach to Moffett Field. It is overcast here in Goleta, so I drove up to Buellton and parked at the north end of Avenue of the Flags. The Zeppelin appeared over Gaviota Pass and cruised along Highway 101 at an altitude of 1900 feet. It went past, about 2000 feet east of me.

-- Brian Lockett

At less than 300' elevation and fighting some strong cross winds, it was a thrilling sight

Laura saw a brief report on the news that your Airship would be at Long Beach, California for a promotional flight for the Disney movie "Up". We drove to the Long Beach Airport and found a policeman who directed us to a secret location not available to the public. We were not allowed on the grounds to witness the landings and "Up Ship" take-offs. As we were leaving the area after parking at the Boeing Aircraft Plant we saw the "Eureka" headed back to the landing site along a Southeasterly approach. We drove back to the fenced landing site and waited for the zeppelin to catch up to us. At less than 300' elevation and fighting some strong cross winds, it was a thrilling sight.

-- Jack and Laura Barnes

Thanks for bringing the Eureka down to Long Beach!

Thanks for bringing the Eureka down to Long Beach! She's an impressive sight!

Here is a gallery of shots that I took.

Looking forward to seeing you guys in July!

-- Glen Tagami

Just saw the ship fly pass City Hall in Long Beach!

Just saw the ship fly pass City Hall in Long Beach!

-- Sherri

Alien Airship Spotted in South Bay

Living in the South Bay, I'm used to seeing the Goodyear blimp quite often, floating over Palos Verdes or San Pedro. Imagine my surprise to see a LARGE white airship cruising over the Harbor Freeway (110) yesterday afternoon. Trying not to have an accident, I watched the ship as much as possible until I got a good enough look to see the words "UP" on the side. What a Great way to promote the new Disney/Pixar film. After finding out the airship will be in the area for a week or so is exciting. My only regret is that I can't afford to take a ride. Oh well, perhaps I'll go to where it's moored and get as close as I can.

-- Bobbi Scoville

I can't wait to ride in it myself someday, wish I had had a camera!

I've been fascinated by the zeppelin since it flew into the Bay Area on my birthday last year. My first sighting a few months ago was great, I was at work at Chevron Park in San Ramon and it flew directly over us, heading north up the San Ramon Valley. I can't wait to ride in it myself someday, wish I had had a camera!

-- Julia

Over the old Alameda base on a cloudless Bay Area Saturday morning

Southbound airship sighting over the old Alameda base on a cloudless Bay Area Saturday morning.

-- Gerd Meissner

San Francisco flying towards the Golden Gate Bridge

Spotted it on 16th April 2009 whilst in San Francisco flying towards the Golden Gate Bridge, it flew over it then passed Alcatraz and then the city.

-- Keith Johnson

We never get tired of seeing it. The dog, however, was confused...

While working in our garden in Mountain View (about a mile from Moffett Field) my wife and I were lucky enough of have the zeppelin fly directly over us. Very good view of the new graphics! We never get tired of seeing it. The dog, however, was confused, and was looking up at it and barking.

-- Ron Hawley

It's outside flying over the Pixar campus showcasing our newest movie!

It's outside flying over the Pixar campus showcasing our newest movie!

-- Megan Albert

New Branding Seen Over Los Gatos

Got a text message from the ship and went outside to grab this cameraphone picture of the ship over Los Gatos...

The Airship came over the beach at Carmel

The Airship came over the beach at Carmel on April 18th. It was a spectacular sight!

-- Steve Shay

A Snap from the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa

I was arriving into Monterey April 17 with my friend and she noticed the Airship. I took a snap shot from the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa.

Nice to see a familiar sight since I work at NASA Ames.

-- dennis gonzales

Airship sighting :-)

Over Monterey Bay Aquarium

-- Jackie Macapanpan

Eureka Sighting while working Helo Ops

I was out with the Coast Guard all day until late. We were working Helo Ops -- helping Coast Guard helicopter pilots and engineers maintain their certifications for basket drops and man-in-the-water drills. I did manage to squeeze off a few shots of the Eureka in between drops.

Here they are plus a couple of the Ops.

-- Michael Mattis

The zeppelin glided gracefully over the quad

As I was on my way to class at Stanford Continuing Studies, the zeppelin glided gracefully over the quad. No one seemed to pay much attention as it is apparently a common sight now, but I had to take photos of the sighting. I was a few minutes to class, but it was worth it!

-- Jill Clardy

The gorgeous Zeppelin lofting over our home during a Spring full moon

My 16-year-old daughter and all her friends came running into the living room screeming, "Look, look! Mom. Come look!" It was a lovely early spring evening during the full moon so I thought maybe it was the fantastic moonrise. No. Better. It was the gorgeous Zeppelin lofting over our home during a Spring full moon. Breathtaking.

-- Sandra Peterson

Bridgepixing the Zeppelin

Thad Roan sent us this wonderful treatment he did of airship "Eureka" and the Bay Bridge.

You can learn more at his page on Flickr, Bridgepixing Zeppelin by bridgepix, on Flickr

Over Stanford this Weekend

I went to walk the trail at the Stanford Dish on Saturday afternoon and I saw the airship over the bay. Then the pilot turned west and flew pretty much right over me. Bet it was a nice day for a flight.

-- Jared

Juxtaposition of the yachts on the bay, with the airship in the sky

This was taken shortly after we arrived in San Francisco in February from our 23rd story apartment in North Beach. It reminded me of a 'very slow' (and probably unsuccessful) escape attempt from Alcatraz. I really like the juxtaposing of the yachts on the bay, with the airship in the sky - all powered by wind/air.

-- Matt Voerman